Bringing Up Bamboo – Tips for Growing Your Own Bamboo

Bamboo has a simple elegance that is unmatched by any plant in the world. The strong lines and clean look make for a beautiful plant for anywhere in or around your home.

Where to Plant

One of the first steps to take when deciding to grow bamboo is to decide whether to grow it indoors or out. Bamboo is fairly delicate plant. As a result, you can only grow it if you live in a certain climate. If you choose to grow it outside the climate it grows best in, you will either need to plant it indoors or you will need to work much harder to maintain your plant than you might in a more traditional growth zone.

If you do choose to plant bamboo outdoors there are a number of things you should consider. One of the first things you should think about is the spacing of your bamboo plants. Ensure that you don’t allow any air pockets to exist when you place the plant within the soil. This will make sure that the roots have the cover they needs. If your soil is filled with clay, you must make sure that it is well aerated and very loose. If your soil tends to be filled with clay, regular compost and mulch routines will take care of that. When you get ready to plant the bamboo, spacing is critical. Your idea of how they should be spaced will factor into the success of your plants. If you want to create the look of a wall, place them four feet apart from each other. If you go with a dwarf style bamboo plant, this will give you the dense look you are looking for.

When to Plant

Deciding when to plant your bamboo is another important factor in success. Depending on your climate, bamboo can grow from April to October. During the course of the rest of the year, the bamboo roots are forming underground. Plant as soon as you possibly can, but be sure the soil in your area is above forty degrees before you introduce the bamboo to your environment. The water factor is essential to a strong bamboo plant. If you live in a relatively dry environment, and you intend to plant your bamboo outdoors, and irrigation system will be necessary to a good looking bamboo plant. While it is certainly possible for a bamboo plant to survive on something less than forty inches of rain per year, they simply don’t look good when hey are forced to live with less water than they like. Organic fertilizer should be applied every four to six weeks with a bamboo plant.

If growing bamboo outdoors simply doesn’t work out for you, yet you would really like to keep a bamboo plant, consider growing a single plant indoors in a pot. While this may sound like quite a challenge, it is really an easier task than you may have first considered. One of the first things you must do when you get ready to grow bamboo on an indoor scale is to consider the best place in your home for your new bamboo plant. Like any other plant, lighting is critical to the success of your new bamboo plant. Different types of bamboo require different types of light; so reading up on your variety before you make your big purchase is essential.

How Much Light Bamboo Should Get

On the most basic level, plants with larger leaves require less light. The smaller the bamboo leaves, the closer to the window the entire plant will need to be to get enough light to help it survive. If you need a bit of help choosing the right bamboo variety for your indoor growth needs, there are several good choices. One great choice to grow bamboo indoors is the Arrow variety. Scientifically called Pseudosasa japonica, this plant will do quite well in an environment with very little light and humidity. The Alphonse Kerr variety requires quite a bit of light, but it is also an excellent bamboo choice for your indoor nursery. Be sure to keep your plant from becoming waterlogged. The easiest way to do this on an indoor scale is to put a bowl of gravel under the plant. This will greatly improve the drainage.

Bamboo is a wonderful plant to own indoors or out. Follow these tips for bamboo success, no matter where you live.

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