Lucky or Curly Bamboo

While on the Spoon River Drive last weekend I (October 2006) came across some curly (or lucky) bamboo for sale. This is a trendy plant that is found many places, including many malls. 

This plant is not a bamboo at all, but the popular houseplant Dracaena. This is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia or west tropical Africa. You will often find Dracaena growing in dish gardens. 

So how do they transform Dracaena into curly bamboo? As they age, these plants tend to develop long branchless stems with tufts of leaves at the top. Older stems are cut into various lengths and manipulated to twist and turn. Since this plant normally grows straight, growers place the plants in a space with light on only one side. Plants naturally grow toward light. To get them to twist, the plants are manually rotated periodically, forcing a new section to grow toward the light. 

Dracaena (or curly bamboo) is easy to grow. They grow in very low to high light and will grow in soil or water. When growing in water, consistently use one to three inches and change the water every two to three weeks. The plant will produce roots wherever the joints are covered with water. The higher the water level, the more roots it will develop, which can also add to the appearance, particularly in a clear vase. You can also add marbles, river rocks, or polished stones to the container for a decorative touch and to help hold the stalks upright. 

According to Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison, the plants can last for years in just plain water. However, Mahr suggests adding a droplet of liquid fertilizer to the water periodically to provide nutrients and help the plant grow more vigorously (supposedly the longer the leaves, the more fortune that is bestowed to you, so fertilizer may really be beneficial!). 

Curly bamboo is used in flower arrangements for unusual interest or alone as special decorations. It has many symbolizations and customs associated with it. It is a centuries old custom to break off a stalk for guests to take home. According to Feng Shui principles, it symbolizes good fortune and is popular during times of celebration. Supposedly three stalks attract happiness, five attract wealth, seven results in good health, and twenty-one stalks offer a very powerful all-purpose blessing. The stalks are often arranged in tiers or tied together in bundles.

Mahr says that lucky bamboo is "recommended by Feng Shui masters and practitioners for improving Feng Shui and creating a space where you feel safe and more energized to meet the demands of today's high-pressured world." Maybe a curly bamboo is just what you need in your home or office to live a better life. 

Originally published in Canton Daily Ledger on 10-21-2006