The Budget Casa

There’s always something a little unusual on display at IKEA. This weekend, when we perused the home and garden section of our local store, we were happy to see bamboo on display. For just $1.99 we snagged a 16-inch bamboo cane.

Native to China, bamboo is surprisingly easy to grow. Plant the rooted cane in a vase or other decorative container with several inches of decorative stones at the bottom, then cover stones with water. Place the bamboo in full, partial, or filtered light. Be sure to keep the roots in frequently changed water, and the plant should last a lifetime.