Bamboo for Good Luck By Yonghua He

In many Chinese households, you’ll find a simple, glass vase with three or four green stalks inside.

Called “lucky bamboo,” this simple plant, a member of the Dracaena family, has been treasured in Asia as a symbol of good fortune for thousands of years.

This is because of its ability to thrive in an indoor environment, in conditions where there’s not a lot of light.

In fact, in the ancient Chinese practice of balancing your environment, called Feng Shui, bamboo is a valued addition.

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Tall, slender and green, it’s a powerful symbol of the wood element to use along woth fire, earth, water and metal. The Chinese believe bamboo can affect and nurture the energy of life.

This “chi” or positive life flow is believed to be affected by bamboo because of its ability to grow and flourish in the home in low-light areas where many other plants could not survive.

Sometimes, you will see bamboo wrapped in a red ribbon. This is also an element of Feng Shui, the red symbolizing fire, which would serve to “ignite” the positive effects of the bamboo.

Even the number of bamboo stalks in the vase or bowl has a meaning in Chinese beliefs. Three stalks is believed to attract happiness, while five stalks are supposed to attract wealth. Seven stalks means good health and, for a very powerful blessing, a full 21 stalks is required.

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While bamboo is known for its ability to thrive, you do need to nurture it a little, as you would with any indoor plant.

Keep it away from direct sunlight, or you may cause it to brown and wither. Remember, it’s usually found in dense rainforests where it doesn’t get a whole lot of light anyway.  

Along those same lines, don’t plant it oudoors (unless, of course, you live in a rainforest!). It doesn’t like temperatures below 60 degrees and must be kept moist, either in some fresh water or wet soil.