Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a popular houseplant known for its elegant appearance and association with good fortune. Despite its name, it is not a true bamboo but a member of the Dracaena family. This resilient plant is widely available, including at stores like IKEA, making it an accessible choice. Its ease of care contributes to its widespread appeal, adding greenery and tranquility to indoor spaces.
Buying Lucky Bamboo from IKEA
When selecting lucky bamboo from IKEA, you will find various arrangements, from straight stalks to braided or spiraled forms. Inspect plants carefully for health. Look for firm, vibrantly green stalks, avoiding yellowing, brown spots, or mushy areas. Leaves should also be healthy and free from discoloration.
IKEA sells lucky bamboo with roots submerged in water, often with pebbles for support in a vase. This setup allows for easy transport and immediate display.
Essential Care for Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo thrives in bright, indirect light, mimicking its natural rainforest habitat. Direct sunlight can scorch its leaves. Place it near an east or west-facing window, perhaps with sheer curtains, for ideal lighting. While it tolerates lower light, prolonged insufficient light can cause stretching or fading.
For water-grown lucky bamboo, use distilled, filtered, or rainwater. Tap water often contains chlorine and fluoride, which can harm the plant and cause brown leaf tips. If using tap water, let it sit for 24 hours to dissipate chlorine; fluoride will remain. The water level must always cover the roots and should be changed weekly to prevent stagnation and algae buildup.
Lucky bamboo can also grow in well-draining potting soil, which may extend its lifespan. If planted in soil, maintain consistent moisture without overwatering, allowing the top inch to dry slightly between waterings. When grown in water, pebbles or decorative stones can provide stability for the stalks, ensuring roots remain submerged.
The plant prefers warm temperatures, ideally between 65°F and 90°F (18°C-32°C). It is sensitive to sudden temperature fluctuations, so avoid placing it near drafts, air conditioners, or heating vents. Average household humidity is sufficient, though occasional misting can be beneficial in drier environments.
Fertilizing lucky bamboo is not frequently required; it can survive for extended periods in just water. If you fertilize, use a highly diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer, about one-tenth the recommended strength. For water-grown plants, apply this solution every couple of months when changing the water. Over-fertilization can harm the plant, causing yellowing and root burn.
Addressing Common Lucky Bamboo Problems
Yellowing leaves or stalks often signal an underlying issue. Common causes include too much direct sunlight, over-fertilization, or chemicals like chlorine and fluoride in tap water. To remedy this, move the plant to a location with bright, indirect light and ensure you are using appropriate water. If over-fertilization is suspected, flush the container with fresh, distilled water and refrain from fertilizing for several months.
Brown tips or spots on leaves point to dry air, fluoride toxicity from tap water, or infrequent water changes. Increasing ambient humidity by misting the plant can help with dry air. Switching to distilled or filtered water is important to avoid fluoride buildup. Once leaves turn brown, the affected portions will not revert to green, but you can trim them for aesthetic purposes using disinfected scissors.
Algae growth in the water container is common, especially in clear vases exposed to light. Algae thrives on sunlight and nutrients in the water. To control it, clean the container thoroughly, rinse the pebbles and stalks, and replace the water. Consider using an opaque container to block light if algae remains a persistent issue.
Soft or mushy stalks indicate root rot, often caused by poor water quality, stagnant water, or overwatering if the plant is in soil. Mushy stalks are beyond saving and should be removed promptly to prevent the spread of rot to healthy stalks. If other stalks are healthy, clean the container and replace the water or soil.