Lucky Bamboo Care: A Houseplant That Grows In Water

Lucky Bamboo’s a fascinating houseplant that grows in water. It’s great for novice gardeners and those looking for a novelty plant. Here you’ll find Lucky Bamboo care tips.

Are you a beginning houseplant gardener? Here’s a great one to get started with. It’s easy as pie to keep looking good and sure to become a topic of conversation as you’re busy showing it off.

About Lucky Bamboo Plants

Botanic Name: Dracaena sanderiana Common Names: Lucky Bamboo, Ribbon Dracaena, Curly Bamboo, Chinese Water Bamboo

Height: The tallest I’ve seen Lucky Bamboo is around 4′ tall.

spiral stalk lucky bamboo growing in water adorned with gold charms and ribbons
Chinese coins decorating a spiral Lucky Bamboo at LeeLee International Supermarket here in Tucson. The tie or ribbon colors have meaning in Feng Shui. Green symbolizes renewal & fresh energy.

What is Lucky Bamboo?

First off, a Lucky Bamboo plant isn’t actually a true bamboo. The canes, stalks, or stems (whatever you prefer to call them) resemble the canes of a bamboo plant and that’s the origin of “bamboo” in its common name. It’s a member of the Dracaena family along with popular houseplants like Dracaena Lisa, Dracaena massangeana, Dracaena marginata, and Dracaena reflexa.

Lucky Bamboo has been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years but has really skyrocketed into popularity in the past twenty years. It’s known to bring good energy into your home. You can find it in many different shapes, forms, and arrangements from a single stalk to an arrangement with multiple twisted stalks.

They’re often sold in Asian and international markets so if you have one in your town or city, check there. Or, if you live in an urban area, Chinatown is a good place to find one. I’ll list a number of online sources towards the end in case you’re interested in purchasing one.

The number of stalks has different meanings as do the various forms like a trellis, tree, spiral, etc. This is something I don’t know a lot about. I do know that you should avoid an arrangement using four stems. It’s bad luck in Chinese culture and who needs that?

Three stems is a favorite number and a good one to start with because it represents happiness, long life, and wealth. Yes, please! Lucky Bamboo is known to increase feng shui, which is a whole other topic I’m not well versed in either but find very interesting.

This is a plant that goes both ways: it grows in both water and/or soil.

nell foster standing next to mature lucky bamboo growing in tiger design pot
Here I am leaning on the counter at Lee Lee International Supermarket in Tucson to provide some scale on how tall Lucky Bamboo can get. Their stock plants grow in artificial lighting so growth is thin & leggy.

Lucky Bamboo Care Tips

This fascinating and very popular houseplant grows in water, and I want to give you a few Lucky Bamboo care tips to make sure yours stays as healthy as can be.

Lucky Bamboo Light Requirements

Lucky Bamboo does great in bright light. It’ll tolerate lower light levels indoors just fine but it won’t grow much. If yours isn’t getting enough light it’ll eventually become leggy and thin trying to reach for the light source.

Be sure to avoid putting it in a location with the direct, hot sun (such as in a south or west window) as it’ll burn.

Right now one of mine sits on a north window sill but I’ll need to move it as the weather heats up because the glass gets hot here in the Arizona desert when those summer days roll around.

The taller arrangement grows in my guest room. The exposure is east/south and a larger window gives it a good amount of bright natural light with indirect sunlight all day. It sits about 12″ away from those windows.

You may need to rotate yours from time to time so it gets light on all sides. I often do this when I’m changing the water.

You may also see Lucky Bamboo stems called stalks or canes.

a clear glass vase holds 3 spiral stalks of lucky bamboo
This arrangement of spiral canes sits in my guest room & hopefully bestows my guests with good luck & fortune.
an arrangement of lucky bamboo tied with gold foil ties grows in a low white dish
The color of the ties has meaning too. This smaller 1 of mine has gold ties representing abundance.

Lucky Bamboo Watering

There is a bit of mixed opinion regarding this in terms of clean water. Some people never change the water, some change it frequently, and others every now and then.

I fall into the “every now and then” category as I change the water about every six-eight weeks. If the water is smelling bad, then change it to fresh water!

In terms of water level, I make sure the water completely covers the roots in both of my arrangements. I keep the water level just above the roots and not too far up on the stems. I add a bit of water as needed, every two-seven days depending on the temperatures and how much it’s evaporating out.

Lucky Bamboo is sensitive to minerals, including chlorine, in the water. If your tap water is hard and it contains a lot of minerals, then you’ll need to use bottled water like purified or distilled water. Rain water and spring water are great so if you have access to either, that’s a good way to go.

Here in Tucson, the water is hard. I used purified water before I got this tankless R/O system installed in my new home. It has a re-mineralization cartridge that puts the good minerals back in. This is what I use to water all of my indoor plants.

All Dracaenas are prone to tipping so if your leaves of yours are starting to show a lot of small brown tips or you see a build of white in the vase or dish, don’t use tap water.

Are you new to or having issues growing a Lucky Bamboo plant? Here are 24 Things To Know About Caring For & Growing Lucky Bamboo.

hand holding small lucky bamboo in brown pot with butterfly design surrounded by other small lucky bamboo stalks in water in pot
This might be a good starter size if you’re new to Lucky Bamboo. It’s cheaper & can really tuck in anywhere. We saw these at Lee Lee Market & later in the day, I saw some this size for sale at Lowe’s.

Container Size/Type

If your Lucky Bamboo arrangement is growing in a low dish or bowl, then make sure it has at least 1″ of space all the way around so the roots can spread out a bit.

My shorter Lucky Bamboo has been growing in that low white dish for six years now. It’s going to need a larger vessel soon as the roots are starting to get crowded. I have to add water to the dish every few days now because it drys out fast here in the desert. Another reason to get a new container!

The taller spiral stem arrangement is in a glass vase proportionate to its height. I keep about 3″ of water in the vase, just enough to make sure the roots are fully submerged. You don’t want to keep the vase full of water because the stems (canes) could rot out.

In regards to container type for Lucky Bamboo, glass, and ceramic are the most popular.

Fertilizer

Super Green is one of the fertilizers specially formulated for this plant growing in water. Lucky Bamboo doesn’t need too much fertilizer but if you change the water out, it’s a good idea to use this food 3-6 times a year to ensure a healthy plant.

I change out the water on my Lucky Bamboo about every two months or so. I use Super Green or this other Lucky Bamboo fertilizer every time I do the switch.

Just be sure to not use more than the recommended amount of food or use it too often. Too much fertilizing can cause the stalks to yellow.

an elaborate pyramid shaped lucky bamboo arrangement grows in a low dish
I saw this beautiful arrangement in a garden center near Pasadena (I can’t remember the name but it might be San Gabriel Nursery). The assortment of Lucky Bamboo arrangements here was impressive!

Humidity

Lucky Bamboo is native to tropical rainforests. If it’s been in your home for a while and you’re seeing brown leaf tips, one of the causes is the dry air that our homes often have.

Temperature

Lucky Bamboo prefers warm temperatures but adapts fine in our homes. As I say about other houseplants, if it’s comfortable for you, it’ll be so for them also. It’s best to keep it out of any drafts and away from heating and cooling vents.

Pests

Mine have never gotten any – so far so good but that could change. Like all dracaenas, Lucky Bamboo is subject to an infestation of spider mites, especially in the fall and/or winter when the heat comes on.

Other common pests to keep your eye open for include thrips, scale, and mealy bugs.

My friend got spider mites on her Lucky Bamboo which prompted me to write a post on this subject. This will give you more info: Lucky Bamboo and Spider Mites.

Pruning/Trimming

I hadn’t pruned or trimmed my Lucky Bamboo up until last year. The foliage growth on my spiral arrangement was getting very spindly and I didn’t like the look. They were both a lot happier when I lived seven blocks from the ocean in Santa Barbara.

Lucky Bamboo loves high humidity and mine aren’t thriving in the desert where I now live. After the pruning, new shoots started to appear at the top of the stems or canes. This is how dracaenas grow when you cut them back.

More details are here. You can see why and how I Trimmed My Lucky Bamboo Plant.

Leaves Turning Yellow Or Brown

An occasional lower leaf turning brown or yellow isn’t a concern. Just take them off. If your plant has lots of dead leaves or brown leaves, then you have an issue. This could be due to minerals in the tap water or too much direct sun.

Mine get an occasional yellow leaf every year. If yours is getting quite a few of them, it could be that it’s getting too much sun, poor water quality, or fertilizing too much or too often.

nell foster in tan sweater holding lucky bamboo that is growing in soil
Here’s my new little Lucky Bamboo plant growing in soil. I’ve always grown it in water, so when I saw this at Green Things Nursery, I thought I’d give it a go. After I’ve grown it for a year or so, I’ll do a comparison post.

Pet Safety

Dracaenas are considered to be toxic to pets. You can read the information the ASPCA has provided on this.

Growing Lucky Bamboo In Soil

In its native environment, Lucky Bamboo grows in the ground in the tropical rainforest. It grows better for the long haul in soil but is most commonly sold in water because it’s more of a novelty.

You want it in the same light exposure as I’ve listed here and to be growing in well-draining soil. I let mine dry out about halfway before watering again.

Lucky Bamboo Care Video Guide

Lucky Bamboo Care No No’s

  • Do not place your Lucky Bamboo in direct sun. Too much direct sunlight will burn it.
  • Do not use tap water if your water is hard. Your Lucky Bamboo will do much better with distilled, purified, or treated water. Rainwater and springwater are good alternatives.
  • Do not let your Lucky Bamboo dry out – keep the roots covered with water at all times.
  • Do not keep the water levels too high – just covering or slightly above the roots is fine.
  • Do not place your Lucky Bamboo near a heating or cooling vent. Also, keep it away from any cold drafts.
  • Do not let dust collect on the leaves because the pores need to breathe. Periodically clean the leaves with a brush, damp rag, and/or spray off with water.

Some Of Our General Houseplant Guides For Your Reference: Guide To Watering Indoor Plants, Beginner’s Guide To Repotting Plants, How to Clean Houseplants, Winter Houseplant Care Guide, Plant Humidity: How I Increase Humidity For Houseplants, Buying Houseplants: 14 Tips For Indoor Gardening Newbies

an arrangement of lucky bamboo with twisted stalks grows in rocks & water in a low dish
Lucky Bamboo grows just fine & looks great growing in pebbles, rocks, or glass chips. Just make sure those roots stay covered with water. This was seen at a shop in LA’s Chinatown.

Lucky Bamboo Care FAQs

Is Lucky Bamboo a good indoor plant? Can Lucky Bamboo be outside?


Like the rest of the Dracaenas, Lucky Bamboo is a good indoor plant. Many people love this plant because of the fact it grows in water and can be found in many forms. Plus, it doesn’t take up a lot of room if you have an abundance of plants as I do!

It could be outside in the warmer months. Be sure to keep it out of the direct sun and watch the water levels so that is doesn’t go dry. Also, make sure you have it in a spot where it won’t blow over.

Can Lucky Bamboo grow in low light? Does Lucky Bamboo need a lot of sun?


It will tolerate low-light conditions. You probably won’t get much new growth and what you do get, will be thinner and reaching towards a light source. You can refer to the 3rd photo in this post to see what I’m talking about!

For best results, Lucky Bamboo looks greener and healthier when growing in sunlight. Now, I’m not talking about direct, hot sun. It does best in a moderate to high indirect light exposure near but not in a window.

Should Lucky Bamboo be in soil or water? Can I take Lucky Bamboo out of the soil & put it in water? Can I transfer my Lucky Bamboo from water to soil?


Either is fine. It’s most commonly sold to grow in water but I know a couple of people who grow it in soil. If you’re growing for the long haul, I’ve heard that soil is better.

As to taking it out of the soil and putting it in water, I’ve never done that before nor do I know anyone who has.

Yes, I know a couple of people who have taken it from water and planted it into the soil successfully. Just make sure the potting mix has good drainage to prevent root rot.

Can Lucky Bamboo grow in rocks?


Yes, it can. It’s frequently sold this way. Refer to the photo directly above to see an interesting, twisted Lucky Bamboo arrangement grows in rocks.

Why are my Lucky Bamboo stalks turning yellow? Can they turn green again?


There are quite a few reasons why the stalks of Lucky Bamboo turn yellow. One of the most common has to do with the water. It could be of poor quality, not changed often enough, or receiving too much sun causing algae to build up. If you smell a foul odor, change the water! It could also be due to an excess of fertilizing, light levels, and temperature extremes.

Yellow stalks (aka yellow stems) don’t turn back to green. It’s best to get it out of the arrangement.

Is Lucky Bamboo pet safe?


Like all Dracaenas, they are considered to be toxic to pets. I always consult the ASPCA website to see how it’s toxic and what effect it’ll have. Hopefully, your pets are like my kitties and they leave plants alone.

Is Lucky Bamboo long lasting?


I’m not sure what the longevity of Lucky Bamboo is. I can tell you that I’ve had both of mine for over
10 years now. The Lee Lee Supermarket where we took a few of these photos has some older ones on display which are 3-4′ tall and most likely over 10 years old as well.

How do I make my Lucky Bamboo grow taller?

The stalks won’t grow any taller than they are. If you want a taller arrangement, it’s best to buy one with taller stalks (stems).

The foliage growing out of the stalks is what grows taller. Proper Lucky Bamboo care along with conditions being to their liking is what will help with this over time.

How many Lucky Bamboo stalks are needed for good luck? What layer of Lucky Bamboo is best?


That’s something I only know a little about. This article will provide some info for you.

Three layers of Lucky Bamboo are very popular and considered to be one of the best.

Is Lucky Bamboo a money tree?


According to feng shui principles, Lucky Bamboo is said to attract luck, good fortune, and wealth. There is another popular houseplant with the common name Money Tree so it depends on how you interpret the question!

Are you new to or having issues growing a Lucky Bamboo plant? Here are 24 Things To Know About Caring For & Growing Lucky Bamboo.

Where can I buy Lucky Bamboo?

You may see it in your local nursery which sells houseplants. Grocery stores, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and the like are other places to look for them. Here are a few online sources for Lucky Bamboo:

collage of 6 varieties of lucky bamboo that can be bought online from etsy and amazon
  1. Trellis Shaped // 2. Layered Braiding // 3. Spiral Stalk // 4. Braided In Vase // 5. Heart Shaped // 6. Tiered Tower In Pot

Lucky Bamboo care is simple. It’s one of the easiest houseplants to grow and is as fascinating and interesting as a plant gets. If you’re a beginning gardener, be sure to give this one a try.

I love this plant and all the forms it comes in. And hey, don’t we all need a little bit of good luck brought into our homes?!!

Note: This post was originally published on 1/14/2017. It was updated on 8/13/2020 & then again on 2/16/2023 with new images & more information.

Happy gardening,

Signed by Nell Foster

This post may contain affiliate links, you can read our policies here.

Similar Posts

94 Comments

  1. Hello, is there a way to make/encourage the stalks to produce more shoots or leaves?
    Thank you in advance

  2. Hello, I have had a pretty big bamboo plant for a little over 4 years. I decided to transfer it into a bigger vase with water and rocks and since then the tip of the leaves started to brown and just recently some roots are turning black/brown. Could re-potting have caused this? if so what can I do? I also just moved to Arizona and am trying to find a happy medium with this beautiful plant!

  3. Hi Karlie – The roots should be orangish. Black roots indicate rot. It could have been in too much water or potbound in the old vase. Also, change the water every 2-4 weeks. Bottled water is best. Nell

  4. Hi Barbara – Like any Dracaena, you can try tip pruning. Cutting the stalks back is an option but I’ve done it a couple of times & only got 2 new shoots on 1 stalk & only 1 on the other 2. Nell

Comments are closed.