How to Water a Bamboo Plant in Water or Soil

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Plant specialist Ryan Glynn, CPA, explains how to keep bamboo hydrated and healthy

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Reviewed by Ryan Glynn, CPA

Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Fact Checked

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• In Water or Rocks
|
• In Soil
|
• Care Tips
|
• Lucky Bamboo vs. Real Bamboo
|
• Video
|
• Expert Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Bamboo is a beautiful plant that can thrive indoors in either water or soil. In this article, we’ll explain how and when to water your bamboo whether it’s in water or in soil with insight from plant specialist & interiorscaper Ryan Glynn, CPA and home & garden specialist Maggie Moran. We’ll also share some extra watering and care tips to help your plant thrive, plus explore the difference between the lucky bamboo in your home and true bamboo.

How often do you water a bamboo plant?

Plant specialist Ryan Glynn, CPA, says bamboo needs to be kept moist at all times. When growing in water, check daily to make sure the roots are submerged. Keep the water level 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) above the roots and replace the water every 2 weeks. In soil, water every 7-10 days to maintain moisture.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Watering Lucky Bamboo in Water or Rocks

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1. 
   1
   Water your bamboo plant every 7-10 days to keep the roots fully submerged. If you’re growing lucky bamboo in water, check the plant daily to make sure the roots (which may be covered in pebbles, gravel, or even marbles) and the bottom part of the stem are submerged in water. If you notice the roots aren’t covered, pour water into the bamboo planter until it covers them. Water the entire plant every 7-10 days to ensure the roots stay submerged.

   • Aim to keep the water level about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) above the roots.
   • “Because they can be grown hydroponically (which means just in water rather than in soil), [bamboo] definitely wants to be kept moist at all times,” Glynn explains.
   • Add water more often in summer or if you live in a hot climate to keep the plant hydrated.
   • Note: Use tap water, distilled water, or rainwater in your bamboo planter. If you use tap water, let it sit overnight to allow chlorine, which can harm your bamboo, to evaporate.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Ryan Glynn, CPA, is a plant specialist, interiorscaper, and the founder of Chicago Plants, LLC. He specializes in houseplant care, interior plant-scaping, and gardening.

   Maggie Moran is a professional gardener based in Pennsylvania, PA.
2. 
   2
   Change out the entire water supply every two weeks. Pour out the planter water and any drainage pebbles, gravel, or marbles every couple of weeks. Clean the planter and drainage props with clean, filtered, or bottled mineral water. Add them and your bamboo back to the planter and refill it with freshly collected rainwater, filtered water, or distilled water.
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Section 2 of 4:

Watering Lucky Bamboo in Soil

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1. 
   1
   Feel the soil for moisture every 3-4 days and water if it feels dry. Stick your finger into the bamboo soil until it touches your first knuckle to see if the soil feels dry or moist. If it’s dry, pour a small amount of water into your bamboo potter. Let the water drain into the soil for a minute and then check the moisture again with your finger. Add more water until your plant feels sufficiently moist.

   • You probably won’t have to water your bamboo every time you check the soil. Plan to add water to the planter about every 7-10 days.
   • Mist the soil every two days to keep the plant moist without waterlogging it. Fill a clean spray bottle with distilled water or rainwater and spray a light mist.
   • Bamboo is sensitive to water levels and doesn’t like to be soggy. Pour out any excess water from the planter if you add too much.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Maggie Moran

   Home & Garden Specialist

   Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

   

   Maggie Moran
   Home & Garden Specialist

   Water young bamboo plants more often. You should water them twice a week in the summer, or even more often if the temperature increases.
2. 
   2
   Ensure your plant drainage is working properly. Since bamboo doesn’t like to be soggy, well-draining soil is a must. Remove any blockages that keep the water from draining easily through the planter and exiting through the drainage holes at the bottom. Make sure there are small gaps between any mulch, stones, or other coverage you’ve put on top of the soil for water to drain through to avoid pooling as well.

   • For outdoor bamboo, add extra drainage material to any holes or sparsely-covered parts.
   • For example, add stones, pebbles, etc., to keep stems upright and ensure drainage.
3. 
   3
   Water your bamboo 3-5 times per week in summer or in hot climates. Check your bamboo’s soil more frequently when it’s hot outside and water up to 3-5 times per week to keep it moist (but not waterlogged). On the opposite end of the spectrum, reduce how often you water your bamboo in winter or cold climates (typically about every 7-10 days).

   • Always test the soil for dryness and water according to what you feel. Give dry soil a watering or misting, and allow moist soil to dry out before adding more water.
4. 
   4
   Retain moisture with mulch (for outdoor plants). Spread a 2- to 3-in (5- to 7-cm) layer of mulch over the bamboo soil. Having a layer of mulch can help your bamboo retain moisture throughout the year and promote proper drainage.
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Section 3 of 4:

More Bamboo Care Tips

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1. 
   1
   Water more frequently if you notice yellowing or drooping leaves. “If you let [your bamboo] dry out, you might notice the leaves start to yellow and droop,” Glynn says. “That's usually a sign that you want to make sure it's kept more consistently moist.”
2. 
   2
   Water your bamboo with distilled water or rainwater when possible. Tap water often contains fluoride and chlorine, which are great for making water drinkable for humans, but can cause damage to the bamboo’s leaves and general growth over time. You may notice brown leaf tips if the plant has a buildup of fluoride or chlorine.

   • If you do use tap water, just let it sit out overnight before watering to let the chlorine evaporate away.
   • Bamboo grown in water is more susceptible to damage from fluoride and chlorine than bamboo grown in soil.
3. 
   3
   Keep plenty of pebbles or rocks in the water to help the bamboo root. To ensure long-term growth for bamboo plants in water, “Keep a bed of rocks in the water to help the root system of the bamboo develop more maturely and enable the plant to grow taller,” according to Glynn. “If you feel like yours hasn’t been growing for a long time or is stagnant, that might mean that it’s rootbound in the container that it’s currently living in, or that the container just doesn’t have enough rock and surface to start developing around.”
4. 
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   Avoid pruning the leaves of your lucky bamboo plant. “The leaves on a lucky bamboo plant do not want to be pruned,” Glynn says, explaining that since there are no leaves on the plant’s trunk, those on top of the plant are needed for photosynthesis and growth. “You want to leave those leaves alone.”
5. 
   5
   Keep your bamboo in a spot that receives indirect sunlight. Bamboo doesn’t enjoy harsh or direct sunlight, so keep your plant in a shady spot that receives more gentle morning or late afternoon sunlight.

   • Too much sunlight will result in bleached, dry leaves or sections of the plant.
   • Too little sunlight will cause entire leaves to be pale.
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Section 4 of 4:

Lucky Bamboo vs. Real Bamboo

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1. 
   Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is a houseplant that’s not really bamboo. You may be surprised to learn that your lucky bamboo plant isn’t really bamboo at all! Lucky bamboo is beloved as a houseplant or gift because it’s so easy to care for, and the stems can be trained to grow in whimsical, intricate patterns. The stems are much thinner, greener, and shorter than true bamboo, which is more grass-like and has much taller, sturdier, woodier stems.

   • Lucky bamboo grows up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall on average, whereas real bamboo can reach 90 to 100 feet (27 to 30 m)!
   • If you have bamboo at home, it is almost guaranteed to be lucky bamboo. “[Real bamboo] is actually a specialty and needs the right climate to grow. It’d be something that’s quite an undertaking for an individual to grow in their home,” Glynn adds.

Expert Q&A

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• Question

  Can a bamboo plant grow in just water?

  

  Maggie Moran
  Home & Garden Specialist

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Maggie Moran

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Yes, Lucky Bamboo is a type of bamboo that grows hydroponically (in water).

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
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• Question

  How much sun does a bamboo plant need?

  

  Maggie Moran
  Home & Garden Specialist

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Maggie Moran

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Bamboo does well in both sun or shade, although certain types of bamboo can experience burnt leaves if they get too much direct sunlight.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  How often should you water newly planted bamboo?

  

  Maggie Moran
  Home & Garden Specialist

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Maggie Moran

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Answer

  Water younger plants twice a week until they become established. If it's very hot, water them more often.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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