Best Soil For Lucky Bamboo Plants (Dracaena sanderiana)

In this guide, we’re going to take you through the fundamental principles of what constitutes a good soil base for your Lucky Bamboo plant and the best homemade soil recipe and ready-mixed soil options. You may know lucky bamboo as a water plant, but did you know it can also grow in soil? Despite its name, lucky bamboo — also known as Dracaena sanderiana — isn’t actually related to bamboo. Instead, it is a popular house plant that adds a lush, tropical vibe to any room. With its sculptural appearance that can be trained to grow in attractive shapes, lucky bamboo is often used in feng shui and is thought to bring prosperity and joy.

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The Best Soil Mix for Lucky Bamboo – The Essentials:

Lucky bamboo grows best in a rich, well-draining soil that holds the right amount of moisture and nutrients without remaining soggy or wet. These plants prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Choose a succulent or cactus soil mix and add peat moss to improve moisture retention.

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Why Soil Choice Matters

The soil you use to plant lucky bamboo makes a massive difference to your plant’s health and growth. In fact, the right soil is essential to a D. sanderiana’s ability to thrive.

Soil plays several key roles in plant health. First, it provides a foundation for roots, so plants can stand firm in place. But just as importantly, soil delivers the water, oxygen, and nutrients that plants need to survive and thrive. Let’s look at a few ways plants rely on soil to survive:

• Plants need nutrients, such as the minerals calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, and more; plant roots take these nutrients from the soil.
• Plants also need air to transform sugars into energy; the tiny spaces in between particles of soil, known as pores, contain air that plants can access through their roots.
• Plants need water, and the pores in soil hold water; plants access the water with their roots, and it then travels up and through the plants, delivering nutrients, cooling the plant, and spurring photosynthesis.
• Finally, soil acts like insulation, protecting plants’ roots against sharp temperature changes.

What’s in soil? It’s a mix of compost — or decomposing plant and animal matter — and mineral particles. The type of soil depends on the texture and size of these particles.

• Sand particles are the largest. Sandy soil drains very quickly and allows lots of air to get to roots but doesn’t hold moisture or nutrients well.
• Clay particles are much smaller. Clay soil holds water and nutrients but doesn’t drain quickly or provide much air for plant roots.
• Silt particles are in-between clay and sand in size. Silty soil holds moisture and nutrients, drains at a moderate pace, and offers adequate aeration to plant roots.

Soils have a mixture of these three particle sizes and are named for the particle there’s the most of. When there’s about the same amount of sand, clay, and silt, the soil is known as “loamy.”

Other types of soil include “peaty,” which has a high amount of compost or biomass. Peaty soil offers both moisture and nutrient retention and aeration and tends to have a lower pH level. 

On the other side of the pH scale lies “chalky” soil, which tends to be more alkaline. Chalky soil drains quickly and doesn’t retain nutrients very well.

What are the Primary Components Used in a Potting Soil Mix?

Potting soil is made from a mix of elements. When blended, they will hold moisture and nutrients, allow excess water to drain, and provide aeration to plant roots. Each plant type has its own specific soil needs, so choosing the right soil mix is key to plant health.

Common elements found in potting soil mixes include:

• Coco coir, a fibrous material made from coconut husk that improves aeration.
• Compost/organic matter enriches the soil with nutrients.
• Perlite, or broken down volcanic rock that improves moisture retention, aeration, and drainage.
• Pine bark fines, or tiny shavings of mulch that increase acidity and moisture retention
• Pumice, or lightweight volcanic rock that improves both drainage and aeration
• Sand helps soil drain quickly.
• Soil activator is a commercial product containing humic acids that speed up the composting process, helping increase nutrient levels in the soil.
• Sphagnum peat moss is a non-renewable resource that’s harvested from wetlands and bogs; it increases soil acidity while enhancing moisture retention and improving drainage.
• Vermiculite is a lightweight soil amendment that boosts water and nutrient retention, as well as moisture retention.

Common Signs You’re Using the Wrong Soil Mix for Lucky Bamboo

How do you know if you’re using the wrong soil mix? For lucky bamboo, yellowing leaves is a sure sign of a soil problem. First, check to see that your soil is draining correctly. Too-wet soil may lead to yellowing foliage and root rot.

Yellow leaves may also indicate that the soil pH is too high. Lucky bamboo can’t tolerate alkaline soil and prefers a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Adding peat moss or pine bark fines can help lower the pH level.

The Importance of Well-Draining Potting Soil for Lucky Bamboo Plants

Lucky bamboo can be grown in water, so you might think the plants would also love wet soil. However, lucky bamboo plants require excellent drainage when grown in soil and don’t like wet feet. 

Soggy soil may even lead to root root, a situation where the soil is so saturated that plants can’t get enough air. 

Improve soil drainage by adding amendments such as peat moss, pine bark fines, pumice, vermiculite, perlite, or sand to your lucky bamboo’s soil.

What pH Levels in the Soil are Best Suited to Lucky Bamboo?

Lucky bamboo prefers a slightly acidic pH level of 6.0 to 6.5. Add peat moss or pine bark fines to the soil to lower pH levels.

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The Ultimate Lucky Bamboo Potting Mix Home Recipe

The best potting mix for your lucky bamboo will provide excellent drainage, just enough moisture and nutrient retention, slightly acidic pH levels, and good aeration. In a large bowl, mix:

• 2 parts peat moss or loam
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part sand
• 1 part pine bark fines

Wear gloves when mixing, and add just enough water so the soil feels moist but not heavy. If you need to improve drainage, add a handful of sand into the mix.

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The Best Pre-Mixed Soils for Lucky Bamboo

If you prefer to purchase pre-mixed soil for your lucky bamboo, you’ve got several options, including:

• Dirtco Lucky Bamboo Soil
• The Valley Garden Cactus and Succulent Soil Mix
• The Succulent Cult Organic Succulent and Cactus Mix

(Editors Note: Petal Republic participates in partnership programs with Amazon and other merchants to help connect readers with relevant products and services we may recommend).

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Soil Mix for Lucky Bamboo Plant FAQs:

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Wrapping Up 

Lucky bamboo plants have long been prized in feng shui and are thought to bring prosperity and happiness. These lucky plants are easy to grow in suitable soil. Choose a well-draining, slightly acidic soil for your lucky bamboo and watch it thrive.

For more, see our in-depth guide on where to position Lucky Bamboo in the home or office for maximum Feng Shui benefits and optimal plant care.

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