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Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
Also known as Dracaena sanderiana, Ribbon Plant, Curly Bamboo, Ribbon Dracaena
Plantae›Tracheophyta›Liliopsida›Asparagales›Asparagaceae
📍 Tropical Central Africa (Cameroon)
Grown emersed with roots and lower stem submerged and the leafy stalk above the surface, where it absorbs nitrates. Tolerates low to moderate indirect light; never fully submerge it, as the upper stem and leaves rot underwater.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air — a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if the foliage is chewed (saponins); not a concern for fish, but keep the leaves away from grazing pets. Only the roots and lower stem should sit in water.
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Tanks keeping this 🌿
Growing in 1 tankCommunity tanks featuring Lucky Bamboo.
Tank Mates
A popular emersed accent for betta setups; the stalk breaks up the surface and the roots export nitrate.
Hardy community fish that thrive in the stable, well-filtered water this plant helps maintain.
Graze the submerged root mass without harming the plant.
Common Diseases
Stalk rot
Mushy, blackened, or foul-smelling roots or lower stem; drooping, yellowing foliage — almost always from submerging the leaves or crown.
Keep only the roots underwater and the foliage in the air. Trim away rotted tissue with clean scissors, improve surface circulation/oxygen, and let the plant re-establish.
Yellowing leaves
Pale or yellowing foliage, slow or leggy growth.
Give brighter indirect light and dose a little liquid plant fertilizer. In a lightly stocked tank the water may lack nutrients for vigorous emersed growth.
Tips from the community 💡
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Quick Facts
- light
- Bright indirect
- biofilter
- true
- placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
- growth rate
- slow
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–7.5
- nitrate
- Thrives on high nitrate — a strong natural exporter
- hardness
- Soft to hard (2–20 dGH)
- temperature
- 64–82°F (18–28°C)
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.