The Feng Shui Shop

Lucky Bamboo makes the perfect house or office plant. It needs little care, about an inch of water and a little indirect sunlight will keep it happy and thriving. It is symbolically important in feng shui when it combines all five elements; water, earth, fire, metal and wood.

The lucky bamboo isn’t a bamboo at all though it has been called that for centuries. It is actually a member of the Dracaena family and is native to the dark tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

If you remember it’s native habitat it makes caring for it a breeze. Change the water about once a week and occasionally give it a weak solution of african violet food. Keep the temperature between 65 and 70 degrees and keep it out of direct sunlight and it will do fine. If the leaves begin to yellow it is usually one of two things:
The water is flouridated. Most tap water contains chlorine, flouride and other chemicals. Avoid this problem by using rainwater, spring water or distilled water.
The plant is getting too much sun. Remember this plant is native to the dark floor of the tropical rainforest. It is adapted to indirect light. Take your lucky bamboo out of the windowsill and move it to the interior of your home. It will thank you by remaining healthy.

Lucky Bamboo has long been associated with the practice of Feng Shui by bringing the natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance within the environment. Most lucky bamboo plants have a red ribbon which represents the element of fire. The bamboo represents the wood, the water and the earth are represented by the rocks and growing meduium the plant grows in, and the metal element is the pot the bamboo grows in. In feng shui glass is a metal element. If the pot isn’t a metal element often a metal coin or figurine is placed in it.

The number of stalks also has meaning : three stalks for happiness; five stalks for wealth; six stalks for health. Four stalks, however, are always avoided since the word “four” in Chinese sounds too similar to the Chinese word for “death”!

It’s important to note that while the use of lucky bamboo in the practice of feng shui is traditional, it is certainly not required that you use this plant. The lucky bamboo has cultural significance in the far east but if it doesn’t resonate with you feel free to use the five elements with a plant that does resonate with you.