Bamboos are a very popular plant in the decoration of homes and businesses, both indoors and in gardens, due to their undemanding care and the striking Asian touch they bring to any environment. However, they have the downside that many of their species are very invasive, and a series of factors must be taken into account when planting them if we want to avoid future unpleasant surprises.
If you want to learn how to plant bamboo and its careIn a pot, in soil or in water, join us in this Green Ecologist article about bamboo.
How to plant potted bamboo
It's perfectly possible plant potted bambooBut there are some factors that need to be taken into account. On the one hand, it must be considered that bamboo is a plant that occupies a large amount of volume underground, so it is advisable to choose large pots for her.
If you are going to have your pot outdoors, such as terraces or gardens, it is better that you choose one of the panda or fargesia bamboo species, since these end up forming a kind of bush and their roots will completely cover the pot. It is better to avoid species that reach great heights, because the pot will greatly limit their growth. In addition, it is better to use a pot made of resin or some very resistant material, since ceramic ones can end up breaking due to the great force of the bamboo roots.
Planting potted bamboo
- Before sowing your bamboo seeds, clean them and let them dry in the sun for about two hours, then leave them to soak overnight in clean water.
- Always sow during spring, and use a substrate rich in peat and fertilized, if possible, with organic and ecological fertilizer. If you live in a very hot area, you can plant in autumn, to save the young plant the worst of summer. Bamboo is called the patient tree, because some planted seeds can go years without germinating, and then begin to grow explosively, although the most common germination period is between 10 and 25 days.
- Moisten the soil after sowing, but without flooding.
- Put the pot somewhere with shade.
Planting a potted bamboo cutting
- Prepare the soil with some well-mixed natural compost.
- Drill a hole in the center of the pot a few inches deep.
- Make sure the cutting you are going to plant has roots and some small new leaves.
- Place the plant in the hole so that the roots are covered and the stem is well supported with the slightly tight soil around it.
- Water a little and put the pot in a semi-shady place.
In both cases, first make sure the pot has a good drainage.
How to plant bamboo in soil or terrain
If you want to plant bamboo in soil, the dates are the same as for potting: spring or fall if your climate is very hot. Depending on the climate, outdoors or on land it is important choose the bamboo species adequate: in Mediterranean areas multiplex bambusa or Bolivian Borinda are recommended, and in colder climates you can opt for Fargesia Rufa.
Steps to plant bamboo in soil
- Choose a shady or semi-shaded area of the terrain.
- Prepare the soil by stirring it and aerating it, to then sow your previously sunny and soaked seeds about 3 cm deep.
- Leave a space of at least 1 meter between each seed.
- It may also be a good idea to use sheet metal or concrete barriers around the perimeter that you don't want its rhizomes to come out of. It is a plant with a huge capacity for extension, and you could find yourself with the plant taking over spaces that you do not want it to occupy.
Plant a bamboo cutting
- Prepare the soil well, leaving a trench a few centimeters wide.
- Place the cutting horizontally, that is, with the thick stem horizontally and so that the new shoots of the cutting or thinner branches are up so they can grow.
- Cover with a little soil around the edges, but allow part of the horizontal trunk to be exposed on the surface.
- You can also place the plates or plates mentioned before to avoid the excessive extension of the plant.
- When you finish sowing or planting, water the land a little.
How to plant bamboo in water
There are species of bamboo that can be grown directly and simply in a container of water, in a soilless culture. One of the most common of this type is the so-called lucky bamboo which, although it is not actually a bamboo as such, is named for its appearance. For plant lucky bamboo in water just follow these directions:
- Choose a suitable container and add some stones so that the roots have a place to grip.
- It is important that you use distilled water when filling it, and if it is tap water, filter it or at least let it sit for 24 hours before adding the stems.
- Add the lucky bamboo stalks to the container.
- Still, if your plant turns yellow or seems to start to lose vitality after a few months, you should transplant it to a pot or space with soil.
Bamboo care
Bamboos mainly require two things: a constant watering and abundant although without flooding, and a illuminated area but with semi-shade. The latter is especially important in hot areas of hot summers, where prolonged exposure to intense sun can damage the plant.
In addition, the plant appreciates that its roots are covered with a layer of leaves, as well as a contribution of compost in spring.
In this other post by Green Ecologist we will tell you much more about the different types of bamboo and in this other post and in the video below you will be able to learn more about how to care for a bamboo.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to plant bamboo, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
