Plant Care Lucky Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo

4.6 out of 5 (197 experiences)

Lucky Bamboo has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Lucky Bamboo has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Lucky Bamboo

Did you know the genus name Dracaena comes from the Greek for ā€˜female dragonā€™? Some plants in this genus have thick, red resin which was reminiscent of dragon blood! šŸ² Dracaenas are native to Africa, Asia, and northern Australia, and are known for being super easy to care for. Some species can go months without water, and many can grow well in low sunlight.

Taxonomy

Dracaena braunii
Dracaena
Asparagaceae
Asparagales

Also known as

Braun's Dracaena

How to care for Lucky Bamboo

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Lucky Bamboo

Water needs for Lucky Bamboo
0.5 cups
every 12

Lucky Bamboo needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Lucky Bamboo

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Lucky Bamboo in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Lucky Bamboo: 6ft from a window
6ft or less from
a window

Lucky Bamboo can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Lucky Bamboo in your home šŸ”.

šŸŖ“ Nutrients

How to fertilize Lucky Bamboo

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Lucky Bamboo: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil itā€™s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Lucky Bamboo after it doubles in size or once a yearā€”whichever comes first.

Browse #Dracaena
šŸ’” FAQs
ā­ Difficulty Level

Lucky Bamboo is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!


šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Lucky Bamboo thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Lucky Bamboo can tolerate being far from a window and light source. Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.


šŸ¶ šŸˆ šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Lucky Bamboo is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.


šŸ’Ø Humidity

Lucky Bamboo enjoys lots of humidity. Provide humidity for your plant by watering regularly and thoroughly, since plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves. They may also benefit from being placed next to a humidifier.


šŸŖ“ Soil

Lucky Bamboo is very sensitive to wet soil, so choose a potting soil that drains very well and doesnā€™t retain too much moisture. A good soil will have lots of perlite or vermiculite for drainage and some organic matter for nutrition. A few handfuls of perlite added to regular store-bought cactus soil will do the trick!


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Lucky Bamboo grows very slowly and doesnā€™t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plantā€™s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


ā„ļø Dormancy

Itā€™s common for Lucky Bamboo to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


šŸŒŽ Native Region

Lucky Bamboo is native to Africa to Southern Asia and Australia.


šŸŒø Flowers

Yes, you may see your Lucky Bamboo bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.


ā¬†ļø ā¬‡ļø Growth Pattern

Lucky Bamboo grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Lucky Bamboo can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


šŸŒ± Propagation

Lucky Bamboo can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2ā€ long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

šŸ‚ Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves arenā€™t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plantā€™s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, itā€™s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Lucky Bamboo, since they are very sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


šŸ§ Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Lucky Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo

Lucky Bamboo


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 6ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Lucky Bamboo has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 123
Lucky Bamboo has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 73
Lucky Bamboo has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 47
Lucky Bamboo has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 35
Lucky Bamboo has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 21
Lucky Bamboo has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 14
@Wbrousseau avatar
@@Wbrousseau
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 220 XP
globe Chicopee, MA
03/02/2022

This plant is over 15 years old. Iā€™ve raised it wrong but it dosnt care, and survives almost everything

Survivor Survivor
@LisainSC1961 avatar
@@LisainSC1961
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 450 XP
globe York, SC
02/01/2022

Seems to like pebbles rather than a lot of dirt. Can train it to grow in a variety of waysā€¦twisted around branches, crooked branches, etc

Survivor Survivor
Tameika avatar
@Tameika
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 136 XP
01/22/2022

Is in a pot with no drainage and a leaf is turning yellow. About to re-pot.

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
@LuckyBroom avatar
@@LuckyBroom
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 74 XP
globe Los Angeles, CA
01/21/2022

Eh still learning about this one but sheā€™s been thriving for over a year now , does brown if not watered or too much sun

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@BoozyBillsBabe avatar
@@BoozyBillsBabe
leaf-1 46 Plants
xp 9,015 XP
globe Baltimore, MD
01/17/2022

Easy to propagate and beautiful

@BoozyBillsBabe avatar
@@BoozyBillsBabe
leaf-1 46 Plants
xp 9,015 XP
globe Baltimore, MD
01/14/2022

Such an easy plant to propagate.

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@LivCat avatar
@@LivCat
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 42 XP
12/23/2021

this plant is the cutest to have near you when you have bad vibes

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@LaterMoz avatar
@@LaterMoz
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 137 XP
12/04/2021

iā€™ve had Charlie for over a year and Iā€™ll admit I canā€™t keep a schedule so most of my plants die but Charlie has stayed happy n healthy this entire time so like go off king

Survivor Survivor
@Chloe1810 avatar
@@Chloe1810
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 180 XP
globe Crofton, MD
11/10/2021

Definitely makes the room look and feel like a jungle. All though the leaves arenā€™t super big, they are big enough

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@kristtinnnnn avatar
@@kristtinnnnn
leaf-1 20 Plants
xp 526 XP
globe Denver, CO
11/04/2021

Keep the water fresh and clean and full and youā€™ll have a happy plant!

Survivor Survivor
@Yesshewentthere avatar
@@Yesshewentthere
leaf-1 10 Plants
xp 317 XP
10/31/2021

Super easy! Makes you feel like your effort is recognized & raising care of plants that have taken care of us is awesowe!

Elaine avatar
@Elaine
leaf-1 9 Plants
xp 156 XP
globe Arlington, MA
10/10/2021

Lucky bamboo that I planted in soil.

@thiago avatar
@@thiago
leaf-1 16 Plants
xp 2,217 XP
10/04/2021

Low maintenance. Just keeping the water in the right level and it will thrive for years.

Emily avatar
@Emily
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 261 XP
globe Indian Harbour Beach, FL
10/02/2021

Great! One of the stalks died but the other two are still going for about a year now!

Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@Paylor_Planter avatar
@@Paylor_Planter
leaf-1 4 Plants
xp 276 XP
09/27/2021

Low maintenance plant and brings a unique look to any place :)

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Fast grower Fast grower
@geemunei avatar
@@geemunei
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 541 XP
globe Houston, TX
09/25/2021

I actually grow this plant in water like flowers

Fast grower Fast grower
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@sheloves avatar
@@sheloves
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 85 XP
globe Midlothian, TX
09/23/2021

bamboo is my first plant, currently struggling because he was in a container only filled with rocks but Iā€™ve moved him to a much bigger and more suitable vase and I hope to see him thrive!

Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@Liiiyahtexaco avatar
@@Liiiyahtexaco
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 78 XP
globe Salisbury, NC
09/17/2021

It brings luck a peace and itā€™s beautiful I recommend!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor
@thu avatar
@@thu
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 184 XP
globe Los Angeles, CA
09/05/2021

i accidentally planted them in succulent soil and they wilted so bad

Browns easily Browns easily
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
@thu avatar
@@thu
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 184 XP
globe Los Angeles, CA
09/05/2021

i love him he was SUPER TALL when i got him and i cut about 6 inches off because he always fell and now hes growing roots!!

Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate Easy to propagate
Survivor Survivor

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