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Lucky Bamboo Flowers: Everything to Know About Them

Did you know? People in China do not say “Good Luck” or “Best of Luck”; they gift a Lucky Bamboo and say “Ni hao” whenever they have to wish luck.

Of Course, I am kidding! But trust me when I say this; They sure believe that this plant brings good luck, fortune, and prosperity.

Although Lucky Bamboo rarely flowers, it produces cluster-like white inflorescences when it does. It is not known to bloom indoors but only in its natural habitat.

Dracaena sanderiana
Dracaena sanderiana (Source: Wikimedia)

Getting this plant to bloom may be a tedious task but can be exciting if you are brave enough.

Look below for everything we have to offer on how to make a Lucky Bamboo bloom.

How Often does Lucky Bamboo Plant Bloom?

Lucky Bamboo is an ‘easy-to-grow’ plant with greater cultural significance. People believe that it brings good luck and good fortune.

It is famous for its exotic foliage, so people usually do not bat their eyes on the flower.

The plant gets back to us by not blooming very frequently. It is a rare sight to witness the Lucky Bamboo blooming.

Lucky Bamboo Flower
Lucky Bamboo Flower (Source: Plants.ces.ncsu.edu)

Lucky Bamboo is an indoor plant with a rare blooming habit. Contradicting many household plants, it blooms during autumn or winter.

However, in the plant’s natural habitat, Lucky Bamboo blooms normally during summer.

The Dracaena blooms are short-lived and usually last for 4-7 days.

As you know that the plant blooms during fall, and many believe that the flower is induced by environmental stress.

So if you see Lucky Bamboo bloom, it may be due to external pressure.

You may get to see the flowers of the Dracaena Lucky Bamboo after they are mature. Dracaenas might take a whopping 5 to 10 years to bloom again.

Are you trying to make this plant bloom indoors? Well, good luck with that.

Lucky Bamboo Flower Overview

Let’s look at the simple overview of Lucky Bamboo.

StructureCluster like Inflorescences that arch to the ground
Size3 feet in length
ColorWhite
FragranceIntense fragrance
ToxicityToxic to pets
LifespanAbout 4 to 7 days
FruitsGlobe seeded berries having up to 3 seeds
Blooming SeasonFall and Winter

Lucky Bamboo flowers are short-lived, so you might not have to spend so much time looking after them.

Be aware! The blooms of Lucky Bamboo can cause headaches to some people.

When it comes to pollination, Lucky Bamboo is a ‘self-pollinator,’ meaning that the pollen from the anther of this flower transfers to the stigma of the same flower.

Detailed Flower View
Lucky Bamboo Flower Detailed View (Source: Idtools)

But if you want to pollinate your plants manually, follow the following steps.

  • Grab an artist’s paintbrush and a sterilized knife.
  • Collect the pollen of Lucky Bamboo after it blooms.
  • Reveal the stigma of the flower. It is located at the end of the silk.
  • Rub the brush over the stigma and dip it in pollen.
  • Thoroughly rub the brush again on the pollen, ensuring that the stigma holds a lot of pollen.

Although the best way to pollinate the Lucky Bamboo is with the help of insects or birds, by using the above technique, you can force pollinate it.

Some people in the ‘Palmtalk‘ forum have also suggested that waving a plant’s flower over another can also help pollinate.

How to Make a Lucky Bamboo Flower?

People usually do not expect the Lucky Bamboo to flower. This plant has exotic foliage and is famous worldwide for that particular reason.

Though it is practically impossible to make a Lucky Bamboo flower indoors, you might still want to try it. Who knows, maybe your lucky stars are shining.

Below are the conditions required to make the Lucky Bamboo flower.

  • It would help ensure that the plant was going through any environmental changes or any stress. Lucky Bamboo usually flowers when stressed.
  • Provide the plant with a lot of indirect light as a plant needs lots of energy to produce flowers. Remember, bright but indirect light.
Bright Indirect Light
Bright Indirect Light (Source: Mr.HousePlant)
  • It would be best if you moved the plant outsides during the springtime when the light it gets on the window is not sufficient.
  • Make sure that you do not overwater the plant. Let the top 50% of the soil dry out before watering the plant again. Check if the drainage holes are functioning correctly.
  • The key is to make the plants stressed. So, it would be best to let your plants be slightly rootbound. Do not immediately repot the plant as soon as you witness rootbound.
  • Lucky Bamboo prefers warm temperatures. So, it is the same condition required to make it bloom. Ensure the temperature is between 68-85°F to have any shot at making it flower.
  • Fertilizers that are rich in phosphorous are beneficial in making the plant bloom.
A Collection Of Spiral Lucky Bamboos
A Collection Of Spiral Lucky Bamboos (Source: Unsplash)

What Should you do With Lucky Bamboo Flowers?

Once you witness the blooms of Lucky Bamboo, it’s totally up to you to whether keep the flowers intact or cut them.

You may not need to shower it with love after the flower blooms, as they are short-lived.

As Lucky Bamboo blooms, nutrition does not spread to the stem and leaves; the flowers must be removed as soon as they bloom.

Cutting plant with scissors
Pruning Plant with Scissors (Source: Amazon)

Lucky Bamboo grows attractive flowers with a strong scent. But sometimes, saying the blooms ‘bye-bye’ is the best thing you can do to that plant.

Let’s look at why you should cut off the flowers of Lucky Bamboo.

  • The pollen and the nectars fall on the plant’s foliage, giving it a messy look.
  • The plant has to divide its nutrients for the foliage and the flower. This division will affect the foliage growth.
  • After you cut the flowers, the stem will continue its growth.

But the flower is not that bad in the looks department. You can keep the flower intact for its looks, but you will have to compromise the foliage’s growth.

How to Cut Lucky Bamboo Flowers?

If you decide to cut the flower, do not do it haphazardly. Follow the steps below to cut it properly.

  • The cutting procedure should always be done early in the morning when the plant is full of moisture and energy.
  • Prepare the required tools like pruning shears and gardening gloves.
  • Gently take hold of the flower from its base.
  • Cut the stalk connecting the flower to the plant a few centimeters above the base.
  • Or, you can deadhead the plant completely to let the stem continue from that point.
Pruning leaves using fingers
Plucking flowers using fingers (Source: Unsplash)
  • You can also grab the flower and pluck it from the base with your hand.
  • Make sure you do no damage to the neighboring stems and leaves.

The flowers of Lucky Bamboo do not have much use. They have a good appearance, but other than that, they are pretty useless.

The foliage of this plant is famous among people worldwide, but they do not usually talk about the flower.

Health Considerations to Keep in Mind

The Lucky Bamboo may bring luck and fortune to you and your family, but if you consider your pets, the Lucky Bamboo might prove to be dangerous.

According to ASPCA, plants in the Dracaena genus contain a compound saponin that is toxic to cats and dogs.

Saponins are toxic compounds that protect the plant from different pests, fungi, bacteria, etc. When humans or pests ingest this compound, it can be harmful.

If your pets chew the plant or its flower, they may exhibit symptoms like anorexia, hypersalivation, vomiting (sometimes with blood), depression, etc.

A cat trying to eat the indoor plants by climbing the chair
A cat trying to eat a plant (Source: Pexels)

Lucky Bamboo flowers can be very toxic depending on the amount of ingestion.

Although there is not enough evidence to support the flower’s toxicity, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

If you find your child has ingested this plant, you can contact the American Association of Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.

For pets, contact ASPCA Poison Center at (800) 426-4435.

Read more: Is Lucky Bamboo Toxic to Cats?

To Wrap It Up!

Making the Lucky Bamboo bloom can be tedious if you are not patient enough.

You can respect the integrity of the plant and use it for good lucks, or get experimental and satisfy yourself with the short-lived blooms.

Good luck with the choice!

You may get interested in reading about; Fertilizers for Lucky Bamboo

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