Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana · also called ribbon plant, curly bamboo, Belgian evergreen, friendship bamboo
Lucky bamboo is an easy, water-grown Dracaena often sold in glass vases. Keep its roots in clean, filtered water and give it bright indirect light.
Despite its name and bamboo-like jointed stalks, lucky bamboo is not bamboo at all but Dracaena sanderiana, a member of the asparagus family native to Central Africa. It is commonly sold as cut, rooted stalks growing in water-filled vases with decorative pebbles, often shaped into curls, spirals, or woven lattices, and is a popular feng shui gift symbolizing good fortune. It can also be grown conventionally in soil.
It is one of the most low-maintenance and forgiving plants available, tolerating low light and asking only for clean water and occasional feeding. Its chief sensitivities are to the chlorine and fluoride found in tap water, which cause leaf-tip browning, and to stagnant water, which must be changed regularly. Grown in water it stays small and slow; in soil it can grow taller over time. Note that, unlike true bamboo, it is toxic to pets.
How to care for Lucky Bamboo
Light
Give bright, indirect light for steady growth and rich green color. It tolerates low and medium light but grows slowly and may pale. Keep it out of direct sun, which scorches and yellows the leaves.
Watering
Grown in water, keep the roots submerged in about 1 to 2 inches of clean water and refresh it completely every 7 to 10 days to prevent stagnation and odor. Use filtered, distilled, or dechlorinated water, since chlorine and fluoride brown the tips. In soil, keep it lightly and evenly moist.
Humidity
Tolerates average household humidity well. Higher humidity benefits the foliage, and dry air can contribute to tip browning. No special humidity measures are required.
Temperature
Keep it warm, between 65 and 90F. It dislikes cold and should be protected from temperatures below 50F and from cold drafts. Avoid placing it near drafty windows or vents.
Soil & potting mix
If grown in soil, use a well-draining, rich potting mix kept lightly moist. In water culture, use clean pebbles or marbles to anchor the stalks. Either way avoid waterlogging in soil-grown plants.
Feeding
Water-grown plants need only a tiny amount of diluted liquid fertilizer about once a month, since too much causes algae and leaf burn. Use a specialized lucky bamboo fertilizer or a very weak balanced one. Soil-grown plants can be fed monthly at half strength in the growing season.
Pruning & grooming
Trim yellow or damaged leaves and prune offshoots to control shape. To manage height, cut the main stalk and seal the cut; new shoots emerge below. Curls and spirals are created commercially by rotating the plant near light, not by trimming.
Repotting
Water-grown plants rarely need repotting; just refresh the water and clean the vessel. If grown in soil, repot every one to two years as needed. Clean the pebbles and container periodically to prevent buildup and odor.
Propagation
Propagate by cutting a healthy offshoot or stalk section below a node and rooting it in water. New roots form within a few weeks. This is how multi-stalk arrangements are produced.
Common Lucky Bamboo problems
- Brown leaf tips. Chlorine and fluoride in tap water are the usual cause. Switch to filtered, distilled, or dechlorinated water left out overnight, and refresh the water weekly. Trim browned tips for appearance.
- Yellowing stalks or leaves. Yellowing can come from too much direct sun, over-fertilizing, or stale water. Move it to indirect light, dilute or skip fertilizer, and change the water more often. A yellowing stalk should be removed so it does not affect the others.
- Algae in the vase. Green algae grows when there is too much light, too much fertilizer, or infrequent water changes. Use an opaque or colored container, reduce fertilizer, change the water weekly, and rinse the pebbles.
Lucky Bamboo FAQ
Why are my lucky bamboo's leaf tips turning brown?
Brown tips are most often caused by chlorine and fluoride in tap water, to which Dracaena sanderiana is sensitive. Switch to filtered, distilled, or tap water left out overnight so the chlorine evaporates, and change the water in the vase every week or so. Trim the browned tips with scissors to tidy the plant.
How do I care for lucky bamboo in water?
Keep the roots covered with about one to two inches of clean, dechlorinated water and refresh it completely every seven to ten days to keep it from going stagnant. Give it bright indirect light, away from direct sun, and feed only a tiny amount of diluted fertilizer about once a month. Use an opaque container to discourage algae growth.
Is lucky bamboo safe for pets?
No. Despite its name, lucky bamboo is a Dracaena and is toxic to cats and dogs. It contains saponins that can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness, and loss of appetite if eaten. Keep it out of reach of pets, and be aware that true bamboo, which is pet-safe, is a completely different plant.