How to Care for Bamboo Houseplants
One of the most beautiful and challenging houseplants is the Bamboo. This plant makes for an interesting addition to your home and grows at rapid speed.
Bamboo comes in a regular and a dwarf version. Selecting the proper pot size for a regular Bamboo plant is essential in promoting healthy growth. A regular Bamboo can grow to massive heights, however, in the first few years; a minimal amount of growth will be present. Choosing a medium sized pot is the best choice for this species.
The next important step for your Bamboo is soil preparation. This plant does well with an acidic soil that has sufficient drainage. A loamy style earth that contains minimal amounts of clay will ensure a healthy plant. Placing a heavy amount of mulch on the surface of the soil along with seeding the soil with earthworms will allow for the decay of leaves and the holes the worms create will assist with soil aeration. In addition, the PH of the soil can be tested with a specific testing kit and the drainage of the soil must be monitored.
As Bamboo plants are natural lovers of moist soil, leaves that begin to shed may be left on the surface of the roots and rhizomes as this allows moisture to remain in the soil.
A good groundcover can be beneficial to the Bamboo as well. Keep in mind that the Bamboo likes surfaces that are high in nitrogen and silica as these two things help promote healthy growth for the Bamboo. There are some gardeners who use chicken manure to accomplish this goal. However, the smell may not be a welcomed fragrance inside your home. If your Bamboo is placed on a porch though, the manure just may serve its purpose.
The perfect time to plant Bamboo in milder climates is for the most part anytime. However, if you’re in the cooler climate area, you will want to plant your Bamboo sometime in mid-spring. Planting your Bamboo any later in the season will not allow the plant sufficient time to establish itself before the cooler temperatures roll in. Bamboo plants that are housed in temperature controlled homes still require some care. If placed next to a window, the Bamboo plant can still lose heat. The best way to alleviate this problem is to place a heavy amount of mulch on the surface.
It is important to note, that with the Bamboo plant having a rapid rate of growth, it can very easily become root bound in its pot. Using a larger pot can help alleviate this potential problem. It has been noted that some professional gardeners will enlist the use of a long planter box in order to create a more lavish plant display.
As with all plants, proper watering is essential for healthy growth and is imperative for the container grown Bamboo. Because this plant originates from a warm, humid climate, it enjoys and thrives in moist soil. However, that does not mean the soil must be soaking wet at all times. A little research, experimentation, observation and trial and error will help you determine the proper watering amount and routine to ensure a beautiful plant.
A newly planted Bamboo plant will require a more frequent watering routine. Typically, two times a week is the sufficient amount. This is different from other plants as they only require a routine of once a week watering. The typical measurement of water for a five gallon potted plant is usually in the range of a half of a gallon of water. Just remember to keep a watchful eye on the possibility of over watering. During the spring season it is common for the Bamboo’s leaves to turn yellow and shed, so no need to panic, this is normal.
Bamboo plants make a wonderful and interesting addition to any garden lovers home.
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