Although the smooth stem of this plant with spectacular bridges looks like bamboo, its true name is Dracaena Sanderiana. English "nickname" Lucky Bamboo(in the Russian manner - “Bamboo of Happiness” or “Happy Bamboo”) was assigned to these twisting green shoots for a reason. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, this plant brings success and prosperity to the home.
Photo "Bamboo of Happiness" is also popular in Russia
Dracaena sandera - perennial ornamental plant, which is characterized by increased unpretentiousness. It will outlive all the flowers in the bouquet and will grow and develop beautifully even in a glass of water. If you wish, you can plant your “lucky talisman” in the soil. With minimal care, the “Bamboo of Happiness” will delight you for many years.
Dracaena Sandera loves water. She needs abundant watering in summer and moderate watering in winter. Do not allow the soil to dry out.
If your stem grows in water, you need to update the water once every 2 weeks, adding mineral fertilizers to it for growth (in natural conditions, all useful material comes to the plant from the soil). Water must be filtered, or preferably distilled, room temperature. Otherwise, the leaves may turn yellow.
When choosing a place for your indoor “bamboo”, avoid a sun-drenched window sill. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. For Dracaena Sander, diffused light is preferable.
“Bamboo of Happiness” tolerates dry air well and does not require constant spraying. Wipe the leaves from dust from time to time.
Comfortable temperature for plant growth is 18–35°C.
As soil for the “bamboo of happiness” you can use any flower mixture or a special one for dracaenas. The plant needs good drainage (small stones or expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the pot). “Happy Bamboo” grows well in a mixture of equal parts of flower soil and sand. Keep in mind that the bare stems of the “lucky bamboo” look great in a transparent container filled with colored hydrogel.
Feeding: fertilizers for dracaenas.
It is enough to replant once a year in the spring.
Dracaena is propagated by apical cuttings rooted in water or moist soil, as well as by stem segments with “dormant” buds.
Over time, a real tree about 70 centimeters high with an erect stem and long leaves will grow from the planted shoot. Don't expect the stem to continue to curl and the leaves to fall off on their own (the beautiful curves are given to the plant artificially). Despite the fact that the “bamboo of happiness” will begin to resemble its prototype less and less, it will not lose any of its decorative value, thanks to its thick green foliage. If you want to enjoy the bare stem, you will have to break off the growing shoots.
“Bamboo of Happiness” and Feng Shui
Press service archives
Photo "Bamuk of Happiness" will become a good gift man
In China, there are centuries-old traditions and customs associated with the “bamboo of happiness.”
According to the teachings of Feng Shui, the “bamboo of happiness” brings health and happiness, financial well-being to the inhabitants of the house, promotes the flow of positive energy, supports good mood, strengthens friendships and love relationships and ensures longevity.
Several shoots of the “bamboo of happiness” in floor vase The Chinese place them at the entrance to the house, thus showing respect to the guest and providing him with a charge of positive energy. In addition, there is a tradition when a guest is presented with a gift of a stem from a bunch kept by the owner of the house.
Considering the “bamboo of happiness” to be an ideal gift, the Chinese give it for any occasion: housewarming, opening a new company, wedding. According to ancient custom, Chinese newlyweds present each wedding guest with 3 shoots of the plant - this should be the key to a long and happy marriage for the newlyweds.
The number of “bamboo” shoots in the composition has a certain meaning: three stems - attract happiness; five stems - predict wealth; seven stems - bestow good health; twenty-one stems - success in all endeavors.
The composition of 20 twisting stems is called the “Tower of Love.” Such a gift is regarded in China as a gesture of care, friendship and compassion. To achieve wealth and prosperity, the composition should be placed in the south, east or southeast of the house.
The spiraling shoot of Dracaena Sander is a wonderful addition to a bouquet addressed to a man. After all, bamboo in many cultures personifies male will and inflexibility.
Residents of the Celestial Empire use many methods with which, as they believe, they can further strengthen magical properties"lucky bamboo" Such “happiness multipliers” are red and gold ribbons used to tie bunches of shoots, transparent glass vases, talismans hung on curls of “bamboo”. Chinese flower growers are also convinced that pots for “lucky bamboo” should not be simple ones, but must have images of sacred animals, for example, a toad, a panda, a dragon or an elephant.
Often, “bamboo of happiness” or “lucky bamboo” is grown in apartments. In fact, this is perennial, which is called Dracaena Sanderiana. It belongs to the Musculaceae family, trees or succulent shrubs. Annual sales of all types of dracaenas are ahead of sales of other indoor plants.
Dracaena sandera or "bamboo of happiness"
The word “bamboo” in the name appeared because of the similarity of this type of dracaena to bamboo. Why another word - “happiness”? There is a version that this name came from an Aztec legend. It said that a poor young man, in love with the ruler’s daughter, fulfilling his father’s condition, watered the dry stem of the dracaena for 5 days, after which leaves appeared on it. The beauty's father had no choice but to agree to the wedding.
Dracaena Sandera looks a little like bamboo and differs from most of its relatives in the thickened cylindrical stem from which shoots extend. It has gray-green, slightly twisted leaves, up to 23 cm long. There is a variety that has leaves with a dark green border. Often, during stem growth different ways give a spiral shape. This plant looks more interesting than the standard form.
Lucky bamboo is often given as a gift. This is a pretty good choice since the word happiness itself gives it a special meaning. Yes, and the item itself will decorate the room and proper care will be able to serve its owner for a long time.
Lucky bamboo is good for feng shui. Its stem is a symbol of a strong life filled with prosperity. It is a favorite gift in business, for example for partners.
Values for the number of stems in lucky bamboo
The number of stems in one bunch is of great importance. The main principle is this: the more there are, the greater the blessings of luck and fortune. However, these are beliefs, and science has not found evidence of the dependence of health, material well-being and similar serious things depending on the number of stems of “lucky bamboo” or other plant on the table.
The Chinese send two stalks of bamboo to express love. This number is said to double your luck.
Three stems are one of the most beloved combinations for the home. It brings three types of luck: happiness, longevity, wealth or career.
Four stems. In Chinese, the word for "four" sounds something like the word for "death." Number 4 attracts negative sha energy.
The five stems strengthen the five areas of your life: emotional, intuitive, mental, physical, spiritual.
Six stems attract prosperity and preconditions for wealth. In Chinese, the word for "six" sounds similar to the word for "luck".
Seven stems bring good health.
The Chinese word “eight” sounds like a word denoting growth and development.
Nine stems also symbolize and attract good luck.
If you were sent ten stalks of lucky bamboo, this means that the one who sent them to you wants everything in your life to be the way you want.
Twenty-one stems. If someone gives you so many stalks of lucky bamboo then he is expressing good wishes for you and your family in terms of great wealth and lasting health.
Growing Dracaena
In rooms, Dracaena Sander grows up to 70-100 cm, rarely up to 2 meters. It is unpretentious plant. It can be kept in a container with water, but it is better in a container with soil. The best is a ceramic container, and besides it, a glass one.
Optimally formulated soil for dracaenas is available in specialized stores.
When keeping the “bamboo of happiness” in a container with soil, it must be watered as the soil dries. The soil should be well drained, but it is undesirable for the water to stagnate in it for a long time. Therefore, pebbles or coarse sand are placed in the lower part of the container with soil.
In addition to watering, caring for dracaena involves removing dust from the leaves, removing wilted leaves from the ground, and feeding the plant.
It is better to place the container with dracaena in a ventilated and bright place, but not in direct light. The “bamboo of happiness” tolerates dry air better than real bamboo.
It is enough to transplant the “bamboo of happiness” once a year, in the spring.
It can be propagated in one of two ways:
1. From the top cuttings, by further rooting them in water or moist soil.
2. Stem segments with ripening “dormant” buds.
When growing “bamboo of happiness”, its stem is often given curved shapes. For example, in the form of a spiral, heart, etc.
A composition of several Dracaena Sander plants, the stems of which are inclined and intertwined and grouped at the bottom, looks very beautiful.
This type of dracaena has been considered a symbol of happiness, health and success in Asia for many hundreds of years. The Chinese give it for any occasion: weddings, birthdays, New Year etc. Thus, according to the teachings of Feng Shui, 3 stems of Dracaena Sander bring happiness, 5 attract energy and wealth, 7 health, 8 happiness and a cheerful mood, and a composition of 20 stems is called the “tower of love.”
But in the Middle Ages, real bamboo was given as a gift on the occasion of holidays. Such a gift, unfortunately, did not please for long, since real bamboo is not indoor plant and dies very quickly in a vase. About 100-150 years ago, Dracaena Sandera, supposedly native to South America or Africa, began to be used for these purposes. This plant is very similar in appearance to bamboo, but it is less demanding to care for and can last for months and sometimes years in a vase.
The name "Dracaena Sanderiana" consists of the botanical designation of dracaena (dragon tree) and the name of the famous plant collector, "King of Orchids" Frederik Sander (1847-1920). Experienced gardener owned 60 greenhouses, where, together with his employees, he grew over 2 million plants. Selling noble flowers, Frederick Sander, who at that time lived and worked in England, became a famous orchid dealer. In those days, such people were called “plant hunters.” On their travels they found themselves in incredible adventures and they often paid with their lives for their hunt for plants. Frederik Sander could be called the "nerdy Indiana Jones." In his search for noble plants, Sander (or one of his employees) discovered and also classified our lucky bamboo, or Sander's dracaena.
This evergreen plant has green, oval-lanceolate leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, with white-yellow and silver-gray stripes. Mature plant reaches a height of up to 2 m. Over time, the slender trunk becomes bare, which gives the plant a majestic appearance.
The unusual spiral-shaped stem of Dracaena Sander is obtained thanks to one-sided lighting. The stems bend towards the light, the direction of which periodically changes. Sometimes the stems are twisted with wire. The formation of one ring takes up to a year. Both of these methods at first glance are not at all difficult, but they require truly enormous patience.
Reproduction of bamboo of happiness
One of the greatest mysteries of the bamboo of happiness is its propagation. To this day, it is still unknown exactly how this plant reproduces in a “natural” way.
Despite this, there are still several methods of breeding our pet. One of them is the division method. We cut the stem into several parts. In this case, the following rules must be observed: the cuts must be covered with soft wax. Do not use hot wax, which can burn the plant. The wax prevents the stem from drying out.
The cuttings are then placed in a glass of water to take root. After just a few weeks (or better yet, after a few months), we can easily transplant the cuttings and shoots into another substrate.
You can also process the ends of the cut stem on both sides, as shown in the figure: remove half the layer of wax (Fig. b).
Place the cutting horizontally in a flat bowl (c), the cut points must be constantly filled with water. But be careful with watering: the buds should be dry and not lying in water. As soon as the roots appear, the plant can be transplanted into the substrate. The bamboos of happiness are not demanding; inexpensive soil for flowers will be enough.
And finally, the easiest way is to cut the top cuttings and then root them in water or moist soil.
Kinds
Bamboo of happiness in water
Gardeners and sellers advise growing happiness bamboo in water. Some recommend changing the water weekly. But this is optional.
If water good quality, it will be enough to simply add fresh, clean water. Rainwater at room temperature is best because tap water can contain high concentrations of chlorine and well water can be contaminated with nitrates. If it is not possible to use rainwater, recommended tap water stand for at least 24 hours, reducing the concentration of harmful substances. To eliminate the unpleasant odor in the water that may appear after some time, add a little charcoal, which has excellent antibacterial properties.
To decorate the glass container in which your bamboo of happiness is placed, you can add multi-colored pebbles or pebbles, after washing them in hot water to avoid infections.
Growing happiness bamboo in the ground
Happiness bamboo can be planted in soil using any flower soil. Despite the fact that the plant feels great in water, it does not like stagnant moisture; the roots rot quite quickly. Various sources report that it is better to plant our dracaena Sander or bamboo of happiness in clay pots than plastic ones, since they have good ability evaporate excess water. There is an opinion that happiness bamboo feels better in a pot without a hole for water drainage, since the substrate will be wet all the time. But that's not true. Sooner or later, mold may form and affect the plant: it will turn yellow or the roots will begin to rot, causing the bamboo to dry out. Therefore, it is better to use pots with a hole to drain water.
Grow in room conditions Dracaena Sander is not difficult at all. It requires enough light, while avoiding direct sunlight, and abundant watering as the soil dries out.
Care and conditions of detention
Happiness bamboo is an unpretentious plant, which is why it is popular with many gardeners. But, like any flower, Dracaena Sandariana has its own individual characteristics keeping at home
Firstly, the plant, especially in summer, needs abundant watering.
Secondly, Lucky bamboo prefers diffused light. It does not need special lighting, and direct rays of the sun can cause burns on its leaves.
Third, It is not advisable to spray the plant; it is enough to wipe its leaves from dust with a damp cloth.
Fourthly, Sandera does not tolerate drafts well. The most favorable temperature for its normal growth is the range from +18 to +25 degrees Celsius. But it should be remembered that lucky bamboo is a heat-loving plant, so it is still necessary to provide it with the necessary temperature indicators. At temperatures below the specified range, Dracaena Sander may die.
Reproduction
"Laki bamboo" propagates in two ways: by seeds; cuttings
Plant seeds need to be soaked in water before they germinate in March. Seedlings are planted in soil, which consists of four parts: soil (2 parts) and sand (1 part), and drainage (1 part) is also required. Spray with a spray bottle daily. When the shoots appear, it is necessary to create a greenhouse effect for them: cover with polyethylene, organize additional lighting and optimal temperature regime. To avoid rotting of young shoots, it is recommended to ventilate the greenhouse at least three times a day.
For propagation of Dracaena Sandariana cuttings it is necessary to pinch off a small shoot from it. It is placed in water until roots appear. Then the plant is planted in water according to the previous algorithm. As a result of non-compliance with important recommendations for caring for the plant, certain problems may arise when growing “bamboo of happiness”: too low a temperature leads to curling of dracaena leaves and brown edges; bright lighting contributes to the appearance of dry light spots on the leaves; the result of insufficient watering or systematic cold drafts are brown edges and tips, spots on the leaves
Transfer
The most favorable time for this process - May-April;
When replanting, it is forbidden to fertilize the soil; it is advisable to feed it after three weeks (mineral fertilizers are added to the water and the “lucky bamboo” is watered with it);
Other fertilizer options: phosphorus, nitrogen, bird droppings; organizing abundant watering after replanting (the soil in the pot should not be allowed to dry out completely)
Diseases and pests
Why does the plant turn yellow?
It often happens that over time the stem of Dracaena Sandera turns yellow and then rots. Perhaps the plant is affected by an unknown disease, bacteria or mold. If you find a yellow spot, you need to act immediately, otherwise the whole plant will turn yellow very quickly.
Today there is only one effective method– this is amputation (cutting off the diseased section of the stem). After this, the cut area should be allowed to dry for several hours, and then disinfected with charcoal powder and covered with soft wax.
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Any of us will be very pleased to receive as a gift a plant with such an unusual name as “bamboo of happiness,” which hides a little secret. There are many myths and legends around this indoor plant, and its very name is misleading. After all, the bamboo of happiness has nothing in common with real bamboo! This beloved ornamental plant belongs to the Dracaena family. More precisely, the bamboo of happiness is Dracaena Sanderiana.
The Chinese designation for "bamboo of happiness" "Fu Gwey Zhu" is interpreted as follows:
This type of dracaena has been considered a symbol of happiness, health and success in Asia for many hundreds of years. The Chinese give it for any occasion: weddings, birthdays, New Years, etc. Thus, according to the teachings of Feng Shui, 3 stems of Dracaena Sander bring happiness, 5 attract energy and wealth, 7 health, 8 happiness and a cheerful mood, and a composition of 20 stems is called the “tower of love.”
But in the Middle Ages, real bamboo was given as a gift on the occasion of holidays. Such a gift, unfortunately, did not please for long, since real bamboo is not a houseplant and dies very quickly in a vase. About 100-150 years ago, Dracaena Sandera, supposedly native to South America or Africa, began to be used for these purposes. This plant is very similar in appearance to bamboo, but it is less demanding to care for and can last for months and sometimes years in a vase.
The name "Dracaena Sanderiana" consists of the botanical designation of dracaena (dragon tree) and the name of the famous plant collector, "King of Orchids" Frederik Sander (1847-1920). The experienced gardener owned 60 greenhouses, where he and his employees grew over 2 million plants. Selling noble flowers, Frederick Sander, who at that time lived and worked in England, became a famous orchid dealer. In those days, such people were called “plant hunters.” On their travels they had incredible adventures and often paid with their lives for their hunt for plants. Frederik Sander could be called the "nerdy Indiana Jones." In his search for noble plants, Sander (or one of his employees) discovered and also classified our lucky bamboo, or Sander's dracaena.
This evergreen plant has green, oval-lanceolate leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, with white-yellow and silver-gray stripes. An adult plant reaches a height of up to 2 m. Over time, the slender trunk becomes bare, which gives the plant a majestic appearance.
The unusual spiral-shaped stem of Dracaena Sander is obtained thanks to one-sided lighting. The stems bend towards the light, the direction of which periodically changes. Sometimes the stems are twisted with wire. The formation of one ring takes up to a year. Both of these methods at first glance are not at all difficult, but they require truly enormous patience.
Reproduction of bamboo of happiness
One of the greatest mysteries of the bamboo of happiness is its propagation. To this day, it is still unknown exactly how this plant reproduces in a “natural” way.
Despite this, there are still several methods of breeding our pet. One of them is the division method. We cut the stem into several parts. In this case, the following rules must be observed: the cuts must be covered with soft wax. Do not use hot wax, which can burn the plant. The wax prevents the stem from drying out.
The cuttings are then placed in a glass of water to take root. After just a few weeks (or better yet, after a few months), we can easily transplant the cuttings and shoots into another substrate.
You can also process the ends of the cut stem on both sides, as shown in the figure: remove half the layer of wax (Fig. b).
Place the cutting horizontally in a flat bowl (c), the cut points must be constantly filled with water. But be careful with watering: the buds should be dry and not lying in water. As soon as the roots appear, the plant can be transplanted into the substrate. The bamboos of happiness are not demanding; inexpensive soil for flowers will be enough.
And finally, the easiest way is to cut the top cuttings and then root them in water or moist soil.
Bamboo of happiness in water
Gardeners and sellers advise growing happiness bamboo in water. Some recommend changing the water weekly. But this is optional.
If the water is of good quality, it will be enough to simply add fresh, clean water. Rainwater at room temperature is best because tap water can contain high concentrations of chlorine and well water can be contaminated with nitrates. If it is not possible to use rainwater, it is recommended to leave tap water for at least 24 hours, reducing the concentration of harmful substances. To eliminate the unpleasant odor in the water that may appear after some time, add a little charcoal, which has excellent antibacterial properties.
To decorate the glass container in which your bamboo of happiness is placed, you can add colorful pebbles or pebbles, after washing them in hot water to avoid infections.
Growing happiness bamboo in the ground
Happiness bamboo can be planted in soil using any flower soil. Despite the fact that the plant feels great in water, it does not like stagnant moisture; the roots rot quite quickly. Various sources report that it is better to plant our Dracaena Sandera or lucky bamboo in clay pots rather than plastic ones, as they have a good ability to evaporate excess water. There is an opinion that happiness bamboo feels better in a pot without a hole for water drainage, since the substrate will be wet all the time. But that's not true. Sooner or later, mold may form and affect the plant: it will turn yellow or the roots will begin to rot, causing the bamboo to dry out. Therefore, it is better to use pots with a hole to drain water.
Growing Dracaena Sander indoors is not at all difficult. It requires enough light, while avoiding direct sunlight, and abundant watering as the soil dries out.
Why does the plant turn yellow?
It often happens that over time the stem of Dracaena Sandera turns yellow and then rots. Perhaps the plant is affected by an unknown disease, bacteria or mold. If you find a yellow spot, you need to act immediately, otherwise the whole plant will turn yellow very quickly.
Today there is only one effective method - amputation (cutting off the diseased section of the stem). After this, the cut area should be allowed to dry for several hours, and then disinfected with charcoal powder and covered with soft wax.
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“Lucky bamboo”, or correctly said, dracaena, has nothing to do with bamboo, just an elastic stem consisting of “segments”, very similar to a bamboo shoot, and “lucky” because according to Feng Shui it brings success and good luck to the house , wealth and joy.
All you need to do is place a pot or vase with three stems of this dracaena in your house - and happiness will come under your roof. If there are five stems, then wealth will come to you, seven stems will ensure health for all the inhabitants of your house, and twenty-one stems will provide you with widespread luck in everything you want. But the number of stems should in no case be even - this can attract misfortune.
“Bamboo of happiness” (dracaena) can be a straight reed, or it can be crowned with a fountain of shoots or a spiral - the stem is specially gradually twisted into rings. You can choose any option, especially since caring for them is exactly the same, and in general, quite simple.
Purchased dracaena can be left in water. Remove the stem with the nutrient solution and simply place it in a vase with purified water so that the liquid level is no higher than four to five centimeters, because if you immerse it to a greater depth, the roots will grow along the entire length of the stem and the plant will lose its attractiveness.
Once a week you need to change the water, and once a month you need to feed the “lucky bamboo” with mineral fertilizers for dracaenas - a few drops added directly to the vase are enough. The plant tolerates dry air well, so do not spray it often.
If you decide to move the “bamboo” into a pot of soil, make sure that there is soil with good drainage of liquid, so the lower part of the soil should include round or oval stones, as well as coarse sand. For the top layer, a universal soil for flowers is suitable, to which you can add peat and granules.
Dracaena should be watered frequently and abundantly, and from time to time the leaves should be wiped to remove dust.
In order for the “bamboo” to produce new shoots, you need to make a shallow horizontal cut above the thickening of the stem, and then the shoots will appear in the second or third week.
Propagation of “lucky bamboo” is simple: just cut off the top cuttings, cover the tops with crushed charcoal or soft wax and put them in water so that the shoots produce roots. When this happens, it’s time to plant the shoots in the soil.
If your plant turns yellow, this could happen for two reasons: the water contains a lot of salts or is too hard (tap water), or the “bamboo” is exposed to direct sunlight, so it is better to move it to the back of the room.
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