January - Nueces County

MG GAZETTE
MISSION:
The mission of the association shall be to organize and promote volunteer efforts that
Support Extension programs advancing sound horticultural practices in Nueces County.
Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc.
Issue 01 January 2015
HTTP://NUECES.AGRILIFE.ORG
Plant
Lucky Bamboo
January Topics
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Botanical Name
Dracaena Sanderiana
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MG Officers
President’s Corner
Happenings
Agent’s Notes
Potluck Lunch
Meeting Dates
Thank You!
Garden Book
Birthdays
2015 Dues
Vounteer Hours
Deadline
Volunteer
Opportunities
Free CE Hours
MG’s In Action
Tree With 40 Kinds
of Fruit
Home & Garden
State Directors
Meeting
Jenny’s Stuff
Growing Lucky
Bamboo
Feng Shui Numbers
MG Officers and Elect 2015
President
Deborah Holliday
(956) 433-7110
El
Debra Martin
(361) 815-1867
Alene Burch
(361) 334-1021
Elect
Elect
Vice
President
Elect
OPEN
Secretary
Linda Lamprecht
(361) 215-7738
Elect
Treasurer/
Bookkeeper
Elect
Publicity
OPEN
Theresa Stelzig
(361) 643-6491
Gazette Editor
Jenny Mohundro
OPEN
ALL MASTER
GARDENERS
(361) 816-4646
[email protected]
Dracaena sanderiana has many common names
associated with it: Lucky Bamboo, Ribbon Dracaena,
Ribbon Plant, Belgian Evergreen, Chinese Water
Bamboo, Friendship Bamboo, Water Bamboo.
Although many of these names contain the word
bamboo, Dracaena sanderiana is in no way a
member of the true bamboo family.
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is native to
Cameroon in West Africa. It has become widely
popular due to its ability to intertwine eastern
mysticism with western new age culture. Lucky
bamboo is a popular Feng Shui plant.
Dracaena sanderiana (Lucky bamboo) can be
grown hydroponically or in soil. To avoid yellow
leaves, water with bottled, not tap water.
Ex-Officio
Norma Hernandez
Members-atlarge
State
Directors
DeAnna Baumgartner, Carlos Valdez,
Sandra Williams
Jenny Mohundro, Betty Rogers
Extension
Office
MG Helpline
Lisa Martinez
(361) 816-8206
(361) 767-5217
(361) 767-5250
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Other Happenings
January 2015
:
President’s Corner
Deb Holliday
President 2015
Nueces Master Gardeners, Inc.
Happy New Year, Nueces Master Gardeners!
I am humbled you have elected me to represent you as
President for 2015. I thank Norma Hernandez and her
board for their work in 2014, and for Norma's promise of
continued guidance as I step up to the presidency. I
thank Stephanie Martin for her mentorship when I was
an intern and for her intrepid passion for all things
Master Gardener. I promise to do my best to live up to
the standards of these leaders and to help Nueces
Master Gardeners Inc. become an even better, more
inclusive group of friends and volunteers.
First, an update on our leadership: Jessica Weizer has
sadly (for us) left her position as AgriLife Horticultural
Agent and NMG advisor. Her successor for the time
being will be Jason Ott, Agriculture Agent (he was our
plant auctioneer).
Now, on to January! Planning and goal setting will be
our priorities. I will meet with the new Board in early
January to prepare for our first board and general
meetings of the year.
We must submit speaker
assignments and topic descriptions for the Home &
Garden Show by January 19. The Audit committee will
be reviewing the 2014 books this month. NMG annual
chartering documents need to be submitted by January
31.
Master Gardeners, come to the January 20th meetings.
You can pay your $12.00 dues, sign the annual
Memorandum of Agreement, and enjoy a delicious pot
luck meal. We will vote on the 2015 budget and discuss
our goals and objectives for the year. Help us move
into 2015.
Additionally, get your hours reported via the Internet or
to Betty by Jan. 15. Email Lisa any address, email, or
phone number changes.
Deb
Thurs. Jan. 1
*Orchid Novice Class, 7pm, BG, 854-7624
Wed. Jan.7
*Coastal Bend Cacti & Succulent Society, 7pm,
GC, 852-7700
*South Texas Orchid Society, 7pm, GC, 816-1948
*Winter Lecture Series “Container Gardens/
Downsizing Solutions”, 10am, BG, 852-2100
Thurs. Jan. 8
*Rose Society, 7pm, GC, 853-7554
Tue. Jan. 13
*Corpus Christi Area Garden Council, 10am, GC,
537-8231
Wed. Jan. 14
*Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, 10am,
ACISD Maintenance Dept.,
619 N. Live Oak St., Room 14, Rockport,
361-790-0103
*Winter Lecture Series “Citrus Greening,
Expanding Disease Threat in Texas”,
10am, BG, 852-2100
Wed. Jan. 15
*Bromeliad Society, 7pm, GC, 658-8650
Tue. Jan. 20
*MG Executive and General Meetings, 10am and
12Noon, GC, 956-433-7110
*Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener
Association, 10am, 892 Airport Rd.,
Rockport, 361-790-0103
Wed. Jan. 21
*Winter Lecture Series “Scent-sational Plants”,
10am, BG, 852-2100
Thu. Jan. 22
*Bonsai Society, 7pm, GC, 992-0009
Fri. Jan. 23
*Gene Blacklock’s “Winter Finch & Sparrow
Identification”, 6:15-9:15pm,
BG, field trip from 7am-1pm Sat., Jan. 24.
Register by Jan. 20, 852-2100
Wed. Jan. 28
*Plumeria Society, 6:30pm, GC, 985-8241
*Winter Lecture Series “Cultivating Cactus”,
10am, BG, 852-2100
BG=Botanical Gardens
GC=Garden Center (Greely Senior Center)
Remember! You get CE credits for the program
portion of horticulture-based meetings that you
attend which are not Master Gardener Meetings.
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January Potluck
Agent’s Notes
Howdy!
I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday!
The December Student/Intern Recognition
Celebration was absolutely lovely! Special thanks to
all who helped plan, set up, coordinate, and clean
up after the event. Congratulations again to all the
Interns, and great job on your skits! I’m very proud
of all of you. I had a wonderful time at the banquet
and thoroughly enjoyed the roast!
It was an honor and a pleasure to be able to work
with all of you. I admire all of your hard work and
dedication to the organization and to the
community. Keep up the good work; I will miss you
all very much!
As always, thank you for all that you do!
Take care and keep in touch,
Jessica Weizer
P.S.
Here is my email address:
[email protected]
Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any
bug or plant questions!
Rita Phillips has no volunteers
for future meeting lunches. To
offer your help, contact her at
991-0750 or e-mail
[email protected]
PLEASE GIVE RITA YOUR SUPPORT
Always sign up ahead of time!
Next MG General Meeting
January 20th, noon at GC
Program:
Greenhousing 101
Presenter: Beverly Leach
Next MG Executive Meeting
January 20th, 10:00 a.m. at GC
(3rd Tuesday monthly, except December)
A Big Thank-You
To
Debra Martin
And Her Helpers
For A
Great Job
Planning and Decorating
For The
Intern Recognition Event
The New Full Color Garden Book
Corpus Christi Area Garden Council,
Publisher
Available at Gills and at Turners
$25 plus tax ($27.06)
Contact Huxley Smith, Betty Whitt or Pat Parr
for more information.
3
01-03
01-04
01-06
01-08
01-13
01-15
01-18
01-18
01-19
01-24
01-24
01-25
01-25
01-29
Mary Parrot
Bob Becquet
Jan Shannon
Frank Eicholz
Helen Orsak
Bobby Leach
Gretchen Perrin
John Slusarz
Jeanne Cazassis Mayes
Margaret Rose
Billie Cox
John Seip
Beth Spirko
Paul Parr
Class 25
Class 16
Class 02
Class 25
Class 10
Class 15
Class 10
Class 25
Class 04
Class 20
Class 25
Class 16
Class 25
Class 13
A Gentle Reminder!
It is time to pay your
2015 MG Dues.
DO NOT DELAY!
Bring $12.00
check or cash in the exact amount
to the
MG Meeting
January 20th
Ongoing: Ray High School Greenhouse
Behind Ray H.S., Staples & Texan Trail.
Tuesday MG Workday 9:00-11:00
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Ongoing: Food Bank Project “Outgrow
Hunger” 826 Krill Dr. (Navigation
then right on Savage Lane to Krill).
Tuesdays 8:00a.m.( Except MG meeting day
then Wednesday) Contact: Mary Lambert
813-7596 or e-mail her at
[email protected]
Ongoing: Nature Conservatory, Mon., March 10
& March 24, 4:00 & Blucher Park 5:00
until sundown (Behind the Main Library)
Bring gloves, bug spray, plus a bag lunch &
chair if you plan to stay for our Chat &
Chew time.
Contact: Karen Smith 877-9723
Ongoing: Courtyard Maintenance at the
Senior Garden Center, 1st Monday,
9:15 a.m. Contact: Betty Whitt 991-5375
Ongoing: Botanical Gardens,
Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.
Contact: Jessica Latimer 993-6013
Areas to work:
Check With
1. Hummingbird Garden
Michael,
2. Butterfly Garden (new)
Carol, Billy or
Brenda for
3. Sensory Garden
work
tasks.
4. Earth Kind Garden
Dues need to be paid on time for the staff
to have correct membership numbers
for their annual state reports.
Need Education Hours?
Try On-Line Courses.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT REMINDER
All Master Gardener Volunteer Hours
For The 2014 Calendar Year
Must Be Posted Before January 15th!
For FREE on-line courses for education hours
try
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/training/
You can take up to 3 courses for 1 hour each of
Continuing Education (CE) credit.
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Intern Recognition Event
Recognizing Our Graduating Interns of Class 25
Jessica Weizer congratulates our
new Certified Master Gardeners,
Frank Eicholz & Beth Spirko
Frank Eicholz
Billie Cox
Ray Estrada
Ann Davis
Roger Myers
Beth Spirko
A
You brought
lots of food.
.
Carolyn West
Gloria
VanZandt
Mary Parrott
Suzy Murray
Betty
Whitt
arranged
the
tables.
All the MG’s
and guests
enjoyed the
feast!
Door Prizes, Intern Skit, A Mega Birthday and AgriLife Agent Send Off
The winningest table
Door Prize winner
Elmer
Martin
celebrates
his 99th
birthday!
Intern skit, Act 1
Stephanie (back
there somewhere
presents
Agent Jessica’s
Big Girl Panties
Intern skit, Act 2
Jessica’s Farewell Roast
is on as Stephanie adds
useful tools and gags to
the Big Girl Panties.
5
How In The World Is This Tree
Able To Produce 40 Different
Kinds Of Fruit?
http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/07/23/how-in-the-world-isthis-tree-able-to-produce-40-different-kinds-of-fruit/
Sam Van Aken is an art professor at Syracuse University in New York. He wasn’t always immersed of the world
of art though- as a child, he grew up working on his family’s farm before pursuing his art career.
So, in 2008, when Van Aken learned that the orchard at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station was
about to be destroyed because of a lack of funding, he knew he had to put his farming past to use.
Many of the trees in the orchard were 150-200 years old, and grew ancient, antique native stone fruits varieties
that have been mostly hybridized or modified by modern agricultural practices (commercially-grown fruits are
selected for their look and size more than any other factors, including taste).
Syracuse art professor and
“Tree of 40 Fruits” creator
Sam Van Aken
Aken knew he had to save these rare and ancient fruit varieties, so he bought the orchard and spent the next
couple years trying to figure out how to graft parts of multiple trees onto one single tree. He started by creating a
timeline of when all the varieties of fruit (about 250 total) blossomed, so he could know precisely when to graft a
new variety onto the main tree.
The grafting process basically involves making an incision in the main tree, and then inserting a shoot from the
tree you want to add. When the tree was young, he grafted directly onto its root structure. Once it reached two
years old, Aken began using “chip grafting” to add new varieties of fruit to various branches.
Chip grafting involves cutting a small notch into a branch of the main tree. Then, a sliver of the tree to be
added (including a bud) is inserted into the notch and taped in place. Over winter, the tree heals the incision, and
in doing so incorporates the new fruit variety into that branch.
After five years, Aken completed his first “Tree of 40 Fruit”, as he calls them.
(Continued on p. 7)
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For most of the year, it looks pretty much like a normal tree, but in spring, it explodes with white, red and pink
blossoms before bearing its various ancient varieties of plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, cherries
and almonds.
Since then Aken has planted 15 more “Trees of 40 Fruit” in museums, community centers and art galleries
around the country. His next plan is to create an orchard of them in a city setting. For more information go to
the website listed below the title of this article and click on the video of a speech he gave on the subject.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Thanks go to John Slusarz, Class 25 Intern, for sending this article to me.
Spring Home & Garden Show
February 13-15, 2015
The Spring Home & Garden Show is coming soon, almost TOO soon.
Deadlines for submitting names of speakers and topics for the Master Gardener
stage is January 19th, the day before our January 20th meeting. Please contact
Deb Holliday if you have a topic ready to present. We have had really good
offerings at past shows.
Be prepared to volunteer for packing, set-up, booth-sitting and tear down
at our January meeting because the Home & Garden show is the weekend
BEFORE our February meeting. Have your personal calendars in hand and be
ready to sign up to help our new officers organize for this big event. It is a lot
of work, but also a lot of fun!
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Texas Master Gardeners Association
State Director’s Meeting, December 6, 2014
The Nueces Master Gardeners State Directors, Carlos Valdez and Jenny Mohundro, attended
the final quarterly meeting of the 2014 year using a new version of the link which allows us to
participate from the comfort of our homes. (Actually it was from the comfort of Carlos
Valdez’s home.) In the past, it was necessary to go to College Station. During this last year, we
were able to attend by going to the Robstown office to use the Link system which required Lisa
to be there on Saturday to open the office and get the computer set up. Now it is even easier
to listen in on the meeting in College Station.
Dr. Doug Welsh presented information on the Texas A&M Gardens and Greenway Project
currently in the fund raising and design stage. The proposed plan will create a 45 acre premier
teaching Botanical Garden similar to ones at other top universities on the TAMU College
Station campus. It will be a home for the Texas Master Gardener Association, the Youth MG’s,
and Master Naturalists. Fourteen types of gardens will include a vegetable, fruit, wine grapes,
bird, butterfly, Earth-kind, and a children’s garden. Construction will begin in late 2015.
This is a 6.5 million dollar project for construction and endowment maintenance of which
Master Gardeners have been given a goal of providing $100,000. With donation a $5000
donation from the TMGA state organization plus donations from individual county MG
programs, the current amount which has been raised is $40,000.
From the Minutes of the September 2014 TMGA State
Directors meeting:
Texas Master Gardeners Association has the
opportunity to have their name on the sixteen acre
EarthKind® Garden. Naming rights involve raising
$100,000 for TMGA and each County Association in order
to be recognized.
Homer Babbitt, Dallas County moved that TMGA accept
the challenge of raising $100,000 for naming rights for
EarthKind® Garden in the Garden & Greenway project. It
was seconded by Donna Hagar. Discussion followed.
Motion carried. Checks are to be made to Texas A&M
Foundation and noted for EarthKind®.
Go to the TMGA website and click on the Texas A&M Gardens & Greenway project to view a
video on this exciting project. http://txmg.org/
Continued on page 9
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The next speaker was Dr. Doug Steele, Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service Director on “What
Is On The Horizon for Extension.” He bragged that Texas A&M has the largest agriculture
department, the largest research department, the largest Extension Service, the largest 4-H
program, and the largest Master Gardener program in the United States.
His office has determined that people want to reconnect to outdoors, grow plants and
vegetables in their back yards, and participate in water conservation. Extension has made 26
million contacts in Texas. People find the Extension Service though the Website, but Dr. Steel
wants to strike a balance between using technology and actually connecting with people by
being high tech and high touch. People like what we do, but many don’t know about the
programs. He wants to change that.
Dr. Steel was pleased to announce that the Texas A&M concept of “Partial Cost Recovery” is
dead in the water. The goals were too unrealistic to work properly. Now they are working
with the theory of fee based programming. This approach is to be more transparent in how
the funds are being spent and to include input from the people who raise the money.
Each year Extension emphasizes certain programs. This year Master Gardeners will be asked
to help with emphasis in three areas.
1. Drought including xeriscape, and water conservation
2. 4H and youth programs to unreached youth including school based programs
3. Helping Health Science Centers in the areas of health, nutrition, and exercise.
In addition to the two speakers, regular Association business was conducted including the Call
to Order, Invocation, Opening Remarks, Approval of Minutes, Treasurer’s Report and Standing
Committee Reports, Unfinished and New Business, Election of Officers and the State MG
Coordinator’s Report.
Standing Committee reports with items of interest to our MG’s include:
By-Law Changes – Donna Hagar, Somervell County
Added Texas A&M to the Agri-Life name. Motion approved.
Conference Planning – Homer Babbitt, Parker County
2015 TMGA Conference – Bell County, April 16 – 17, 2015
2016 TMGA Conference – Collin County, May 17-19, 2016
2017 TMGA Conference – County – Tentative
Newsletter- Nicky Maddams, Grimes County
Goal is to get the TGMA Newsletter into more media sites like Facebook and Twitter
Outreach – Eleanor Tuck, Tarrant County
Continued on page 10
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To qualify for awards, dues from each organization must be paid by March 1, 2015
Special Tax Advisory- Wayne Rhodes, Williamson County
Each county’s IRS Annual Report (990N) is due before May 1, 2015
Unfinished Business:
TMGA was repaid for help provided for the 2014 Conference.
New Business:
State Director’s meeting for the coming year:
February 7 TAMU
April 16
State Conference, Belton, TX
August 1
TAMU
December 5 TAMU
Election of Officers:
The following slate was accepted.
President
Donna Hagar, Somervell County
st
1 Vice President
Mary Means, Collin County
nd
2 Vice President
Peggy Rogers, Wood/Van Zandt County
Treasurer
Past President
Dale Powell, Denton County
Dick Coupe, Dallas County
State MG Coordinator’s Report – Jayla Fry
A plaque was presented to the outgoing President Dick Coupe. The incoming president
was asked about her goal for the coming year which was to try to expand participation at the
state level. Meeting adjourned.
JENNY’S STUFF
ATTENTION, MASTER GARDNER FRIENDS!
t
I have a shed and garage corner full of gardening paraphernalia which will be of no use to me
after I move to the Mirador on January 15th.
There are sprayers, organics, bug and disease potions (opened and unopened), tools, craft
supplies, homegoods, and accumulated stuff. Come and bring a friend to browse and get a
bargain. I hope you clear my garage and shed, or I will be forced to take them to the
recycling center or Goodwill for disposal.
Who? Jenny Mohundro
When? Saturday, January 17th 10:00am – 5:00pm or call 361-816-4646 for other times
Where? 5106 Queens Ct. 7 blocks off of Lipes at Yorktown near Luther Jones School
Right on Queens Court and second house on left
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Growing Lucky Bamboo
How to guarantee the best “luck” with your bamboo.
In Asian cultures, the New Year celebrations are accompanied by gifts of representing “Good Luck.”
In China, Thailand, Viet Nam and surrounding areas, the New Year is celebrated at the beginning of
the Lunar calendar in February. However, Japan celebrates as we do on January 1st of the Gregorian
calendar. Regardless of when they celebrate, presenting friends and family with gifts which bring
good luck is an important part of the occasion. Lucky Bamboo is a gift favorite. Not only is it lovely,
interesting, and easy to grow, it is wrapped in the mysterious meanings surrounding Feng Shui.
Lucky Bamboo Care
Light Requirement for Lucky Bamboo: bright indirect light.
In its native environment, Dracaena sanderiana receive an ample amount of light. However, the
surrounding plants shade the lucky bamboo from direct exposure to the sun. Too much direct sunlight
can cause the leaves to burn. However, lack of light will cause weak growth, stretching and poor
color. Low light conditions will, also, cause stunted growth and inhibit new leaf growth. The light
requirements for lucky bamboo are the same whether grown in water or in soil.
Water Requirements for Lucky Bamboo
In water: Water level should be at least a couple of inches.
Make sure the roots are covered with water; add water to keep the water level constant. Every
couple of weeks change the water completely. Refill the container with clean water. Lucky bamboo is
sensitive to the salts and chemicals in tap water; use distilled water or rainwater if possible. If you
must use tap water let it set in an open container over night; this will let the chlorine evaporate.
However, there is no way to remove the fluoride from the tap water. Fluoride can cause leaf tips to
turn brown. Low humidity can cause leaf tips to turn brown as well. Mist the leaves of the lucky
bamboo every couple of days if lack of humidity is a problem.
In soil: should be kept moderately moist.
Lucky bamboo does not like to be soggy or dry. To determine water needs, stick your finger in the soil
up to your first knuckle (about an inch deep); if soil feels dry, water. It is very important for lucky
bamboo to have good drainage good drainage when planted in soil and it will need to be misted every
couple of days.
Fertilizer Requirements for Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo doesn’t require much fertilizer and can survive in pure water for quite a while. When
you bring lucky bamboo home don’t fertilize it for a couple of weeks; this will prevent over-fertilization.
In fact, if your lucky bamboo turns yellow when you bring it home immediately change the water.
Yellow leaves on lucky bamboo are an indicator of over-fertilization. Anytime your lucky bamboo has
been over-fertilized, change the water and don’t fertilize for several months.
In water: Fertilize your lucky bamboo every couple of months (you can go longer). You can use a
little dirty aquarium water or a diluted (tenth of the normal strength) water-soluble houseplant fertilizer.
The best time to fertilize is when you change the water.
In soil: You can fertilize with the same type of fertilizer as above, however you will need to fertilize
once a month. Just replace one of your regular water cycles with the diluted water-soluble fertilizer.
Lucky Bamboo Problems, Pests & Diseases
Continued on page 12
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Leaves with brown tips – Fluoride burn or lack of humidity.
What to do: Fluoride Burn – replace water with clean distilled or rain water; Dry Air – mist leaves
every day or every couple of days.
Yellow Leaves – too much light or fertilizer.
What to do: Too much light – place more distance between the lucky bamboo & the light; too much
fertilizer – replace water with distilled water & don’t fertilize for several months.
Stalks yellow from bottom up – too much fertilizer.
What to do: Replace with distilled water and don’t fertilize. At the point that the stalks turn yellow it is
often too late for the lucky bamboo to recover. It is often better to cut the green top off and start a new
plant. If you have more than one stalk in a container, but only one is yellow, remove the yellow stalk
and change the water.
Brown or mushy stalks – root-rot from over-fertilization or over-watering (plants potted in soil).
What to do: Cut the healthy tops off and root new plants.
White sticky substance on stalks, snail-looking growth on stalks or cottony substances on stalks –
insects. Scale and spider mites can be, although rarely, a problem for lucky bamboo.
What to do: Clean the container and pebbles with soapy water (a few drops of dish detergent in water
works well) and rinse completely. Wipe each stalk gentle with the soapy water and rinse well. Place
the clean stalks in the container and fill with distilled water or rainwater.
Algae growing in water and on container – too much fertilizer and light.
What to do: Clean the lucky bamboo, pebbles and container with soapy water following the same
procedure as above. Place the lucky bamboo in the container and fill with water. You might need to
move it a little farther from the light or switch to an opaque container.
Other Conditions Needed for Lucky Bamboo
Temperature: Lucky bamboo needs moderate temperature. Normal household temperatures are
fine. However, placing lucky bamboo next to an air vent or a door creates problems due to rapid
temperature changes.
Propagation: New Lucky Bamboo can be created through vegetative propagation. Begin by finding a
node – the raised rings that grow around the stalk – make a cut about an inch above the node. You
will now have a top and a bottom. Leave the bottom in the original container. The bottom will have no
leaves and after a few days will need to be lightly misted every few days to encourage new growth.
The tops will have all of the leaves. Take the top and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Let it dry
overnight before placing the top in the original container or a new container.
How Lucky Bamboo Is Curled
You may have seen photos or an actual lucky bamboo plant that is curled, wavy or has several stalks
woven together. It grows like other bamboo and appears to be a straight stick plant. The growth of
this plant is carefully controlled in order to make it curl. Growers place the stalks on a flat table in a
greenhouse. Three sides of the stalk receive no light while one side is exposed to bright light so it
grows in that direction. To achieve the curl or wave, the stalk is manipulated and rotated. Curling the
stalk can take up to a year or a year and a half to achieve.
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Feng Shui Numbers
Adapted From an Article By Sally Painter
Feng Shui Practitioner
Much of the luck that is associated with bamboo comes from the number of stalks bunched together
or woven together into an arrangement. The number of stalks determines the kinds of energy the
plant attracts into your home and life. The more stalks in the planter, the greater the blessing of good
fortune and luck.
Lucky Log
This is a certain kind of bamboo that looks like a log with no roots. You'll want to place one end in
water so it can grow leaves and continuously produce new leaves. Lucky log bamboo is symbolic of a
strong life that's filled with prosperity. Some varieties produce fragrant white flowers.
Two Bamboo Stalks
People often send two stalks of bamboo as an expression of love. This number may double your luck.
Three Bamboo Stalks
The plant of three bamboo stalks is one of the most favorite number combinations to have in your
home. It brings three kinds of luck to you:
 Happiness: Fu
 Long Life: Soh
 Wealth: Lu (Career promotions)
Four Bamboo Stalks
In the Chinese language, the word used as four sounds very similar to the word used for death. The
number four has the same kind of connotation and draws sha (negative) energy. You'll never find a
four-stalked bamboo plant in the Chinese culture; much less ever give one for a gift. To do so is
extremely rude and would be interpreted that you're giving the recipient a death wish.
Five Bamboo Stalks
With the number five, there's one stalk for every area of your life that can bring you wealth. The
overall energy attracted to a five bamboo stalk plant is one of health, which is needed to benefit from
any of the five areas of your life. You'll want to have a healthy career, healthy relationships, and more.
The five stalk bamboo reinforces each of the five areas of your life that can influence the level of
wealth for each area.
 Emotional
 Intuitive
 Mental
 Physical
 Spiritual
Six Bamboo Stalks
Six in the Chinese language also sounds like the word luck. Six stalks of bamboo attracts prosperity
and advantages to achieve greater wealth.
Seven Bamboo Stalks
Seven stalks of bamboo bestow good health to you.
Continued on page 14
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Eight Bamboo Stalks
Once more the Chinese language plays a big part in this number's law of attraction. Eight sounds like
the word used for grow or thrive. Eight stalks also improves fertility.
Nine Bamboo Stalks
This is the symbol for good luck and bestows great luck to whoever receives a nine stalk plant.
Ten Bamboo Stalks
If you have a ten stalk bamboo arrangement then the wish for you is to feel complete and
complacent. The hope is that you find your life to be perfect. The sender wants you to have
everything in life just as you envision and desire.
Twenty-One Bamboo Stalks
If someone has gifted you with a plant with this number of bamboo stalks, then the well wishes for
you and your family are being delivered in a very powerful overall blessing for great wealth and
enduring health.
Bamboo Symbolism
Bamboo has long been the Chinese symbol for strength. Many admire the bamboo's qualities of fastgrowth and resilience. In Chinese, lucky bamboo is known as Fu Gwey Zhu.
 Fu: Luck and fortune
 Gwey: Power and honor
 Zhu: Bamboo
Give a Bamboo Gift
Many people give this kind of plant for housewarming gifts, birthdays, anniversaries, grand openings,
award, achievements and other auspicious occasions. Receiving this plant as a gift increases your
luck. Choose an elaborate woven lattice design or an arrangement of individual stalks tied together
with red ribbon.
http://feng-shui.lovetoknow.com/Lucky_Bamboo_Meaning
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Jason Ott, CEA- Ag/NR
Editor: Jenny Mohundro
Disclaimer - the information herein is for informational purposes only. Reference to commercial
products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no
endorsement by the Master Gardeners is implied. Educational programs of the Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The Texas A&M University
System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas
Cooperating
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Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to
participate in any Extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361767-5217 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrangements to be
made.
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In the event of a name, address or phone number change please contact the office at:
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
710 E. Main, Suite 1, Attn: Horticulture
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