Hey Plant Friends!

This week we are talking about Dracaena sanderiana, more commonly known as Lucky Bamboo. This plant belongs to the Asparagaceae plant family along with agave, yucca, and asparagus fern, and is native to Africa. Lucky Bamboo was named after the German–English orchidologist Henry Frederick Conrad Sander. Who would’ve thought that this plant is not actually bamboo but closely related to asparagus, spider plants, and dracaenas. It’s common name, Lucky Bamboo comes from Chinese tradition and is a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and resilience. Lucky Bamboo is a great addition to office spaces, dorm rooms, and kids’ bedrooms!

Let’s talk about care. When it comes to light, Lucky Bamboo prefers bright, filtered light and can tolerate low light. Avoid direct sun as this can cause scorching on the leaves. Water Lucky Bamboo when the top 2-3 inches of soil have dried or if grown directly in water or pebbles, keep water fresh and full. Never allow to completely dry out as this will cause yellowing leaves and leaf drop. When repotting, we recommend Sol Soils Chunky Houseplant Mix. An alternative to soil would be decorative rocks or leca in a water tight container or glass vessel. Lucky Bamboo can be sensitive to temperature drops, keep away from cold drafts to avoid extra stress. Keep an eye out for common pests such as mealy bugs, spider mites, and white flies. Check for pests weekly when watering and keep a bottle of Bonide’s Insecticidal Soap on hand for easy treatment.

We currently carry Lucky Bamboo in 2” ceramic pots and 4” pots in the greenhouse. If you have any further questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us at hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy planting!