Sustenance bamboo, which is also popular as a ribbon plant, or Dracaena sanderiana is not actually a bamboo plant. This ornamental plant belongs to the lily family whose natural habitat is tropical forest areas, living in the shade that is not exposed to direct sunlight. Lucky bamboo is a beautiful plant, similar to real bamboo, and easy to grow even indoors. With a little knowledge, you can grow them at home. Caring for Bamboo Sustenance is relatively easy because this hardy plant does not require much maintenance. And it can even bring you sustenance.
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Part 1 of 3: Choosing Sustenance Bamboo Plants
Step 1. Find plants that interest you
Don't just choose the first bamboo plant you get, but look for healthy plants. You can find sustenance bamboo at your nearest gardening center or nursery, and even at some grocery stores.
It could be that the plant is labeled: sustenance bamboo or hoki bamboo (lucky bamboo), ribbon plant, or sometimes using the Latin name Dracaena sanderiana
Step 2. Choose a bright green sustenance bamboo
Caring for sustenance bamboo is not difficult, but if you get an unhealthy plant, it will be much more difficult to maintain and the plant may die. The size of the plant doesn't really matter, because most of them are quite small.
- You should choose a color that is completely green, no spots, bruises, or yellowness.
- The color of the stem must be the same from tip to base.
- There should be no brown at the tips of the leaves.
Step 3. Make sure the sustenance bamboo is planted properly and does not smell
The sustenance bamboo plant is stubborn, but if it is not planted properly or emits a sour smell, it means the plant is sick and cannot grow.
- The sustenance bamboo plant does not smell like flowers, but if it is not watered properly, bacteria will appear and cause an unpleasant odor.
- Check the water level, see if the plant is soiled or fertilized. Many sustenance bamboo plants are grown hydroponically, simply planted in water with gravel to hold the stems in place. However, some are planted in the ground. Therefore, check to make sure the water level is at least halfway up, or that the soil is moist, but not waterlogged.
Part 2 of 3: Growing Sustenance Bamboo
Step 1. Decide whether to plant sustenance bamboo in water or in soil
Both options have their respective advantages, depending on how you want to treat them. Too much soil or fertilizer can damage your plants. However, if you use tap water (PAM) and it contains fluoride, you will need soil and fertilizer to keep the tips of the plants from turning yellow.
- If you're growing it in water, you'll need some gravel to support it. If on the ground, try mixing a third each of sand, peat (peat moss), and regular soil to ensure good drainage.
- If you want to grow sustenance bamboo in water, make sure your plant has a solid base for its roots. It is better to change the water at least once a week so that the sustenance bamboo does not rot. It's also a good idea to rinse the vase, gravel, and plants every time you change the water.
- If you want to plant it in the ground; water the plant enough to keep the soil moist.
Step 2. Choose the right pot
Choose a pot that is about 5 cm larger than the diameter of the plant. Most sustenance bamboo is already sold with the pot, but you can use your own pot as you wish.
- Clear containers are suitable for water growing media and can show off the plants and gravel, but make sure they are not exposed to direct sunlight.
- You can also use ceramic pots and plant sustenance bamboo either in water or soil. If you use soil, plant sustenance bamboo in a pot that has drainage holes.
Step 3. Add a little fertilizer periodically to speed up growth
Too much fertilizer is actually worse than not fertilizing at all. So, use a little fertilizer. This is especially important for sustenance bamboo plants in pots, because the fertilizer is not dissolved by rainwater or flows out as if planted in the ground.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for and Beautifying Your Sustenance Bamboo
Step 1. Water only occasionally
The sustenance bamboo plant does not require a lot of water. If too much water, it will damage it.
- Add water to your plant about once a week and make sure the water is about a few centimeters high, enough to cover the roots.
- If you plant sustenance bamboo in the ground, make sure the soil is not too moist or dry. Lucky bamboo can only grow in water, so too much soil or fertilizer can damage it.
Step 2. Keep the sustenance bamboo plant away from direct sunlight
In the wild, sustenance bamboo usually lives in the shade, protected from direct sunlight by other taller plants. It's best to place your plant in an open, bright area, but not in direct sunlight all day.
- To provide the best care for your sustenance bamboo, keep the plant away from windows that get a lot of sunlight. Instead, put the sustenance bamboo in a room that is not too exposed.
- The sustenance bamboo plant can grow well in temperatures between 18°C and 32°C.
Step 3. Arrange the sustenance bamboo sticks
If you want to enhance the appearance of sustenance bamboo, choose some of the best stems to make a series and display. You can manipulate the stems so that they grow around each other or make them wavy with minimal effort; To make it, use young stems that have just grown and have not hardened.
- You can plant sustenance bamboo in rows or rows if you want straight stems.
- To bend the sustenance bamboo, use cardboard and then remove the bottom and one side. Place the cardboard on top of your plant with the open side facing the sun. The sustenance bamboo stem will bend toward the sun as it grows. As soon as you see it warping, rotate your plant.
- You can also wrap the wire around the young stems so they cross. When the stems grow large, add some wire to keep them stable as they cross.
Step 4. Remove any dead or yellow leaves
Sometimes the ends of the sustenance bamboo leaves turn yellow. This could be due to a number of factors: your plants are not getting enough water, too much soil or fertilizer, or too much sun. You can trim the yellow part, or remove the entire leaf.
- To trim the tips of the leaves, sterilize your shears by rubbing alcohol or vinegar, then cut off the yellow parts to follow the natural shape of the sustenance bamboo leaves.
- You can remove the entire leaf by pulling it down from the base of the leaf.
Step 5. Multiply your plants
When one or two sustenance bamboo sticks are too high, you can cut them and then plant them again. Thus your sustenance bamboo is not too tight and can produce new plants.
- Take the tallest stem and remove the small leaves at the bottom of the shoot.
- With a sterile knife or scissors, cut the shoots about 2.5 cm.
- Place the cut shoots in a bowl of clean distilled water. Put in the shade for about one to two months until the shoots appear roots. Once you see the roots, you can plant them in the same pot where your previous sustenance bamboo plant was.
Step 6. Tie the stem with a ribbon
People often wrap gold or red ribbons on bamboo sticks of sustenance to unite them, and it is a symbol of a lot of sustenance.
- Add pebbles as a final touch and to support the arrangement of the sustenance bamboo plants.
- Put your sustenance bamboo plant where you can see it and you don't forget to take care of it.
Tips
- Use water taken from springs (sold in bottles/packages) or wells so that the sustenance bamboo grows quickly and displays a beautiful dark green color. (PAM water often contains chemicals and additives that are not normally found in the plant's natural habitat. Use of tap water for watering or as a growing medium can cause the bamboo leaves to turn yellow over time.)
- Do not place the plant in direct sunlight.
- Do not give too much water to the sustenance bamboo plant. You only need to water it about once a week.
- Just give fertilizer every two months.
- Add diluted liquid aquarium plant fertilizer (1-2 drops).
Warning
- If you smell a foul odor from a sustenance bamboo plant, it may be too late to save it. Some people say that the spoilage that causes it can be bad for your health. Therefore, it is better to throw away the plant and look for a new plant. Change the water as often as possible so that something like this doesn't happen again.
- On the other hand, if the bamboo plant shoots off the main stalk, you need to save it from rotting. Cut the part and immediately put it in clean water. This will prevent you from having to remove the entire plant.
