A lively addition to any home, lucky bamboo plants bring more to the table than just their interesting shapes and braided designs – they’re also a symbol of good luck. Whether you’re looking to add a popular indoor houseplant to your collection or you’re searching for the perfect housewarming gift for a friend, we’ve created a lucky bamboo plant care guide with everything you need to know about the popular greenery choice.
“Though called lucky bamboo, it isn’t a bamboo at all, but a dracaena. Lucky bamboo is easy to grow, especially if growing in water. I grow mine in pebbles in a decorative vase,” says Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, known as The Houseplant Guru.
Regardless of where you plan on placing your lucky bamboo or how you want to decorate it, the feng shui plant is known to bring positive energy to any space. However, they can be toxic, so make sure to keep lucky bamboo out of pets’ reach. Read more about the ideal conditions to grow lucky bamboo, how to avoid common pests and the plant’s symbolic meaning.
Lucky Bamboo Plant Care Tips
As a low-maintenance houseplant that can be grown in water or soil, lucky bamboo is great for beginner plant parents.
Water
When growing the plant in water, Steinkopf suggests keeping the water level above the roots and changing it every couple of months or more depending on if it looks murky or has algae growing.
“Clean the container, too,” says Steinkopf. “Use bottled or distilled water or allow your chlorinated tap water to sit for 24 hours so the chlorine can dissipate. Chlorine can cause the leaves to have yellow tips.”
Soil
If you’re not growing the plant in water, use moist, well-drained soil. Remember to check the soil to make sure it doesn’t dry out or get too soggy. Your lucky bamboo should be watered around once a week.
Sunlight
Lucky bamboo thrives in indirect sunlight, so avoid placing the plant in an extra sunny spot that could scorch the leaves. However, if you find that your lucky bamboo is losing its green color, that’s usually a sign it needs more light.
Temperature
Lucky bamboo thrives in temperatures between 65° and 95°F, so you shouldn’t need to change the temperature of your home to care for the plant. However, lucky bamboo doesn’t tolerate large fluctuations in temperature, so make sure to keep the plant in a room that’s consistent.
Pruning, Propagating and Repotting Lucky Bamboo
To maintain its appearance and encourage the growth of your lucky bamboo, occasional pruning of any discolored offshoots is recommended. Additionally, if the lucky bamboo is growing taller than you’d like, feel free to cut the stems back and use those cuttings for propagation.
“If you have a completely green piece, you can use it to propagate a new plant,” says Steinkopf. Try cutting off a healthy piece of the stem and covering the cutting with distilled water, caring for it the way you would if it were a full-grown lucky bamboo plant. Just make sure to wash and clean the container and pebbles the lucky bamboo was in before attempting to grow a new plant in the same one. Once roots appear, repot the lucky bamboo in a vase with water and pebbles or a pot with well-drained soil.
If you’d like to repot an already full-grown lucky bamboo, take the plant out and place it in a larger container with water. Use clean pebbles to cover the roots in the plant’s new home.
How to Avoid Common Lucky Bamboo Problems
Staying on top of things like pests, discolored leaves and water quality can help your lucky bamboo plant survive and thrive throughout its life. Plus, it might even make for more lucky bamboo through propagation.
Pests
Like all other houseplants, lucky bamboo is susceptible to pests like spider mites and mealybugs, according to Steinkopf. Keep an eye on the plant so you can address the issue as soon as it happens, either by removing the pests, cleaning the plant or repotting it altogether.
Brown or Yellow Leaves
Chlorine, often found in tap water, can also have negative affects on lucky bamboo. To avoid yellowing leaves, use a water filter or distilled water instead. Remember to remove any discolored parts of the plant during the pruning process.
Burnt Leaves
If you’re noticing that the plant has burnt leaves, your lucky bamboo is most likely getting too much direct sunlight. Try moving the plant to an area that’s still bright but isn’t in the direct sun.
Algae
Although growing lucky bamboo in water is a fairly simple process, make sure to watch out for any algae growth or murky water. Replace the water every couple of months or whenever you notice the water is looking less clean.
Lucky Bamboo Symbolism
The meaning behind a lucky bamboo plant has to do with the number of stalks it has. So if you’re looking to gift someone lucky bamboo or want the plant for luck in a specific area of the home, you can browse based on its number of stalks and what that represents. However, avoid lucky bamboo with four stems as it can be considered unlucky.
- One stalk: One stalk represents good luck.
- Two stalks: Two stalks represent love.
- Three stalks: Three stalks represent happiness, wealth and longevity or the past, present and future.
- Five stalks: Five stalks represent wealth.
- Six stalks: Six stalks represent prosperity.
- Seven stalks: Seven stalks represent good health.
- Eight stalks: Eight stalks represent growth.
- Nine stalks: Nine stalks represent good fortune.
- Ten stalks: Ten stalks represent fullness or perfection.
- Twenty-one stalks: Twenty-one stalks represent blessings.
Lucky Bamboo FAQ
How long does lucky bamboo live?
Unfortunately, lucky bamboo is known for its short lifespan of only a couple of years. “If the whole stem is yellow or black, chances are your plant has reached its life expectancy,” says Steinkopf. However, you can always use a healthy cutting to propagate your lucky bamboo.
Is it better to grow lucky bamboo in soil or water?
Growing lucky bamboo in soil or water is mostly personal preference. If you’re looking for the least amount of maintenance, growing it in water is best since you won’t have to worry about the moisture levels of the soil.
Where should I place lucky bamboo in the house?
Regardless of placement, lucky bamboo plants are believed to bring positive energy into a space. If you’re looking for some extra luck in a specific area of life, try placing it in a corresponding room. For example, place lucky bamboo on a desk for luck in your career. Just make sure the plant gets indirect sunlight.
Can lucky bamboo grow outside?
Lucky bamboo loves warmer temperatures. However, keep the plant in a shaded area rather than in the direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from scorching.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com where she covered everything from entertainment news to product reviews to pop culture updates.
