How to Plant Indoor Bamboo Plants

There are a variety of bamboo plants that can be used indoors as opposed to their outdoor counterparts. Most outdoor bamboo grows very fast and can take over an area quickly. Indoor bamboo can be kept in small or large containers and used in nearly any area of a home or office. Bamboo can be found to grow in a variety of indoor situations. Many people mistakenly attempt caring for outdoor bamboo in an indoor situation, but with the diversity of indoor bamboo plants this is unnecessary.

Things You'll Need

• Container
• Bamboo
• Water
• Substrate

Instructions

1. Choose an appropriate indoor bamboo. Some indoor bamboo plants grow 2 feet tall while others grow to more than 20 feet. Tall bamboos require more work to care for due to height control and regularly changing container sizes.

2. Choose the appropriate bamboo plant for the appropriate indoor situation. Various types of bamboo grow in many different habitats around the world. Some plants prefer less light than others, less water in the root system or higher atmospheric humidity. This information can usually be found on the label accompanying the plant or with a garden center associate. Always supplement this information with Internet research if possible.

3. Use the proper container size for your chosen plant. This can vary widely with the type being planted. Running bamboo requires wide containers due to their shallow, wide spreading root systems. Running bamboo can be difficult to maintain because of fast root growth. Clumping bamboo still needs a wide container but not to the extent as running types. Clumping types have more dense root systems that do not spread as widely.

4. Plant in a well drained substrate to hinder root problems. Root problems can include root diseases and reduced root growth. Top soils and potting soils can be mixed with gravel or sand to increase drainage. Some plants called bamboo can be grown in water but these are often not true types of bamboo.

5. Fertilize if using little soil in the substrate or if using clumping bamboo. Fertilize in no more than three to four month intervals with composted manure or low potassium (the last number on a fertilizer) fertilizer. Potassium is used mostly during flowering. Bamboo produces flowers very infrequently.

6. Prune the bamboo to control its height and maintain health. Divide the plant when it becomes too dense and wide for its container by cutting through the root system. Reduce the height of the plant by cutting tall branches just above the nodes (the point at which new growth occurs). Be sure to leave at least half of the plant’s overall foliage when pruning.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use wild growing bamboo for indoor containers. This is a very fast and tall growing plant that will only lead to frustration.