Maybe you bought your bamboo on an impulse walking around an open-air market. Lucky bamboo’s popularity stems from easy maintenance and a low-key watering routine. In fact, the plant grows well in difficult environments like offices or dingy apartments. With time, you’ll find that the leaves grow tall and stretch toward the light. With that growth, you can actually grow lucky bamboo at home (similar to those crazy romaine lettuce videos).
Instructions
After the trim, all you need to do is clip off the stem and leave it in water to root. Below are a few more tips for successful rooting.
1. Use clean scissors. I washed mine, rinsed them in alcohol, and rinsed them again in water. This makes sure that both the stem and the main plant don’t get an infection.
2. Strip down some of the lower leaves. There shouldn’t be any submerged leaves. Also, fewer leaves to support allows the plant to focus on sprouting roots.
3. Keep it away from fresh produce. This goes for all houseplants but, especially new sprouts. They do much better away from that fruit bowl.
With these tips, you can simply slice off a stem and root it in water.
It’s not Actually Bamboo
Did you know that Lucky Bamboo is not actually bamboo? The plant originated in West Africa and continues to grow in popularity in several countries. Because of this, Lucky Bamboo grows best indoors.
In a small space, greenery adds color and life without creating more clutter. In fact, it can put some cute trinkets and containers to better use. For example, a cherished mug or heirloom dish can be repurposed as a planter by simply adding a bamboo stem, water, and stones. Personally, I cleaned my own seashell and rock collections to root a few new bamboo stems. For years, I had three little terra cotta pots from my trip to Brazil packed away in a box of keepsakes. Now, they support three fresh, green lucky bamboo plants.
Plants as Gifts
Plants are my favorite gifts, especially as a replacement for celebratory bouquets. I can’t prove that it is a greener or more eco-friendly choice. However, growing your own gifts must cut down on some of the ancillary effects to the environment such as packaging, shipping, and fertilizer run-off. A plant is grown from a cutting a particularly personal present. Grown from a stem in your own home, the gift can symbolize your connection.
Grow Lucky Bamboo at Home
While a bundle of roses or peonies is fun, a potted plant won’t die after a week. And with this life, you can actually encourage new life, by propagating them. Lucky bamboo, a commonly gifted plant, is actually easy to propagate once it sprouts a stem. What plants do you have in your home? Tag me –I would love to see photos!
