Bamboo

 

Lucky Bamboo, scientifically known as Dracena Sanderiana, is a beautiful shrub that resembles reeds. It is not a reed as many people think or as its synonymous name might suggest. It belongs to the lily family, which contains many species. Its original habitat is the rainforests of Cameroon, while some believe that its original habitat is Southeast Asia. It can reach a height of one and a half meters. It is a plant that accepts shaping with metal wires to take the beautiful spiral shape that we see in the markets, but it requires patience, time and effort.

Taking care of it

Bamboo grows successfully in an aquatic environment provided that some conditions are taken into account (such as ensuring that the water has very little salinity, and not using household tap water for irrigation unless it is left in an open container for at least a full day to reduce the percentage of chlorine that is harmful to the plant, changing the water every day or two when the roots are new or a week or more if the roots are dense and large, and it is preferable for the container containing the plant to be transparent because this benefits the roots and helps them grow) if we want it to have a long life and good health, and the plant can grow successfully in an environment of loose, well-ventilated soil, two-thirds of the soil is peat moss and a third is regular soil.

It needs indirect light and must be protected from direct rays; because it causes yellowing of the leaves and wilting of the plant, and the black roots must be pruned. The plant is watered regularly and the dryness of the soil surface is a sign that we can use to indicate the next watering time, as irregular watering causes brown spots on the leaves, which generally distorts the plant. Fertilize once or twice a month with a quarter of the amount written on the fertilizer box.

Propagation

This plant is propagated by cuttings in hydroponics (the cuttings are placed halfway in water) or in peat soil with a little regular soil added after treating the cuttings with a growth hormone (powder) often.

Bamboo care methods

The bamboo plant (in English) Lucky Bamboo brings luck when placed inside the house or office, and is characterized by strength, flexibility, and rapid growth in a straight manner, so the bamboo stem appears hollow from the inside, and it is considered a symbol of nobility, but it needs care and attention when planting it, and this is done by following the following steps:

Proper Planting of the Plant

Bamboo is called by many names; such as curly bamboo, Chinese water bamboo, friendship bamboo, and others. It is an easy-to-grow indoor plant, whether planted in water or in soil, as it can grow to a height of approximately 60 cm to 1 m. The following is a review of some tips when planting it:

Planting in water: This is done by filling the bottom of the planting pot with pebbles, then adding a sufficient amount of water to a few centimeters above it, as the roots of the plant must be immersed in water, and changed every week or two to prevent rot.

Planting in soil: This is done by using well-ventilated and well-drained soil, so that the soil remains moist, but without immersing the plant in water.

Protecting bamboo from rot

Bamboo is protected from rot by providing sufficient amounts of water, but not more than the plant needs. The roots should be completely submerged in water, while most of the stems and leaves are at the top. If bamboo is planted in a tall pot filled with water, the stem may rot and turn yellow.

 

If the roots are not trimmed after they exceed the glass pot, they will turn gray or black. If the plant lives in water, it should be changed at least every three weeks. The bamboo plant requires indirect light to grow, in addition to cutting the thin roots as soon as they appear.

 

Continuous fertilization of the plant

Bamboo is fertilized every two or three months using liquid home fertilizers, which are used for all plants. This is done by adding one drop to the water in which the bamboo lives, but excessive fertilization and fertilization should be avoided. This process is done during the spring, summer, and fall months only.

Providing good lighting for the plant

Bamboo plants should be kept in a location that receives indirect sunlight throughout the day to achieve optimal growth. The direction of bamboo growth is controlled by blocking light from three sides of the plant, and shining bright light on the fourth side, so that the plant will grow towards the source Light, and the location of the light source is changed after significant growth occurs, so the plant continues to follow the light, which leads to the appearance of curly stems.

Watering bamboo plants

Bamboo plants need to be watered with distilled or treated water because they are very sensitive to chemicals such as chlorine. They are watered with tap water after it has stagnated for up to 42 hours to ensure that the chlorine evaporates.

 

In the case of growing bamboo in water, the water in the pot must be changed every week to prevent diseases and get rid of bad odors. When the bamboo roots are red, they are in good health. Bamboo planted in soil is watered regularly, and it is preferable to do this once a week because adding too much water to the soil negatively affects its growth. Bamboo is watered after the top layer of soil dries. Bamboo plants also need to cover the roots with water when they appear, and as their growth increases, the amount of water they grow in increases. The higher the bamboo stem, the more the roots and upper leaves grow.

 

Providing the right temperature and humidity

Bamboo lives in warm climates, preferring temperatures between 18-32 degrees Celsius, so it is classified as an indoor plant, and bamboo should not be left in places where hot or cold air currents pass. It also grows in medium humidity, where it grows specifically in places where the humidity reaches 50%. If the humidity in the house is low, it can be increased using a humidifier.

Pruning bamboo

The importance of pruning bamboo lies in keeping it healthy and sound. Bamboo is pruned by cutting the shoots using sterile scissors, at a distance ranging between 2-5 cm from the main trunk, which leads to the emergence of new shoots and the production of a dense plant. Paraffin is also placed on the cut site to stop any new growth. It should be noted that pruning is not what determines the shape of the bamboo plant, but rather the rotation of the bamboo stems towards the light rays, as it grows towards the light source.

Providing the appropriate soil

Bamboo grows in moist, rich, well-drained soil, full of gravel. Bamboo thrives in clay soil that contains sand, silt, and clay in equal quantities, and thus retains moisture without saturating it with water. This leads to the bamboo plant not drying out. It is worth noting that clay retains the nutrients added to the soil. Bamboo can also be grown and grown in water, as mentioned above.

Shaping the plant

A spiral shape can be formed from the bamboo plant by controlling the light source, by making a box from cardboard, cutting one side of it, placing the bamboo plant inside it, and adjusting the other side The open box is opened towards the light source. The bamboo begins to lean towards the light rays, then rotates to continue growing towards the light, and continues to rotate towards the light source, until the spiral appearance is formed.

Problems that may affect bamboo plants and their treatment

The process of growing bamboo plants faces several problems, and they are treated in different ways. The following are some of the problems and their solutions:

Burning the tips of the plant leaves

Watering the bamboo plant with water that contains a high percentage of chlorine, fluoride, and chemicals causes the tips of the leaves to burn and turn brown, which leads to the death of the plant over time. This problem is treated by cutting the burnt leaves with sharp, sterile scissors, and removing the fallen leaves in the water; so that they do not rot and cause bacteria to enter the bamboo.

Blackening of the roots

Healthy roots of the bamboo plant are colored in one of the two colors, red or orange, and the roots of the bamboo plant may become black as a result of many factors. It is best to cut these roots using small, clean scissors and then put the bamboo in clean, new water.

Algae Appearance

Placing bamboo in water inside a transparent container leads to light penetration, which in turn stimulates the growth of algae. Cleaning the container with water and dishwashing liquid helps get rid of algae, and placing the bamboo in a non-transparent container, and filling the container with fresh water once every seven days.

 

Yellowing leaves

 

Bright sunlight causes the bamboo plant to turn yellow, and adding a large amount of fertilizers leads to yellowing of the leaves, so the bamboo should be moved to a slightly shaded place, and the amount of fertilizers should be reduced. Yellowing of the leaves may also be an indication that the bamboo needs a larger container.

Redness of the leaves

Both low humidity and polluted water lead to reddening of the bamboo leaves, and this problem is treated by spraying the plant with water to raise the humidity level, and it is necessary to ensure that the water in which the bamboo is placed is clean.

Weak stems

The weakness of the bamboo stems indicates the beginning of their rotting, as they become soft in texture and appear black in color, then they are dead or on their way to death, among the reasons that contribute to the weakness of the stems are poor water quality, and the formation of fungi and bacteria that may infect uninfected stems.

 

Therefore, these stems must be disposed of completely, and the living stems must be kept, with the necessity of changing the water in the container in which the bamboo is placed, and replacing the pebbles.

 

Bamboo plant pests

Bamboo plants are infected with some common pests, such as: mealybugs, and mites, as well as fungal infections, and the presence of gray fluff, are an indication of the bamboo being infected with fungi, and then it is necessary to remove the infected part, and keep the stem and leaves dry, while ensuring the passage of air current.

While mealybugs are small white insects that can be removed manually or using rubbing alcohol, they can also be removed by making a liquid made of water and dishwashing liquid.

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