Here are ways on how to care for a bamboo plant
Water
Water is nutrition for bamboo! Therefore Bamboo has high water needs and needs consistent moisture to stay healthy. Give it water until the soil is completely soaked, providing about 1-2 inches of water per week either from rain or watering.
We also recommend watering your bamboo plants at least twice a week when the weather is hot, dry or windy.
For potted bamboo:
- You may need to water daily as pots tend to dry out faster than in-ground plants.
- Check soil moisture frequently (insert a finger into the soil to gauge water levels)
- If you notice yellowing leaves on your bamboo, it’s often a sign of underwatering.
- Make sure that your irrigation system or watering regime covers the entire root zone area as deep watering is key for making sure your bamboo is in the best health.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer such as one that’s slightly nitrogen-rich in early spring, just before the rainy season when new shoots will emerge. You can supplement again with an additional fertilizing around midsummer if growth becomes slowed or halted.
For potted bamboo, applying liquid fertilizer monthly throughout the growing season is your best option. But be careful as too much of anything is bad so be careful of excess fertilizer that could burn and damage bamboo roots. The package directions will give you the best instructions.
Bamboo thrives in loose soils that drain well and have good amounts of moisture and nutrients. The ideal pH for bamboo soil is slightly acidic, between 5.5-6.5. You can test the pH of your soil using a soil pH meter.
Soil
If your soil is dense or poor quality, mix in 1-2 inches of compost or well-rotted manure over the planting area to improve texture and organic matter.
Then every year top-up with 2-3 inches of mulch such as bark chips or leaf litter, this’ll help bamboo by maintaining consistent soil moisture and providing nutrition as the mulch decays.
Bamboo control
If left unchecked, bamboo can quickly become invasive so it’s important to control the spread of bamboo from the beginning.
To prevent spread, containment measures should be applied. For running varieties of bamboo, installing an underground barrier to block rhizomes is recommended. For clumping bamboo, pruning back the outer culms annually and regularly dividing overgrown root balls can help restrain growth.
Addressing the potential issue before it becomes a problem will give you peace of mind for the future.
How to care for bamboo plant in rocks
It’s possible to grow bamboo inside rocks. The key is providing soil between the rocks to help keep moisture and nutrients, an ability that the rocks lack. Aim to use a loamy potting soil mix that drains well but still holds some moisture.
The rocky soil environment drains very quickly, so regular watering is needed so you’ll likely need to water up to twice per day. Also apply liquid fertilizer monthly to feed the bamboo. Due to the rocks absorbing humidity and drying out foliage, occasional misting will be needed.
How to care for bamboo plants indoors
Growing bamboo indoors is possible with the right attention, apart from following the steps above , here are some extra steps for indoor bamboo:
- Put the bamboo in a strong container
- Place the bamboo in a bright indoor spot (sun facing window) receiving as much natural direct sunlight as possible, at least 6 hours daily.
- Mist the leaves daily to provide humidity and maintain an evenly moist soil at all times (especially during winter months when the heating is on).
- If you’re serious about bamboo growth, then using full-spectrum grow lights during winter months due to low natural light.
- Rotate the plant for equal exposure.
How to care for bamboo plants outdoors
- Select the right species that will be most suitable for your climate conditions. As some bamboo tolerate more heat, more cold, or higher humidity than others.
- Plant bamboo in an area receiving a mix of partial shade and at least 4 hours of direct sunlight daily.