What is Dracaena sanderiana and how to grow indoor bamboo at home?

The original palm tree known as Dracaena sanderiana, better known as indoor bamboo, has been used in feng shui for thousands of years. Recently, this ornamental plant has become popular in homes and offices. It is hardy, undemanding, and looks at home in modern interiors.

Brief description

Dracaena sanderiana is a succulent that is not related to common bamboo: it belongs to the asparagus family. The trunk of this evergreen plant has internodes, which is why it is called "bamboo."

Dracaena is also known as dragon tree, palm tree, lucky bamboo, and dragon's tongue. It is prized for its ease of care and unique appearance.

Brief description of the plant:

• stem – hollow inside, bare, segmented, leaves and shoots – at the top;
• leaves are lanceolate, up to 25 cm long, up to 3 cm wide;
• color – bright green, dark green, golden;
• blooms once in a lifetime and only in nature – it produces a peduncle with small white flowers;
• The roots are powerful and overgrown – they need a spacious container.

Indoor bamboo expends a tremendous amount of energy to bloom. Once it finishes blooming, it dies. Those lucky enough to see lucky bamboo bloom say its flowers have a very pleasant scent.

Dracaena sanderiana is not related to bamboo, but, like it, it grows very quickly: in 3-4 months the plant reaches 1 m in height.

The best varieties

The most popular variety of Dracaena sanderiana is Lucky Bamboo. Its stems are straight, but they can be twisted into a spiral for decorative purposes. The photo of Dracaena Lucky Bamboo shows what a ring-shaped stem, artificially twisted, looks like.

Breeders have also developed other types of bamboo dracaena:

1. White Stripe Victory. The main difference is the white longitudinal stripes on the light green leaves.
2. White Stripe Gold. Its leaves have white stripes and a yellow edge.
3. Lucky Gold. The leaves have a yellow border along the edges and yellow streaks in the center.
4. Golden Lotus. Striped, yellow-green leaves, with yellow predominating.
5. Boringuensis. The light green leaves have a dark green border along the edges.
6. Moon Shine. Green leaves with white and silver stripes.
7. White. There is a wide green stripe down the center of the white leaf blades.
8. Whiskers. Green leaves have a white stripe down the center.

Care Features

Indoor bamboo isn't particularly fussy or demanding, but to ensure a beautiful and healthy plant, certain rules must be followed. Caring for indoor bamboo at home involves maintaining a comfortable environment and following a few simple steps.

Where to place

This bamboo-like plant prefers to grow in a well-lit area. However, indoors, it should be positioned to avoid exposure to direct UV rays, which can burn the above-ground parts of the plant.

Lighting features and location:

1. On the windowsill, a bamboo pot should be positioned so that it receives diffused rather than direct sunlight during the sun's highest hours. This can be easily achieved by placing the pot on an east- or west-facing window.
2. In summer, it's recommended to move the plant outside. Position it so it's protected from sun, rain, and wind.
3. During the cold season, fluorescent lamps are turned on to prevent the bamboo palm leaves from turning yellow and falling off.

Dracaena doesn't like cold, so it's recommended to keep it away from windows in winter. The plant doesn't respond well to drafts, so when airing rooms, move it away from currents.

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Humidity and temperature

Indoor bamboo is native to equatorial Africa, so it thrives in warm conditions. It grows best at temperatures of 22 to 26°C. It tolerates heat well and thrives at 30 to 32°C. Cold is detrimental to this tropical plant. The minimum average daily temperature in winter is -18°C.

Like any tropical plant, Dracaena sanderiana prefers to grow in high humidity:

• in summer, the palm tree is not only watered, but also sprayed with settled water from a spray bottle;
• If the heat is strong, give the bamboo a small shower with warm water;
• During the winter, the palm tree is kept away from heat sources: the air near them is always too dry;
• To increase humidity, place a wide container filled with water near the plant pot.

Watering

Bamboo palms require regular watering. Broadleaf varieties should be watered every two days, while narrowleaf varieties should be watered twice a week. It's important not to allow the soil to dry out. If the soil dries out even with normal watering, the plant needs more water.

Watering features:

1. The taller the indoor bamboo, the more water it needs.
2. To simplify the process, water is poured directly into the tray – it is absorbed into the substrate through the drainage holes.
3. After three hours, drain the residue from the tray to prevent moisture stagnation and root rot.

Water your bamboo tree with filtered and settled water, ideally rainwater, as tap water contains too many dangerous impurities. Freeze-thawed water can also be used.

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Transfer

Over time, the plant will develop a root system, so it will need to be replanted into a more spacious container.

How to transplant indoor bamboo:

1. The best time is April-May.
2. Young plants require repotting once a year, adults – once every three years.
3. The plant is placed in the center of the container so that the roots touch the drainage layer.
4. The roots are covered with soil and compacted lightly to release air. If the soil is not compacted, it may eventually settle and expose the trunk.

The transplanted plant is watered generously and periodically moistened to prevent drying out. The soil is loosened every 5-7 days.

Fertilizers

The plant needs to be fed every 1-2 months. It's best to use liquid mineral fertilizers for ornamental plants. Mixes specifically designed for indoor bamboos are available commercially.

Fertilizing frequency is determined experimentally. The plant's health is the guide: if leaves turn yellow or fall off after overfeeding, then the plant needs to be fertilized half as often.

Trimming

To make bamboo look decorative, it is pruned periodically:

• regularly remove dried shoots from the lower part of the stem;
• to keep the plant tall and with a straight stem, periodically trim the side shoots;
• lubricate the cut areas with wax or sprinkle with wood ash;
• To keep the tree short, the stem is cut slightly above the node and notched - now the bamboo will not grow upwards, but will produce lateral branches.

Growing in water

Dracaena sanderiana is grown not only in substrate but also in water. Any container can be chosen for this purpose, but indoor bamboo looks most beautiful in a glass vase. One or several bamboo plants are placed in the container, tying them together with ribbons.

Features and rules of growing in water:

1. Pebbles washed in boiling water are placed on the bottom of the container.
2. Only completely healthy plants are planted in water: planting in an aquatic environment will aggravate existing diseases.
3. Fill the container with soft water (settled rainwater or distilled water). Tap water is not suitable, even if filtered.
4. The roots should be completely submerged in water—the water level must not be allowed to drop. Add water if necessary.
5. The water should be changed once a week. Every three months, mineral fertilizer should be added during the water change.

Formation

Indoor bamboo stems are very flexible and ideal for forming various compositions.

Formation options:

1. Spiral. To create a spiral-shaped stem, it is placed in a glass tube of the appropriate shape. Once it reaches a certain size, the stem is removed from the "corset." After this, it retains its acquired shape for a long time.
2. Intertwining. This method is much easier to execute, and most importantly, it doesn't require glass tubes, which are not easy to find commercially. The stems are simply intertwined and secured at the knots with soft wire.

Reproduction

Dracaena sanderiana can be propagated in two ways: by cuttings or by seed. The first method is simpler and quicker, and it is the one most amateur gardeners use to propagate this exotic houseplant.

How to propagate lucky bamboo by cuttings:

1. Using an apical shoot. Cut at least 15 cm from the top of a mature bush and wax the cut to prevent rot. Place the cutting in water with a growth stimulant diluted in it. Once roots appear, it can be replanted in soil.
2. Stem cuttings. If propagation from the palm's tip fails, the stem is cut off and trimmed into pieces, each with a growing point. The planting material is placed in water, and after roots appear, it is planted in soil.

Propagating Dracaena sanderiana from seeds indoors is quite difficult due to their poor germination rate. However, if the seeds do germinate and produce seedlings, ideal conditions must be created for the seedlings: they require consistent daylight hours and a constant temperature throughout the year.

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Diseases and pests

The dragon tree has a strong immune system and is not prone to disease. However, if growing conditions are improper, the plant can become ill, and if left untreated, it may even die.

What problems do indoor bamboo have?

1. The leaves are covered in dark spots: signs of fungal rot. The affected areas should be cut off, the cut surfaces treated with wax, and the bush itself sprayed with a fungicide.
2. The leaves have darkened and fallen off. This happens when the plant is too cold. It's important to maintain the temperature within normal limits.
3. Sticky leaves indicate the presence of aphids. These pests suck the plant's juices, so it's important to treat it immediately with an insecticide, such as Actellic.
4. A barely noticeable web has appeared on the leaves, indicating the presence of spider mites. These tiny insects suck the juices from the above-ground parts of the plant. It should be treated with an insecticide, such as "Aktara."
5. The palm tree is growing slowly, and its stem and leaves have turned yellow. This indicates a fertilizer deficiency or excess. It's necessary to adjust the fertilizer application.
6. Leaves are falling off. This is due to improper watering or a water shortage. Another possible cause is age-related leaf renewal.

Lucky bamboo is a wonderful plant prized for its low maintenance, originality, and the ability to manipulate its shape. This small palm is ideal for modern interiors and makes a great gift as a good luck charm.