Lucky Bamboo Care Instructions

Scientific Name: Dracaena sanderiana
Synonyms: Lucky Bamboo, Friendship Bamboo, Ribbon Plant

Despite its funky name, Lucky Bamboo isn't actually bamboo at all! It’s actually a family member of the ever-popular Dragon Tree Clan. This lovely plant, native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Africa and West Africa, has become beloved worldwide, particularly in Chinese culture, where it's considered a powerful symbol of good fortune.

In its natural habitat, Lucky Bamboo grows along shaded stream banks and dappled forest floors. The plant's adaptability to these lower-light areas makes it a perfect choice for indoor growing.

Caring for Lucky Bamboo is refreshingly simple. It thrives in a bright indirect light position and can grow in either water or well-draining soil. If growing in water, change the water weekly to keep your plant healthy, and use filtered water if possible, as these plants can be sensitive to certain chemicals in your water, such as fluoride. 

Lucky bamboo's is super versatile, making it a fabulous plant for finding creative ways to display it. Traditional arrangements often feature stalks in specific numbers—three for happiness, five for wealth, and seven for optimal health.

For striking visual impact, combine stalks of different heights, creating a dynamic, layered look.  Styling options are endless—try clustering several stalks in a contemporary glass vase with a few pebbles to keep them sturdy, or embrace minimalism with a single artistically twisted stem in a simplistic yet eye-catching ceramic vase.

Remember to shield your Lucky Bamboo from direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorching and maintain its lush, vibrant green foliage.

Please note: Dracaena is considered toxic when consumed.

Lucky Bamboo Common Symptoms

These symptoms are often found in Plants grown in water:

• Yellowing leaves and mushy stems: often indicate root rot, usually caused by water that has not been changed regularly. This is one of the most common issues - if you notice this, immediately change the water and trim any soft, yellow parts of the stem using clean scissors. Be sure to change the water weekly for best results. On occasion, yellowing can also be caused by a lack of fertilisation, so be sure to provide a diluted feed once a month. For more about fertilising plant grown in water Read here.
• Brown leaf tips: typically is a sign of too many minerals in your tap water (due to fluoride or chlorine) or low humidity. This can be addressed by switching to filtered or distilled water and occasionally misting the leaves.
• Red or pink discolouration: in the stems and leaves can signal light stress from too much direct sun exposure. While lucky bamboo needs light to thrive, it should be bright indirect light rather than harsh direct sunlight.
• Algae growth in the water and on the stems: appears as a green film and indicates too much light reaching the water container. Using an opaque container instead of clear glass and regularly changing the water can help prevent this issue.
• Blackened patches on the stems or leaves: usually indicate bacterial or fungal infection, often caused by poor air circulation or contaminated water. This requires immediate attention—remove affected parts with sterile tools and ensure fresh water and better ventilation.
• Thin stretched plant: This is often a sign your Lucky bamboo is not receiving enough light. Relocate to a brighter position to assist with good, strong growth.
• Pests: Lucky Bamboo are pretty hardy plants, though already stressed plants  will be highly susceptible to pest infestations leading to excessive yellowing fronds and leaf damage. Mealybug, scale, and spider mites are common indoor plant pests and will weaken your plant relatively quickly if left untreated. Adjust environmental stressors for your houseplant and treat infestations with an organic pesticide. Click here for more on identifying and treating common houseplant pests.

Lucky Bamboo Care Instructions

• Origin: Native to tropical rainforests of West Africa and Southeast Africa, particularly Cameroon
• Size: Typically grows 30-100 cm tall indoors, though can reach up to 2 meters in ideal conditions. Stems are usually 1-3 cm in diameter
• Light: Bright indirect light. Will tolerate lower light but may stretch and become weak. Avoid direct sunlight, which can burn leaves. Can also tolerate fluorescent office lighting well.
• Water: If grown in water, change every 7-10 days using filtered or distilled water. If in soil, keep consistently moist but not waterlogged. Sensitive to fluoride and chlorine in tap water
• Humidity: Adaptable to normal household humidity (40-60%). Benefits from occasional misting, especially in dry environments
• Temperature: Prefers 18-35 °C. Avoid placing near cold drafts or air conditioning vents. Minimum temperature should not drop below 10°C
• Soil: If planting in soil, use well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter. Alternatively, can be grown in water with clean pebbles for support
• Pruning: Trim yellowed or dead leaves at the base. Cut back overgrown stalks to desired height using clean, sharp scissors. Can trim offshoots to maintain shape
• Repotting: When grown in water, clean container and pebbles every 6–12 months. If in soil, repot every 2 years or when roots become crowded
• Propagation: Easy to propagate via stem cuttings. Cut healthy stems into 10-15 cm segments, ensuring each has at least one node. Place in water or moist soil, maintaining warmth until new roots develop (usually 2-3 weeks).