Dracaena Sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo) Care Guide

The iconic plant Dracaena Sanderiana, also referred to as "Lucky Bamboo", has nothing to do with bamboo, except for its appearance. It is very easy to grow, unpretentious and hardy, pseudobamboo rightfully has the title of one of the easiest indoor plants to care for.

About Dracaena Sanderiana Plant

Dracaena Sanderiana is an unpretentious, perennial evergreen flower, in which both shoots and foliage are very attractive. In flower shops, Lucky Bamboo is usually represented by small "columns" - stalks with a bunch of leaves at the top, a specially formed "spiral" or with numerous lateral processes.

✔ We Released The Dracaena HandBook

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE >>

Each dracaena "trunk" at the bottom ends with a powerful root system. Dracaena Sanderiana grows up to 1 meter in height, and its leaves reach 20-25 cm in length. The shape of the stem and leaves is similar to that of real bamboo. Leaves are dense, glossy, elongated-lancelet, up to 3 cm wide. Endurance is considered to be the main advantage of Lucky Bamboo. This unique plant is the only dracaena that can grow simply in water. It is outside the soil that Lucky Bamboo is sold more often, although it is also possible to grow Dracaena Sanderiana in the substrate.

Methods of growing Dracaena Sanderiana:

In water or hydroponics with decorative stones instead of soil
In the potting soil, like an ordinary houseplant

Pin me, please :)

Dracaena Sanderiana Plant Care Guide

Light

Dracaena Sanderiana, like all types of dracaena, prefers bright rooms with diffused lighting. But one of the unique features of this plant is its excellent adaptability. The bamboo of happiness will not only take root, but it will also look good even in a room with no sources of natural light at all, where artificial lighting is turned on only periodically.

For good growth, light shade is best for these houseplants

Temperature

This thermophilic plant does not tolerate a drop even to 17-18 degrees and feels good all year round in the usual room temperature range. It grows well at temperatures from 20°C to 35°C.

Humidity

Dracaena Sanderiana perfectly tolerates even the driest air and does not impose any requirements on its humidity. The plant does not need spraying, installation of humidifiers, and if it grows in water, it will have a beneficial effect on all neighboring plants, playing the role of a "humidifier".

Watering

Dracaena Sanderiana is more hygrophilous than other dracaena types. This plant is not afraid of moisture stagnation and easily tolerates life in the "water" mode. If the plant is grown in a substrate, then water it as the soil dries up, preventing the soil from drying out deeper than 2-3 cm. Complete drying of the soil is not allowed in any case. When growing in water, it is critical to keep the water level stable. In whatever container Lucky Bamboo is, the water should not go beyond 2-3 cm above the upper roots of the plant (the total water level is limited to 6-8 cm).

Feeding

To maintain the attractiveness of Dracaena Sanderiana, it is enough to periodically add a mixture of fertilizer for Dracaena to the water. For dracaena growing in the potting mix, it is also better to use special fertilizer mixtures.

Pruning

Both in water and in soil, Dracaena Sanderiana does not stop growing. If the stems become too elongated, and the plant begins to lose out to young specimens in decorativeness, then the bamboo can be "shortened": cut off its top and root it in water, then replace the old stems with a new plant.

Diseases and Pests

This plant has strong immunity. Only in a severely neglected state, with water pollution and deviation from the usual care strategy, in the vicinity of affected plants, mealybugs and red spider mites can attack it. You need to fight pests with insecticides.

Is Dracaena Sanderiana poisonous?

Remember that this type of Dracaena is toxic for pets. So don't let your pets chew Dracaena Sanderiana leaves. If you notice that your pet is showing signs of weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, incoordination, dilated pupils (in cats), visit your veterinarian immediately.

Lucky Bamboo problems

Yellowing leaves

This is the first sign that your Dracaena Sanderiana has a problem. If you plant your Lucky Bamboo in water and the leaves start to yellow after you change the water - the reason is too much chlorine or fluorine in it. To solve this problem use filtered water or allow your tap water to sit in an open container for 24 to 48 hours before watering Dracaena Sanderiana. One more reason for the yellow leaves of Lucky Bamboo is too much exposure to direct sun. To get rid of it, move the plant to an area where it will receive less sunlight. Thin stalk A thin, spindly stalk of Lucky Bamboo is the result of too little light. To solve this problem, move your Dracaena Sanderiana closer to a natural light source, but make sure there is no direct sunlight. Such condition of Lucky Bamboo can also be caused by too much fertilizer.

Yellow, soft stalk or leaf damage

A soft stalk or a yellow / brown stalk indicates that Lucky Bamboo is already dead. There are many reasons for this condition, so if you notice one bamboo in your bunch turns yellow or goes mushy at the stalk, remove it immediately.

FAQ Dracaena Sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo)

Is Dracaena Sanderiana toxic to cats?

Dracaena sanderiana can be harmful to cats. If ingested, it causes dilated pupils, abdominal pain, increased heart-rate and drooling. Cats who ingest lucky bamboo will show signs of depression, no appetite, drooling, vomiting, incoordination and weakness.

How do you care for a dracaena Sanderiana?

Clean the leaves regularly (all houseplants need that)
Change the water weekly
Place in areas with lots of indirect sunlight but without direct sunlight.
Every month remove the plant from its pot
Wash the plant and roots off thoroughly
Place the “bamboo plant” back in the pot after washing the plant itself and change the water.

How fast does Dracaena Sanderiana grow?

Floral consultants at Orchids Asia assert that lucky bamboo will grow about 19 inches in six months, in 10 to 12 steps. They state that "each step should take approximately 2 to 3 weeks."

To the commonest of dracaena types belong:

About the Author

My name is Michael Bauer, I have been growing and taking care of plants for 20 years. My dream has become a reality. I've had many difficulties along the way, but my love for our favorite plants has really helped me.