Interesting facts about lucky bamboo

lucky bamboo

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a species of flowering plant.

Common names also include Sander’s dracaena, ribbon dracaena, curly bamboo, Chinese water bamboo, Goddess of Mercy’s plant, Belgian evergreen, and ribbon plant.

This plant is native to Central Africa.

Lucky Bamboo is not related to the bamboo plant. It is actually a resilient member of the lily family.

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The history of the lucky bamboo plant goes back to Chinese culture for over 4000 years.

In the Asian culture, it symbolizes good luck, prosperity, wealth, and happiness. It is popular during the time of celebrations like New Year and other religious festivals.

Lucky Bamboo is one of the most popular element in Feng Shui. In Chinese, Feng Shui is known as “Fu Gwey Zhu”. Fu means Wealth, Riches; Gwey means Power, Honor; Zhu means Bamboo.

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Lucky Bamboo reaching a height of 100 centimeters (40 inches).

The stem is fleshy, which distinguishes it from bamboo.

The leaves are up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long and are slightly twisted and grey-green in color.

This plant can flower in autumn, winter and early spring.

Lucky Bamboo is multiplied by cutting a part of the stem just above the eye. Cuttings can be made year round.

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Lucky Bamboo grows in water like cut flowers, but will last for years.

Lucky Bamboo actually grows straight and not curly or wavy. Farmers lay them on a huge long table in the hothouse, covering 3 sides of the area in darkness, leaving one side exposed to bright light. By letting them grow naturally toward the light and manually rotating them periodically this allows them to form curls or waves. It takes an average of 1.5 years to make one curl.

The plant can survive in many indoor conditions, but indirect lighting is best. Direct sunlight can cause the leaves toturn yellow and burn.

Lucky Bamboo remains green and beautiful alone or can accessorize any flower arrangement and look elegant.

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Ancient Chinese tradition teaches that the number of Lucky Bamboo stalks have different meanings and
bring different beneficial factors into your life:
• 2 stalks represent love
• 3 stalks represent Fu (Happiness), Lu (Wealth) and Soh (Longevity)
• 5 stalks represent the 5 different parts of life from which wealth emanates
• 6 stalks represent 6 sounds like “Luck” in Chinese, representing prosperity and favorable conditions
• 7 stalks represent good health
• 8 stalks represent grow and thrive
• 10 stalks represent perfection
• 21 stalks represents very powerful all-purpose blessings

The genus name Dracaena is derived from the romanized form of the Ancient Greek δράκαινα – drakaina, “female dragon.”

The species name sanderiana is after the German–English gardener Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (1847–1920).