Lucky bamboo care guide

Lucky bamboo is not bamboo. It is a dracaena that grows in a vase of water for years. Stores sell it in bundles, spirals, and braids as a gift for good luck.

Light

Give it medium light or bright, indirect light, such as a spot near an east or north window. It survives in low light but grows slow and pale.

Direct sun scorches the leaves and grows algae in the water.

Water

Most lucky bamboo grows in water. Keep the water level high enough to cover the roots. Change the water every week or two, and rinse the vase and pebbles.

Lucky bamboo reacts to fluoride and chlorine in tap water. Brown tips and yellow leaves are the sign. Use rainwater, distilled water, or filtered water.

In soil, water when the top 2 cm (1 in) is dry. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Water and pebbles work for years. You can also move it into a pot of well-draining houseplant mix. Plants in soil often grow bigger and live longer.

A plant moved from water to soil needs its soil kept moist for the first few weeks while new roots form. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Average room air is fine. Keep it between 18 and 32°C (65 and 90°F). Keep it away from cold windows, drafts, and heat vents.

Feeding

Lucky bamboo needs little food. Add a few drops of liquid fertilizer made for lucky bamboo to the water every month or two. Too much yellows the leaves.

Pruning

A cut stalk does not grow taller. New shoots grow from the nodes below the cut instead.

To tidy a tall plant, cut side shoots off where they meet the stalk. Root them to make new plants. Cut off yellow leaves with clean scissors.

Spirals and braids

Growers make spirals by turning the stalks a little at a time under a light. New growth on your plant will grow straight up. Trim off new shoots to keep the shape.

Propagation

1. Cut a side shoot off where it meets the main stalk. Pick one with a few leaves.
2. Pull off the lowest leaves.
3. Set it in a small glass of water.
4. Roots grow in three to four weeks.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Yellow leaves	Chlorine or fluoride in tap water, too much fertilizer, or too much sun
Yellow, soft stalk	Rot. Remove it so it does not spread.
Brown leaf tips	Tap water or dry air
Green slime in the vase	Algae from light on the water. Clean the vase and use an opaque one.
Pale, stretched growth	Not enough light
Bad smell from the water	The water needs changing

A stalk that turns yellow from the bottom up will not recover. Pull it out of the bundle and toss it.

Pests

Pests are rare on plants grown in water. Spider mites and mealybugs can show up on plants in soil.

Pet safety

Lucky bamboo is toxic to cats and dogs. It contains saponins. Eating it can cause vomiting, drooling, and loss of appetite. Cats may get dilated pupils. Keep it out of reach.

Varieties

• Straight stalks, sold in bundles or tiers.
• Spirals, curled by the grower.
• Braids, three or more stalks woven together.
• Gold lucky bamboo has leaves with yellow edges.