Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is the desk-and-bathroom plant: it grows in plain water, asks for indirect light, and shrugs off the kind of neglect that finishes off fussier plants. It's also a classic gift — a little green good-luck charm.
- Growing it in water
- Light and warmth
- Why stalks turn yellow
- Keeping it healthy long-term
1. Growing it in water
Most lucky bamboo lives happily in a vase or dish with an inch or two of water over the roots, held upright by pebbles. Keep the roots covered, top off as the level drops, and change the water completely every couple of weeks so it stays clear and fresh.
- Use filtered, distilled, or tap water left out overnight — lucky bamboo is sensitive to the fluoride and chlorine in fresh tap water.
- Keep at least an inch of water over the roots at all times.
- Rinse the pebbles and vase when you change the water to keep algae down.
2. Light and warmth
Bright, indirect light keeps the leaves a deep green. Direct sun is the one thing to avoid — it scorches and yellows the leaves fast. A warm room away from cold drafts and heater vents suits it best, which makes it perfect for a desk, a counter, or a bathroom with a little daylight.
"Lucky bamboo asks for almost nothing — clean water, soft light, and a warm spot. Get those right and it just keeps going." — the NoCo Clover family
3. Why stalks turn yellow
A yellow stalk is the plant telling you something. The usual culprits are direct sun, chlorinated water, or too much fertilizer. Move it out of direct light, switch to filtered water, and ease off any feeding. If a stalk goes fully yellow and soft, remove it so it doesn’t affect the healthy ones.
Northern Colorado tap water is hard and chlorinated, which lucky bamboo dislikes. Leaving a jug of water out overnight before you use it is an easy fix — and it's free.
4. Keeping it healthy long-term
Feed it only lightly — a single drop of liquid houseplant fertilizer every month or two in the water is plenty. If it outgrows its vase, you can move it into well-draining soil, where it often grows even more vigorously. Trim leggy growth to keep it tidy and full.
5. Come see them in person
We carry lucky bamboo in single stalks and arranged bundles — including the spiral-trained stalks that make a great gift. Come pick one out, or browse what’s in stock on our online store.