How to Plant Lucky Bamboo in Soil

Lucky bamboo plants bring good luck and prosperity to the owner, as believed in some cultures. This popular plant is finding its way into more homes and offices for its durability and easy maintenance. Lucky bamboo plants are not bamboos at all; they are part of the lily family. Lucky bamboos are water plants, meaning they have no need of potting soil. Although lucky bamboo plants grow successfully in a soil-less environment, they will also grow just fine in well-draining soils.

Lucky bamboo plant

Well-draining soil (such as cacti potting mix)

Sand

Perlite

Peat moss

Gravel or broken pottery

Obtain the lucky bamboo plant desired for planting. Lucky bamboo plants can be purchased online due to their growing popularity, or at a local supermarket or garden center. Look for plants that have bright green leaves, healthy white roots and do not produce a foul odor.

Purchase a container to hold the lucky bamboo plant. This plant has no preference for container size or material. If you are growing only one stem of lucky bamboo, you can use a container as small as a teacup. The more stalks of lucky bamboo growing, the bigger the container needed.

Purchase a well-draining soil, such as cacti potting mix, to fill the lucky bamboo container, or combine traditional potting mix, peat moss and sand.

Rinse off the roots and stem of the lucky bamboo plant. Be sure to cut off any yellowing leaves. Add a 1- to 2-inch layer of clean gravel or broken pottery shards to the bottom of the container. This extra layer aids in proper water drainage and eliminates the possibility of rotting roots from sitting in standing water. Push the stem of the lucky bamboo plant 2 inches into the soil-filled container.

Place the lucky bamboo plant next to a window, or someplace that receives bright, indirect lighting. Water the plant whenever the top 1 to 2 inches of soil becomes dry. Use bottled water, or let regular tap water sit out overnight to remove any chloride or fluoride, which can cause tip burn and yellowing leaves.

Occasionally mist the lucky bamboo plant with distilled water to prevent leaf edges from turning brown.