Is the Lucky Bamboo Plant a Good Clean Air Plant? Lucky bamboo has "luck" in its name for a reason but that reason has nothing to do with purifying air. The plant is a member of the Dracaena genus, some of which have air-cleaning qualities, which accounts for the misconception. Lucky bamboo is known scientifically as Dracaena sanderiana and is not a member of the bamboo family. Other Dracaena species do remove toxins from the air, such as Dracaena marginata, commonly called red-edge dracaena or the Madagascar dragon tree, and two varieties of Dracaena deremensis--"Janet Craig" and "Warneckii." The Dracaena fragrans "Massangeana," or cornstalk dracaena, also makes the list. The relationship between some Dracaena plants and air quality was discovered in the 1980s, the result of a study performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Other plants that improve air quality include English ivy, peace lily and weeping fig.

Just because lucky bamboo has no impact on air quality does not mean you should throw away existing plants or choose not to purchase them. Lucky bamboo is a low-maintenance houseplant that has been considered a symbol of good fortune by the Chinese for over 4,000 years. Avian Web: Bamboo Plants Clean Air Gardening: Houseplants Avian Web: Indoor Plants that Clean Pollutants Lucky bamboo is not a true bamboo. True bamboo has a hollow, woody stem. Lucky bamboo has a fleshy, solid stem. Despite its name, lucky bamboo is not actually bamboo. While traditional bamboo is technically a grass, lucky bamboo (also known by its... Spiral bamboo is not bamboo at all. Spiral bamboo is a specially grown version of what is commonly called lucky bamboo. How to Make a Vertical Clay Pot Garden How to Plant Lucky Bamboo in Soil How to Care for a Lucky Bamboo Dracaena Plant What Is the Difference Between Lucky Bamboo & Lotus Bamboo? Lucky Bamboo Meanings & Benefits

Which Houseplants Are Best for Cleaning the Air? How Does the Boston Fern Improve Air Quality?Epub 2010 Feb 12.Saiyood S1, Vangnai AS, Thiravetyan P, Inthorn D.Author information1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Center of Environmental health, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals (ETM), Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.AbstractDracaena sanderiana and Dracaena fragrans plants, as representatives of native, tropical, evergreen plants with fibrous root systems, were evaluated for bisphenol A (BPA) tolerance and uptake capability. D. sanderiana demonstrated significantly higher BPA removal capability than D. fragrans. Therefore, it was chosen for further study. D. sanderiana tolerated BPA toxicity levels up to 80 microM, while higher BPA concentrations damaged the plant. In the sterile hydroponic system with an initial BPA concentration of 20 microM, the plant could uptake approximately 50% of the BPA. The plant's ability to translocate BPA was confirmed by the detection of BPA that accumulated at the roots and stems, but not at the leaves of the plant.

Upon BPA exposure, the D. sanderiana secreted extracellular plant mucilage as a protective barrier to the toxic compound. hunter air purifier 30747In the non-sterile treatment, the BPA dissipation was contributed not only by the D. sanderiana plant, but also by the co-existing microbes. usb air purifier ioniser - removes pollen dust smokeThe BPA reached 85% of the initial concentration at 20 microM. novita air purifier hepaAmong the six plant-associating bacterial isolates, Bacillus cereus strain BPW4 and Enterobacter sp. strain BPW5 colonized the D. sanderiana root surface and facilitated BPA dissipation in the hydroponic treatment system. In addition, the success of the BPA treatment in the hazardous waste landfill leachate demonstrated the potential application of D. sanderiana plant in the phytoremediation of BPA contaminated wastewater or industrial leachate.

Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. PMID: 20304555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.02.008 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication TypesResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMeSH TermsAir Pollutants, Occupational/isolation & purification*Bacteria/geneticsBacteria/metabolism*Benzhydryl CompoundsChromatography, High Pressure LiquidDracaena/metabolism*Dracaena/microbiology*Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods*Feasibility StudiesHazardous Substances/analysisHydroponicsIndicators and ReagentsMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningPhenols/chemistryPhenols/isolation & purification*RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/geneticsRNA, Ribosomal, 16S/isolation & purificationSulfuric Acids/chemistryWater Pollutants, ChemicalSubstancesAir Pollutants, OccupationalBenzhydryl CompoundsHazardous SubstancesIndicators and ReagentsPhenolsRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSulfuric AcidsWater Pollutants, Chemicalbisphenol Asulfuric acidFull Text SourcesElsevier ScienceMiscellaneousBISPHENOL A - Hazardous Substances Data BankSulfuric acid - Hazardous Substances Data BankBISPHENOL A DISODIUM SALT - Hazardous Substances Data Bank

Easy To Grow Plants The Lucky bamboo is an easy to grow plant which can thrive in soil or water. While this plant has the common name of bamboo it is not an actual bamboo plant species and belongs to the dracaena genus, although the stalks have a similar appearance. Let's take a closer look at this plants description, how to grow and caring advice. The lucky bamboo grown in it's native country (West Africa) can grow up to 5ft tall (or much more), and as a house plant up to approximately 2 or 3 feet. There are various cultivars of this plant and some of the most interesting are the twisted stalk types which are trained by specialist growers. The name lucky seems to have been given by the Chinese that practice feng shui and believe in this plant brings good fortune into a home or workplace. Place in water or soil?: Dracaena braunii plants grow at their best in a pot with soil and live longer lives, however, many are grown in glass type vases which does give them a pretty cool minimalistic look.

They are also grown in aquariums and sold in pet shops submersed in water or some shoots just above the water, but this is not the correct way of growing them and they can rot. Flowering: In their natural tropical habitat grown outdoors the lucky bamboo will flower, but grown indoors they will not. How it looks: Most of these are sold with about 3 stalks that look very similar to real bamboo plant's (although they're not bamboo) and grow light green shoots with slim and long arching leaves. You can also purchase the braided type that have numerous stems which seem to have become less expensive recently. Easy to care for: Lucky bamboo is well known for being very easy to grow and maintain. When they're grown in water they can be left for a few weeks without having any health problems, although this water should really be replaced every 7 days. To grow and maintain a good healthy plant it is much better to grow them within a soil pot.-- Dracaena Braunii, or Dracaena Sanderiana (botanical/scientific).

Warm room temperature's and above are advised 65°F (18°C) - 90°F (32°C). Avoid lower than 55°F/12°C in the winter. In it's natural habitat the lucky bamboo grows under the cover of shaded trees, so place your plant in a bright spot without direct sunlight which can burn the leaves that will mimic their natural living space. In a vase or water type pot change the water once every 7 days with distilled or bottled water. If your dracaena braunii is grown in soil (which is it's natural way of growing), water once the soil becomes slightly dry to the touch. A well draining potting soil mix is advised. Re-pot a plant living in soil when it becomes pot bound or every 2 years. If your plant sits in water with pebbles at the bottom for stability, re-pot to a bigger container once the previous one becomes too small and when the pebbles and container need cleaning. Cleaning the water container will prevent bacteria problems. Normal room humidity is fine. Choose and cut the biggest shoot (or shoots) available on a stalk and remove the lower leaves from the shoot.

Cut the shoot about 1 cm – 2 cm away from the stalk. Sit your stem cutting in water for about 3 months until roots appear and then pot in soil. Trim back shoots one or two of inches from the stalk which will encourage the plant to grow into a nice bushy plant. If you have too many off shoots you can cut some back near to the stalk. Do not cut stalks. Yellow or brown leaf edges: The possible cause can be too much chemicals in the water (fluoride, chlorine or others) or direct sunlight. If the plant has had no direct sunlight then the problem has to be water chemical which should only require you to remove the old water and use distilled water.Also make sure your not over feeding with fertilizer which can also turn leaves yellow. Browning of the leaves can also be caused by dry air which can be overcome with increasing the humidity. Stalks becoming soft and/or yellow: The bottom of stalks can become soft and mushy or yellow for a variety of reasons, but it's often water related.