Skip to main content

Plant of the week: Dracaena sanderiana – tips for growing the lucky bamboo

Here's why you should grow Dracaena sanderiana

Are you looking for a new and interesting plant to add to your home or office? Do you love the look of bamboo, but don’t have the space to grow it in your garden? Dracaena sanderiana, also known as lucky bamboo, might just be the right plant for you! Like most other dracaena varieties, lucky bamboo is a beautiful, relaxing, and low-maintenance houseplant. Here’s what you need to know to bring this stunning plant home with you!

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

45 minutes

What You Need

  • Flower pot or container

  • Room temperature, chlorine-free water

  • Liquid fertilizer

A person holding a small lucky bamboo plant in a jar of water on the palm of their hand
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is Dracaena sanderiana?

Dracaena sanderiana may look a lot like bamboo, but don’t be fooled! Lucky bamboo is not closely related to true bamboo at all. In fact, it’s not even native to Asia. Dracaena sanderiana is native to central Africa, and it’s actually a member of the asparagus family.

Lucky bamboo can grow up to 5 feet tall, and it typically won't reach its full height when grown indoors. This makes Dracaena sanderiana a perfect plant to add to any relaxing Japanese-style garden if you’re short on space. Additionally, this plant is easy to care for, making it a great choice for beginners.

A small lucky bamboo plant in a jar of water on a table
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Growing lucky bamboo in water

Lucky bamboo looks elegant when grown in water. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Choose a container that's wide enough for the roots and tall enough to keep from tipping over.

Clear containers are also popular, as they let you view the roots as they grow.

Step 2: Remove your lucky bamboo from its pot, brush the dirt of its roots, and give the roots a rinse.

If you’re transplanting your lucky bamboo from soil to water, you need to clean the roots. Otherwise, your bamboo will be sitting in dirty water, which increases its chances of developing a fungal infection.

Step 3: Place your lucky bamboo in the container.

You can add pebbles to help hold it up or as decoration, if you like.

Step 4: Add enough room temperature, chlorine-free water to cover the roots.

Step 5: Replenish or replace the water once a week.

This is a good time to clean the container, as well.

Step 6: Place your lucky bamboo in indirect or diffused sunlight.

Step 7: Add a liquid fertilizer to the water once a month to every other month.

A row of tall lucky bamboo plants
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Growing lucky bamboo in soil

Follow these steps to care for your Dracaena in soil:

Step 1: Choose a pot with drainage holes.

Step 2: Plant your lucky bamboo in rich, well-draining soil.

Step 3: Water frequently, but lightly, and with low-chlorine water.

Lucky bamboo needs consistently damp soil, but can develop problems in soggy or muddy soil. Additionally, it's sensitive to chlorine.

Step 4: Place your Dracaena sanderiana in diffused or indirect light.

Direct light can burn the sensitive leaves.

Lucky bamboo is a great choice for gardeners of all experience levels who are tight on space or love a classic aesthetic. It makes an excellent desk plant, but you can also let it grow to its full height if you need to fill space. You can grow it indoors or out, and in water or soil. Try planting Dracaena sanderiana today, and maybe you’ll get lucky!

Editors' Recommendations

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
Thanksgiving vs. Christmas cactus: How they’re different
How to tell if your Christmas cactus is really a Thanksgiving cactus or vice versa
Thanksgiving cactus in bloom

Friends and families share holiday cacti every year, but how do you know if you have a Thanksgiving cactus plant or a Christmas one? When comparing a Thanksgiving cactus vs. a Christmas cactus, it's easy to see why people are unsure. These cacti are closely related and are difficult to tell apart. Even their flowers look alike! What makes it worse — department stores, plant shops, and garden centers often mislabel these plants, which contributes to the confusion.

To properly care for your cactus, you need to know what kind of cactus it is. Here's your handy guide to telling these two cacti apart, plus tips on how to care for them so your cactus will last long past the holiday season.

Read more
Cordyline care: How to make your cordyline plants thrive and bring the tropics indoors
Make sure your cordyline thrives with these tips
Potted green cordyline plants on the ground

Cordylines are beautiful tropical plants native to the Pacific Islands and portions of Southeast Asia. With their striking colors and vibrant leaves, they can add some color to any garden. However, tropical plants are not always easy to grow outdoors. Unless you live in a tropical region or have a greenhouse, you'll need to grow cordylines indoors. Luckily, these plants are fairly easy to grow indoors and add both color and interest to your houseplant collection! This guide to indoor cordyline care will help ensure your new cordyline thrives.

Read more
Madagascar palm care guide: Everything you need to know about this lush succulent
Care tips and tricks for steady growth on your Madagascar palm
Madagascar palm tree

For lush tropical vibes with a desert twist, the Madagascar palm tree (pachypodium lamerei) is the perfect addition to your space — truly, it's one of the most eye-catching plants you can have. Technically, this plant is a succulent instead of a true palm, which means that it’s fairly low maintenance in terms of watering and humidity needs.

While the Madagascar palm thrives in full sunlight, it’s definitely suitable as an indoor houseplant if you give it adequate lighting. Before bringing this hardy plant into your house, here's everything you need to know about Madagascar palm care.

Read more