There is an art to growing bamboo.
Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is anevergreen perennialthat grows in running and clumping formations.
The thick stems grow vertically in loose clumps but do not contain any thorns.
Credit: Miguel Michán/Getty Images
The continuous foliage and quick growth rate make common bamboo an excellent option as a privacy hedge.
It’s best to plant in late spring or early fall.
Plant Attributes
Bamboo Care
Plant container-grown bamboo any time of year.
Rhizomes are shallow and spread sideways, not down.
To prevent the horizontal spread of bamboo, block, cut, or surround the rhizomes with a trench.
Bamboo needs consistent watering and fertilizer while establishing and growing.
Keep the soil moist but well-drained, and amend it with rich, fertile nutrients if required.
Light
Common bamboo needs dailysun exposureto grow to its fullest potential.
Provide plants with at least six hours of sunlight daily in moderately warm areas.
Bamboo grows well in environments with ample light and humidity.
Use a slightly acidic soil pH and balance the soil’s nutrientswith fertilizerif necessary.
If growing bamboo in containers, use potting soil with organic compost, such as mushrooms.
Established plants tolerate considerable drought but look best with regular irrigation.
If grown indoors, use a spray bottle to help amplify the humidity surrounding the bamboo.
Common bamboo grows naturally near river banks and open ground and tolerates various climate conditions.
Optimal temperatures range from 65F to 90F, but a cold-hardy bamboo variety can tolerate temperatures near 10F.
Cut back on water and fertilizer to restrict the size and spread of an established bamboo.
Types Of Bamboo
There is a diverse variety of bamboo to grow in gardens or containers.
Depending on your space availability and growing environment, some species are better suited for different conditions.
Much of the pruning needed for bamboo plants is to maintain shape and appearance.
Start by removing older, dead, or unsightly culms with a saw or sharp garden shears.
Remove these unwanted culms to the ground, or cut above the node if you are pruning for appearance.
Depending on the bamboo variety, running bamboo species must block the plant’s surrounding area toavoid unwanted spread.
Never place plastic under roots, as they need excellent drainage.
Continuously drying the soil, extending 10 to 20 feet beyond the planting bed, impedes runners.
Break off new shoots that rise from the isolated rhizomes, so they are unlikely to resprout.
Bamboo seeds need humidity to grow, so you’ll need tocreate a greenhouseif you do not own one.
As an aggressive spreader, bambooespecially running bamboocan quickly overgrow if not maintained.
Start with a sturdy, well-draining container with similar depth and width.
Fill the container with rich potting soil, enough to cover the top of the root ball.
Leave air pockets in the soil and water thoroughly.
Depending on your preferences, continue repotting bamboo or gently divide the rhizomes to maintain shape and appearance.
Overwintering
After establishing growth, bamboo plants are relatively cold-hardy in USDA Zones 4-10.
If using a container to grow bamboo,move the plant indoorsbefore the first frost.
Spray with insecticidal soap or summer oil if these pests excrete honeydew in bothersome amounts.
Mites can cause yellow streaking or disfigurement of leaves, which insecticidal soap can also control.
Root rot can occur in bamboo plants that do not have adequate circulation or wet growing environments.
This soil-borne disease causes roots to appear darker or slimy.
Use a sharp knife to remove damaged or mushy roots and prevent spreading by eliminating the culms above.
Water the plant’s base in the morning to prevent foliage from developing a fungus.
Common Problems With Bamboo
Bamboo plants are relatively free from problems and only require some maintenance.
Your bamboo plant might need more water, soil nutrients, or sun exposure.
Curling Leaves
Adequate watering balance is one of the most challenging parts of caring for bamboo plants.
Curling leaves signify underwatering.
Without any other changes, changing thewatering scheduleis all that’s needed to sort this out.
Water plants once or twice a week at the plant’s base.
Different conditions, like container plants and harsh summer heat, might require watering more often.
Drooping Leaves
Bamboo plants require a lot of nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Extra feeding can help revive the thinning plant when the foliage looks unhealthy.
Brown leaves can signify too much fertilizer, so don’t overfeed bamboo.
Overwatering and underwatering can also cause an imbalance in soil nutrients, creating brown leaves.
If possible, move the bamboo to an area with indirect or filtered sunlight.
It can live for seven to 10 years.
Leave a few feet between your house or any other structures when planting bamboo.
Left unchecked, bamboo spreads quickly and is difficult to remove.
ensure to dig a barrier trench around any throw in of bamboo to contain it.
This plant looks a lot like bamboo, but it is not bamboo at all.
Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is actually in the lily family.
Its segmented stems look similar to bamboo, and it makes a good alternative to growing common bamboo indoors.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Invasive Species Information Center.
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Phyllostachys Aurea.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
