Lucky Bamboo
4.6 out of 5 (228 experiences)
Survivor
Fast grower
About Lucky Bamboo
Did you know the genus name Dracaena comes from the Greek for āfemale dragonā? Some plants in this genus have thick, red resin which was reminiscent of dragon blood! š² 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 sanderiana
Dracaena
Asparagaceae
Asparagales
Also known as
Ribbon Dracaena, Chinese Water Bamboo and Ribbon Plant
How to care for Lucky Bamboo
How often to water your Lucky Bamboo
every 12
Lucky Bamboo needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesnāt 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.
Water 0.5 cups every
12
Finding light for Lucky Bamboo in your home
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 šŖ.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Lucky Bamboo in your home š”.
How to fertilize Lucky Bamboo
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 itās 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 yearāwhichever comes first.
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Why are the leaves yellowing? This plant is less than 3 ft from the window, I water when the soil is dry through. But for the past week the leaves have slowly gotten more yellow. Please help #Dracaena
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My bamboo plant is dying. You keep looking at the picture of it when it was brand new but one of the stalks is brown now #Dracaena
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How can I tell if my Lucky Bamboo is healthy? Am I caring for it properly? #Dracaena #LuckyBamboo I noticed some of the leaves looked a little droopy. I donāt know if thatās because theyāre growing longer or because the plant is sometimes behind a curtain. Is this a sign of poor health? Is there a way I can improve it? I keep it by the window like in the second photo but not directly in front of it. Iāve been switching the water with drinking water every couple weeks. I empty the water, put a bit of peroxide on the roots, then refill the water. Thereās a bit of build up around the inside of the glass pot but I was told I donāt have to remove the rocks and plant to clean it. Is this true? I want to make sure itās doing well and that Iām caring for it properly
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Is my Lucky Bamboo healthy? Am I caring for it right? #Dracaena I noticed some of the leaves looked a little droopy. I donāt know if thatās because theyāre growing longer or because the plant is sometimes behind a curtain. Is this a sign of poor health? Is there a way I can improve it? I keep it by the window like in the second photo but not directly in front of it. Iāve been switching the water with drinking water every couple weeks. I empty the water, put a bit of peroxide on the roots, then refill the water. Thereās a bit of build up around the inside of the glass pot but I was told I donāt have to remove the rocks and plant to clean it. Is this true? I want to make sure itās doing well and that Iām caring for it properly
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What kinda of soil do I need to use when replanting? #Dracaena
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This poor baby is turning brown stem by stem. Help #HoyaHeads
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What's happened? First Sin Dee is bright green and tall, next her leaves are turning yellow. Help, please!?! #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantaddict #need help
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Why are a couple of my lucky bamboo turning yellow? Is it too much water?
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Is my bamboo in the correct pot for her? i bought a bamboo from the flea market.. the guy who sold it to me told me no direct light, itās best inside and i can water it everyday(that it likes water). google said basically the same thing except i should change the water every two weeks. the greg app is telling me itās not in the correct pot (itās in a glass ceramic pot with no drainage)
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what can i do to make my bamboo look better? itās so tall and top-heavy that it canāt stand up on its own lol. should i just trim it back and let it start over? should i chop the top and propagate them and put the rooted cuttings in with the original plant?
Care Summary for 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 doesnāt get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Survivor 138
Fast grower 104
Easy to propagate 61
Browns easily 34
Large, lush leaves 25
Blooms easily 10
Pest magnet 4
10/18/2021
I love my lucky bamboo plant, I chose to grow mine in water and every now and then just need to add nutrients or plant food and it just keeps growing. Very easy to take care of and does not need a lot of light. Water should be changed weekly or before you add another dose of food
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
08/24/2021
I have had my fair share of plants and this one is the easiest. I keep my bamboo in water because itās easier than keeping than keeping the soil wet but if you like soil and that is easier than go head. I change the water every two weeks, and I keep it behind my Monitor just so it can have some shade, but every once in a while I put it back by my window and let it have some sun like for some hours.
Fast grower
Browns easily
Survivor
Easy to propagate
08/15/2021
Lucky bamboo is a great plant. Theyāre super cool and can get pretty big. My favorite thing about them is you canāt over water them. In fact, my lucky bamboo plants just sit in a pot of water. However, if you donāt give them enough they will brown pretty easily. They also donāt need a special kind of soil. Mine are planted in some garden rocks, or they can just be in a vase of water. Overall these plants are great!
Easy to propagate
Browns easily