Dracaena Sanderiana, most commonly known as Lucky Bamboo, is a popular sign of good fortune and luck among Feng Shui enthusiasts.
It is a very popular plant that you can find easily at any gardening store.
Though its common name is Lucky Bamboo, it’s actually not bamboo. It belongs to the Dracaena family of plants.
Three are many Dracaena varieties, such as mass cane plant and snake plant, to name a few.
In this post, you’ll find everything about these easy-to-grow and Dracaena sanderiana plants.
Related post: 12 Most Common Dracaena Varieties to Consider Growing
Table of Contents
What is Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)?
The Dracaena sanderiana is native to West Africa but is now equally popular all across the world.
In fact, it is now directly shipped to all the developed world from east Asia.
Professional cultivators of the Dracaena sanderiana grow, cut, and twist the stalks of the Dracaena sanderiana to grow them in desired shapes.
You may have seen curly bamboo that is in vases.
Some Characteristics of Lucky Bamboo Plant
Botanical Name: Dracaena sanderiana
Common Name(s): Lucky Bamboo, Chinese water bamboo, Friendship bamboo, ribbon plant, ribbon dracaena, Belgian evergreen, water bamboo
Plant Type: Perennial Shrub
Plant Family: Dracaena
Origin: Southeast Asia and West Africa
Hardiness Zones: USDA 10-11
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena Sanderiana) Care
Although it’s a household and easy to care plant, it needs some conditions to survive in your home.
Like many indoor plants, you can keep it in a decorative container until you’re fulfilling your plant’s requirements.
Here are some Dracaena Sanderiana care tips that you need to check often and carefully.
Ideal Temperature and Humidity for Dracaena sanderiana
Due to the origin of the Dracaena Sanderiana, you may expect it will prefer warm temperatures and low humidity.
In the case of Dracaena Sanderiana, it requires average home humidity to thrive, opposite its origin.
When it comes to temperature, it shows that it’s native to a relatively warm country.
It requires a temperature higher than other home plants, but it is a temperature that you can easily provide in your home.
Keep Dracaena Sanderiana plants at a temperature of about 70–90°F (21–32°C).
It would be best if you didn’t keep your plant’s pot near windows or other places with a cold draft in winter or colder days.
Water Requirements
If your plant is growing in soil, keep the soil wet but don’t overwater as it can result in root rot.
You can grow your plant in water too with some pebbles.
If you do this, make sure that the water level in your pot should be at least 5cm.
The roots should remain dip in the water.
Many people believe that water in the Dracaena Sanderiana should be changed often, but it’s not mandatory.
If clean water is in the container, you can keep it for 7-10 days.
But, if the water starts to look greenish, then excessive algae growth can attack your plant.
The best practice for your Dracaena Sanderiana care, in this case, is to change the water as soon as possible.
Otherwise, change the water of your lucky bamboo plant every week.
If tap water contains higher levels of chlorine, it can affect leaf growth.
To keep your Dracaena Sanderiana leaf tips safe, you can use tap water once the chlorine has been evaporated.
To do this, you can keep the water out overnight.
If the fluoride ratio is high in tap water, it’s recommended to use filtered or distilled water.
It’s essential for your Lucky Bamboo because fluoride is toxic for your plant and doesn’t evaporate like chlorine.
Soil Requirements
Dracaena sanderiana needs well-drained soil for growth.
The rich potting soil and adequate moisture are vital for your it to flourish.
If the soil feels dry an inch below in the pot, it’s time to water your Dracaena sanderiana.
But if there is moisture at the bottom of the container, there is no need to overwater it.
If you are looking for a good potting soil mix, you should consider this succulent potting mix.
It drains well, plus it has some nutrients to feed your lucky bamboo plant.
- 🌻 FRESH, ORGANIC — This Specially Formulated Succulent Soil Mix...
- 🔎 PROFESSIONALLY MIXED — From the Growers at Perfect Plants Nursery,...
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Sunlight Requirements
Moderate or indirect light is the best for your plant.
Dracaena sanderiana is habitual of rainforest, so they don’t like direct sunlight or too much light.
So, it would help if you didn’t place your Lucky Bamboo near a window or outdoors, as too much direct sunlight will scorch its leaves.
If your Lucky Bamboo’s leaf tips can become brown tips, know that you need to cut off the sun exposure.
But that doesn’t mean you should always protect your it from the direct sun.
Moderate sunlight is crucial for your plant’s growth.
Does Lucky Bamboo Need Fertilizer for Growth?
Fortunately, you don’t need to add fertilizer to your plant frequently.
It only requires a couple of drops of liquid fertilizer every 1-2 months.
You can pick any liquid fertilizer or specialty lucky bamboo fertilizers.
What Are Common Issues to Worry About in Lucky Bamboo Care?
While growing lucky bamboo, you may encounter the following problems:
Pests
Although rare, pests can attack your lucky bamboo plant.
Common pests that infest lucky bamboo plants include spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs. A simple solution is to use a soap-based insecticide.
We recommend this particular insecticide for one simple reason – it works. Just a little will go a long way.
- INSECT KILLER: Kills Aphids, Mealybugs, Mites, Whiteflies, and more
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- EASY TO USE: Ready-to-Use bottle makes application easy
Diseases
When the growth requirements of lucky bamboo plants are not fulfilled, it makes it prone to many diseases.
Yellow leaves are an indication that your plant is sick.
With proper Dracaena Sanderiana care, you can deal with these problems without affecting your plant’s growth.
FAQ
How Tall Does Lucky Bamboo Grow?
If lucky bamboo plants grow outdoors, they can reach up to 8 feet in height and 2 feet in width. Growing these long-lived plants inside, on the other hand, is unlikely to result in their enormous height. Indoor plants should reach a full height of around 3 feet.
How Long Does The Lucky Bamboo Plant Live?
Bamboo that grows in water can live for about one to two years, but it doesn’t live very long. For a longer life, move your bamboo into the soil where it can live for a long time. It may lose some of its leaves over time, but as long as you look after the plant well, it will keep growing new leaves.
Can Lucky Bamboo Live Outside?
Lucky bamboo may be grown in the ground outdoors, although cold weather and bright sunshine might injure the plant. Further, you can have rainwater provide nutrient-rich water to your Dracaena sanderiana plants. However, a lucky bamboo plant thrives best in a warm, well-lit environment, so keep it out of direct sunlight.
Are Dracaena sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo) Plants toxic to Pets and Children?
It’s bad for cats and dogs, so don’t let them near it. Besides being unable to move or moving very slowly, your pets may also vomit, have diarrhea, get dilated eyes, and be in pain when they eat it. Lucky bamboo isn’t harmful to kids, but it can make them feel a little irritated if eaten.
Conclusion
Lucky Bamboo is a common household plant that is often mistaken as Bamboo.
But they belong to the family Dracaena and are a different plant.
Though it resembles bamboo, Lucky Bamboo care isn’t similar to bamboo. It requires different conditions to grow and flourish.
If you’re planning to have Dracaena Sanderiana as a new home plant, then make sure that you give it the suitable soil, water, and light to thrive.
References
- McConnell, D., Chen, J., Henny, R., & Everitt. K. (2018). Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Dracaena. Publication ENH892, University of Florida, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Apopka (MREC), Environmental Horticulture Department (ENH)
- Klingaman, G. (2004). Plant of the Week: Lucky Bamboo. Ornamentals Extension News, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station.
- North Carolina State Cooperative Extension. Dracaena sanderiana. NC State University Extension, Gardener Plant Toolbox.
- About/mentions: Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana), houseplant, houseplant care
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.