Lucky Bamboo, the Bamboo Plant and Feng Shui
There are a lot of things to consider when combining a bamboo plant and Feng Shui, especially with regards to the bamboo plant’s placement in your home, office or room. There is also a bit of confusion regarding the bamboo plant and Feng Shui… and the lucky bamboo plant and Feng Shui.
Let’s start with the normal bamboo plant and Feng Shui. Bamboo represents the five elements of Feng Shui: wood, in the bamboo itself, earth, in the soil and dirt, water, in the water that nourishes the bamboo plant, fire, in a red ribbon that is tied around the bamboo plant, and metal, in the form of a glass pot or a metal coin or figurine placed alongside the bamboo. The bamboo plant and Feng Shui are often associated with each other, not only because the bamboo plant represents the five elements of Feng Shui, but because it is recognized in China as a hardy plant, and one that is resilient in a lot of conditions, and thus believed to bring luck and fortune into the home.
The problem with the traditional bamboo plant and Feng Shui however, is that bamboo can grow to extreme heights, and is very difficult to implement in the modern house or apartment. To overcome this difficulty, Feng Shui practitioners have ‘modernized’ bamboo in the form of what is known as ‘lucky bamboo’, which is almost like a miniaturized version of traditional bamboo.
The lucky bamboo plant and traditional bamboo plant and Feng Shui are all related and interchangeable. In fact, many practitioners prefer the lucky bamboo plant and Feng Shui for its convenience. It’s also incredibly easy to look after – water it once a week, keep it out of direct sunlight and it will just grow!
To see a lucky bamboo plant, click here.
It is also possible to enhance the effect of the lucky bamboo plant and Feng Shui. By changing the number of bamboo stalks, different qi effects can be achieved: 3 or 6 stalks represents happiness, 5 or 7 stalks represents health, 2 stalks represents love and marriage, 8 stalks represents wealth and abundance, 9 stalks represents general good luck, and 21 stalks represents blessings for the home. The bamboo plant and Feng Shui can also be modified and decorated for additional effect. The luck bamboo plant is usually hydroponic in nature, and so can be grown in just water. Feng Shui practitioners usually place the plant in water, with pebbles or marbles to stabilize the plant. This adds both the water and earth elements to the lucky bamboo plant. This is all encased in a glass pot (representing metal), which also conveniently allows us to monitor the quality and level of water in the pot. A red ribbon is usually used to secure the bamboo stems together, and at the same time adds the fire element to the plant.
You can have lucky bamboo plant delivered to your home by clicking here. You can also find lucky bamboo plants already enhanced by Feng Shui practitioners such as these ones here and here.
Here are some tips to help you care for your lucky bamboo plant and Feng Shui, and hopefully keep it alive and healthy! Apart from watering your plant once a week, be sure to monitor the water for algae – algae thrives in the open light that a glass pot allows for and needs to be kept under control. If the plant’s stem or leaves start to yellow or darken, then consider using rainwater or filtered water rather than tap water for your lucky bamboo plant and Feng Shui – the plant is very sensitive to fluoride and other chemicals typically found in tap water.
Like everything else in Feng Shui, the bamboo plant and Feng Shui should be in alignment, and placed according to the bagua compass.