How Can I Make My Bamboo Plant Curl?

[2bTim]

Hello Everyone, Me and my wife have been given a bamboo plant and I wanted to find out how to make it curl. Any help will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks a Bunch
Tim[/list]

[Newt]

Hi Tim,
Are you talking about a plant called 'Lucky Bamboo'? If so, it isn't really a bamboo at all but Dracaena sanderana. The curling is done by the farmers who raise it using sticks.

How does the stick get curled?
Seeing the fancy curls or wavy bends might lead one to think that Lucky Bamboo naturally grows that way. Not so. Lucky Bamboo only grows straight. It doesn't naturally curl or bend. Growers have to 'manually' curl it. They do this by laying the stalks on a long table in a green house, then cover 3 out of 4 sides, leaving only one side in bright light. Then, the plant, as it will naturally grow toward the light begins to bend. The plant is manually rotated periodically, so that over time it will form a curl. It takes an average of 1.5 years to make one curl!

http://www.bonsaichat.com/articles/lucky-bamboo.asp

Newt

Wow.. I have a few of them.. To think they're sold for like 1.50 ea..lol..
Wonder how much that bamboo turner gets paid?? lol

[Newt]

VWMom,
It sure is amazing what people get paid in other parts of the world. In Peru, and many other South American countries, you can hire a maid that will work 6 days a week, start at 8 am and work until 8 pm, do the shopping, laundry, take care of the kids, clean the house, water the plants, do the laundry, cook the meals and on and on and on. The cost you ask? How about $150. Now that's for a month!!!!!!

I too wonder what the poor stick turner gets!

Newt