Grow Shamrocks and Bamboo Indoors

Luck of the Irish
Shamrocks have been associated with good luck by the Irish since the earliest of times. The tradition continues today on St. Patrick’s Day, when many people all over the world continue to wear shamrocks and green clothing to celebrate.

The green shamrock we are most familiar with as a lucky symbol is a form of white clover with three green leaves and white flowers. While there are other varieties of shamrocks, the white clover is the only type that occasionally produces the four-leaf clover. Each leaf has a special meaning; one for faith, one for hope, one for love and the fourth for luck.

Shamrocks love sunlight and springtime so much that their leaflets actually open during the day and close at night. They also begin growing and blooming in the spring and go dormant during the winter.

Shamrocks are very easy to grow, but they do have a few key requirements:

• They like cool air, moist soil, and sunny areas for best growth and flowering. If you start with shamrock bulbs, they will need to develop in a shaded location before being placed in the sun.

• Shamrocks will need a couple rest periods every year to do their best. When the plant starts to look wilted or droopy or as winter approaches, stop watering and prune the leaves off once they begin to turn brown. Set the pot where it can remain cool and dry for about two or three months. After they have enjoyed their restful “vacation” you can resume watering and give them all-purpose houseplant food. Before long you will be rewarded with a bright new set of growth.

• When you begin to see roots poking out the bottom of your tray or planter you should remove the bulbs, separate them and replant just under the surface in good, houseplant soil.

Lucky Bamboo
Lucky Bamboo plants have found a welcome spot in many homes, where they are treasured for their interesting, sculptural shapes and symbolism.

With its bright green hues, strength and vitality, bamboo has been considered a symbol of good fortune in Asian cultures for over 4,000 years because of it’s ability to thrive and adapt well to many environments and surroundings.

Lucky Bamboo plants are very simple to care for and can be grown in a container or jar filled with water and decorative rocks, pebbles or marbles. Here are a few more indoor gardening tips to keep in mind when caring for your lucky bamboo:

• It is important that the water be kept clean and fresh, and since tap water is often treated with chlorine, fluoride, and salt it’s a good idea to let the water sit out for a few hours before using to prevent browning or yellowing of the plant.
  
• Bamboo naturally grows under a lush rainforest canopy, so encouraging indoor growth with bright, yet indirect light is ideal.
  
• For nutrients, you can occasionally use a very diluted houseplant food solution. Use a very small amount to prevent burning of the roots and yellowing of the leaves.
  
• Keep lucky bamboo out of reach of pets. Lucky Bamboo is actually a plant called Dracaena Sanderiana, which can be harmful to animals if ingested.

Bring Harmony into Your Home
Where you place your lucky plants and how you display them in your home can add positive reinforcement to your environment and bring harmony into your surroundings. Bringing the natural world inside with healthy houseplants is also the easiest way to improve the overall vitality of your space.

Try some of these tips for placing and displaying lucky plants around your home:

• Many times our homes are filled with straight lines and patterns and very few natural colors and shapes. Look for areas that could use some natural energy and add a Lucky Bamboo plant on a table or shamrock plant in a windowsill.
• Lucky Bamboo often comes with red (representing health and life) or gold (representing good fortune and prosperity) ribbon tied around it, but if yours doesn’t have ribbon, feel free to add your own. Try using a glass container for your plant so you can easily see when the water level gets low and display colorful or unique pebbles and stones.
• Healthy plants are believed to represent flexibility, success or prosperity and endurance. Place your plants in spaces where you could you use a little extra support in those areas. This could be on the corner of your desk, in a workspace or in an exercise area in your home.
• Plant clusters of shamrock plants in pots with trays and place inside a window box that fits your décor. Fill the spaces between with garden rocks or decorative moss. Set in a window, on a bench in a sunny entryway or on a table in your sunroom.
• Gifts of shamrocks or lucky bamboo are a great way to pass on harmony and good luck, and make a particularly meaningful gift for a housewarming, grand opening party, or work celebrations. Look for bright green leaves and thick stalks or stems when you go to purchase.

With any luck these plants will make a fresh addition to your household, and be a constant reminder of life and good fortune.