There are hundreds of bamboo species that can be grown indoors, from colorful table bamboo to magnificent ornamental plants for the center of the room. Bamboo tends to be stressed when grown indoors so you should take care that is intensive, gentle, and loving. Keep an eye on the humidity so that the bamboo always gets enough water, without making the soil wet and muddy.
Follow the instructions for a hockey bamboo plant if:
– the species name starts with Dracaena
– labeled Hockey Bamboo, Chinese Bamboo, Water Bamboo, or Curly Bamboo
– the roots are red or orange when mature
– or grow in water, not soil
Step
Part 1 of 3: Growing Bamboo Indoors
Step 1. Find a wide squat pot
Use a pot that is twice the diameter of the root ball, or at least 5 centimeters between the root ball and the sides of the pot. Almost all bamboo species require good drainage, so you should use a pot with a large enough hole in the bottom.
Place a plastic root barrier sheet if the pot is made of cement (which can damage the bamboo) or wood (to make the pot more durable because it doesn't get wet)
Step 2. Use the humidity tray
Bamboo loves moisture (which can be difficult if you grow it indoors). The easiest way to increase humidity is to place water under the plant without soaking the roots. There are 2 ways to do it:
Tray filled with pebbles
1. Cover the tray with gravel.
2. Put shallow water into the tray.
3. Place the pot on the gravel, but not so that it touches the water. Rock shards (coral)
1. Place a layer of crushed stone in the bottom of the pot.
2. Place the pot in a shallow tray of water.
Step 3. Fill the pot with porous soil (can drain water well)
Bamboo requires a low to medium density growing medium: it drains water quickly, but retains moisture. You can use ready-made potting soil, or make your own growing medium from part of the soil, perlite (or washed sand), and peat moss (or cooked compost). Most bamboo can tolerate a variety of well-draining soils so the right composition will not damage or harm the plant.
- You can use fertile garden soil instead of potting soil (ready-to-use blended planting medium). Do not use heavy clay as it does not drain water well and is difficult to work with.
- Bamboo prefers slightly acidic soil, with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. However, most bamboo species still thrive in a pH of 7.5. Most soils have a pH in this range.
Step 4. Plant the bamboo shallowly
Place the stems and the top of the root ball at ground level to prevent rot. Compact the soil to remove air bubbles, then water the plant until it is completely wet.
If the roots are too thick, cut off the roots sticking to the edges of the pot with a clean knife. Maybe the roots are difficult to get water. Work around this problem by soaking the root ball (not the stem) for about 20 minutes before you plant it
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Indoor Bamboo
Step 1. Water the bamboo carefully
This is the hardest part when you grow bamboo indoors because bamboo loves water, but you shouldn't overwater it. For starters, water the planting medium until the water comes out of the bottom of the pot. Let the soil at the top about 5-8 cm high dry before you water it again. If the soil remains wet after 1 or 2 days, reduce the amount of watering.
If the top layer of soil dries out quickly, dig up the planting medium about 10 cm deep and check for moisture. At this depth, the soil should remain moist most of the time, especially during the first 3 months after planting
Step 2. Keep the room humid
Most bamboos like moist air, especially when the weather is hot. As long as you don't over-water, one of the following ways can make plants grow well:
- Place the pot on the water tray, as described above.
- Spray the bamboo leaves lightly once every two days using a spray bottle.
- Turn on the humidifier in the room.
- Place plants close to each other (but this increases the risk of disease).
Step 3. Find out the right light level for the type of bamboo you are growing
If you know the species of bamboo, do an internet search to find out what level of lighting the bamboo needs. If the bamboo requires a lot of light that cannot be met in the area where you live, treat the bamboo with these general rules:
Requires a lot of light:
- small leaf
– tropical species
– the plant should be placed in a warm room Requires a little light:
– big leaf
– temperate species and enter a dormant phase in winter
– the plant must be placed in a cool room
Step 4. Fertilize the bamboo plant
Bamboo will grow quickly if space is provided in the pot, and requires additional nutrients to support this growth. The ideal way to provide an adequate supply is to apply a dose of slow release fertilizer at the start of planting. You can use a balanced 16-16-16 fertilizer, or a high nitrogen (N) fertilizer, such as 30-10-10. However, the high nitrogen content can inhibit flower release, which can weaken many bamboo species.
Warning:
– Do not fertilize the plant for 6 months after you buy it. Most of the plant seeds have been fertilized by the seller.
- Do not give fertilizer based on seaweed because it contains a lot of salt.
Step 5. Prune the plant regularly
Most bamboos are fine with pruning. So, you don't need to hesitate to prune it if the plant is growing healthily. Do the following things:
- Prune stems that are wilted, stunted, or growing irregularly. Make cuts parallel to the ground.
- To prevent the bamboo from growing beyond the desired height, trim the stems above the book (a circle/ring at the junction of the two internodes). This is the branching point of the bamboo tree.
- Prune the bamboo branches regularly if you want the plant to grow vertically.
- Cut the branches that are at the bottom so that the bamboo looks beautiful.
Step 6. Replace the pot or divide the bamboo clump if the plant has outgrown the pot
Depending on the species, bamboo has 2 growth patterns. The "runner" type (spreading growth) produces long shoots, which will grow into new plants. This type of bamboo will grow and fill a large pot within 3-5 years. The "clumper" type will grow in clusters outwards, and can survive in the same pot for up to 6 years. All types of bamboo should be moved to a new, larger pot if the roots have filled the pot.
- Instead of digging up the plant, you can limit the growth of the bamboo by cutting the roots in a circular manner, then replanting it in the same pot using a new growing medium.
- Most bamboos can be propagated by cuttings, i.e. cutting the stems and planting them in another pot. This method cannot be applied to bamboo that does not have a hole in the center of the stem, or the hole is very small.
Part 3 of 3: Troubleshooting
Step 1. Find out why bamboo leaves fall
It is normal for bamboo leaves to fall off when the plant is moved indoors or replaced with a new pot. As long as the new leaves that grow at the ends of the branches look healthy, the bamboo will certainly grow healthy and normally. If the leaves are falling off or looking unhealthy, try placing the plant outdoors for a few months (if the weather is favorable) to help with recovery. If the bamboo has been in the area for a long time, there may be other reasons:
- The temperate species usually drop their leaves when the light is dim. A cool dormant period with little light in winter is perfect for this type of bamboo, and can reduce leaf loss. The fewer green leaves, the less water the plant needs.
- Many bamboo species shed their leaves in the spring (or sometimes in the fall), and new leaves will grow gradually. If there is a mixture of green, yellow, and new leaves that don't curl, your plant may not have a problem.
Step 2. Handle curled and drooping leaves
The plant should be watered if the leaves curl inward. This is because photosynthesis consumes water so plants will reduce their consumption by avoiding sunlight. Drooping leaves indicate that the plant has excess water, or that the planting medium is not draining water well.
Excess water is more dangerous than lack of water. Delaying watering until the leaves have curled up a bit usually doesn't harm the plant
Step 3. Handle yellowing leaves
If the bamboo turns yellow before it has entered the dormant phase, this could indicate the following problems:
- If the leaves look dry with brown tips or curling upwards, the plant needs watering. Perhaps the roots are overcrowded and need to be moved to a larger pot.
- Leaves blanching and turning yellow slowly generally indicate that the plant lacks nutrients. Provide additional fertilizer and minerals.
- A sudden change in leaf color after fertilizing indicates that you have applied too much fertilizer. Overcome this by removing any remaining fertilizer and watering the plant with plenty of water to remove excess minerals.
Step 4. Treat diseases and insects
Indoor bamboo is more prone to this problem, especially if the airflow in the room is not very good. If the insect attack is still mild, wash the leaves with insecticidal soap, or take them outside and spray them with insecticide. If the problem doesn't go away or you think the plant has a disease, try to identify the problem and take action:
- Black mold like "soot" is generally caused by insects. Solve this problem by getting rid of aphids and ants.
- Ring-shaped mushrooms or gray/brown scales are generally not harmful to plants. You can get rid of them with antifungals that you can get at farm shops.
- Wet, rotting spots indicate that the plant has been watered too much, and may be accompanied by pest infestation. Dry the area and treat with an insecticide or fungicide.
- If there is white sticky webbing, there may be bamboo mites or other insects in it. Spray the webbing with an insecticide.
- Bamboo has more than 1,000 species. So, no guide can solve all problems. If the bamboo you are planting suffers from a disease that is not listed in this article, try asking an agricultural extension, seed seller, or plant specialist about the diseases in your area.
Tips
- If possible, seek information that is specific to the species of bamboo you have. Some types of bamboo that can grow well indoors include: phyllostachys nigra, indocalamus tessellatus, and bamboos multiplex.
- Some species of bamboo will grow better if you plant several trees in one pot. This species can not thrive if planted alone. This does not apply to all types of bamboo. So if you know the bamboo species you are growing, this can be very useful.
