- 1). Plant your bamboo in a pot that has adequate growing room; there should be at least 2 inches between the root ball and the sides of the pot and 4 inches of soil under the root ball.
- 2). Identify the type and species of your bamboo. The amount of light your bamboo needs depends upon the variety. Some prefer bright light, others do well in relatively low light.
- 3). Water regularly, keeping soil moist but not soggy. Use filtered water, if possible. Protect the floor under the plant from water overflow with a plant dish.
- 4). Fertilize with a 30-10-10 plant food monthly during the growing season. Use a slow release houseplant food (according to the manufacturer's instructions), if you prefer.
- 5). Prune bamboo plants regularly. Cut weak culms (canes) off at soil level. You can "top" your plant by cutting the culm just above the node (on the stem, just above the branch); this will stop it from growing taller.
- 6). Re-pot the plant when it becomes root-bound. Transplant it to a larger pot or divide the root ball, removing about one-third of the total, and return the plant to the same pot with fresh soil.
- 1). Plant bamboo at a site that is sunny, warm and protected from the wind.
- 2). Use a rich planting mixture that is high in nitrogen, or add humus to bedding soil. Put plenty of mulch on top of the soil around the base of the plant (but not so much as to block air flow).
- 3). Water weekly (more often in hot, dry climates). Feed three times per year (late winter, early summer and late summer) with a fertilizer rich in nitrogen (30-10-10), or twice a year (early spring and late summer) with a controlled release plant food.
- 4). Keep bamboo from becoming invasive by pruning back severely every winter, before spring growth begins.
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