Bamboo Care

Location

For bamboo health, it is important to consider:

access to sunshine
access to water

Most bamboo varieties prefer the most amount of sun possible. The maximum height may not be reached if conditions are not ideal. For water, keep in mind that standing water can cause rotting of the rhizome. See Planting for details on how to address standing water locations. As with any plant, the location should be well considered before planting. Clumping bamboo is not difficult to transplant within 6 months, but the roots will continue to expand.

It is recommended to provide 5 feet of spacing to any structures, such as fencing. This spacing could be increased or decreased, depending on the size of the bamboo or type of structure. For example, it is easier to maintain a Tiny Fern bamboo next to a house compared to trying to maintain a gap between an Oldhammi (Giant Timber) bamboo and another object.

When planting a row of bamboo, consider the size of the bamboo variety and the desired effect. Planting too close to other bamboo could interfere with the overall height but will provide quick coverage of gaps. Additionally, understand each bamboo will need access to nutrients and sunlight. Take into consideration the surrounding plants and competition for light and nutrients. Consider the bamboo variety and any desired effect (see Bamboo Benefits/Privacy).

Planting

For any locations prone to standing water, it is recommended to raise the location of the bamboo. Build up the region with soil to elevate the bamboo above any standing water.

Dig a hole appropriate for the container size of the new bamboo. Generally, the hole should be twice the diameter of the container. This will provide the new bamboo with access to favorable soil to establish a solid foundation for growth.

For soil selection, a mixture of organic material and surrounding soil is ideal (mix in compost with soil). For areas with sandy soil, it is recommended to mix in some clay cat litter to improve moisture and nutrient retention. For areas with clay, it is recommended to mix in lighter matter (compost) to improve drainage for the new bamboo as it establishes.

Bamboo roots are relatively weak and should not be disturbed intentionally! Set the bamboo directly into the hole. The bamboo base should sit even with the surrounding ground. It is not necessary to worry too much about the angle of the culms, as the bamboo will eventually grow however it see fit with new shoots. Pack in the surrounded dirt and fill with water to remove any air pockets.

Provide water for at least a month to ensure the bamboo is established. Avoid over watering, which will turn the leaves yellow. Curled leaves will indicate the bamboo is dry but understand some varieties will naturally curl during the heat of the day and relax at night.

Cover the surrounding soil with any of the options listed in the Maintenance section (mulch, grass clippings, tea leaves, etc).

Maintenance

For newly planted bamboo, it is important to take special care within the first month. The goal is to establish the root system and promote leaf growth. Be aware of the conditions outside (if hot and dry, be sure to give extra water) and the condition of the leaves. Generally speaking, curled leaves indicate a need for water and yellow leaves indicate an over saturated bamboo.

For most soil here in the low country, fertilizer should not be necessary, especially on a long-term basis. If selecting fertilizer to promote early growth, only fertilizer after the bamboo has been established (do not fertilize before having a full healthy month in the ground). A high nitrogen content fertilizer is ideal for bamboo (no weed control), with slow release being a safer solution to avoid shocking the bamboo. It is recommended to use the fertilizer sparingly.

As a natural solution for nutrient availability, it is preferable to compost material above ground. It is recommended to research the use of different materials, as they can initially decrease nitrogen availability or alter the pH of the soil. Grass clippings are the preferred method but may not have the ideal appearance. The grass clippings are great since they have a similar composition to bamboo leaves. Tea leaves are suspected to provide a similar effect. Coffee grounds have also been used, but not in quantities to overwhelm the plant. Mulch has been recommended, but certain types could have the effect of pulling nitrogen when composting. Compost and top-soil mixtures have been used successfully. If grass or weeds grow into the region, they may be pulled by hand, but eventually the bamboo will take advantage of its height and shade the base of the bamboo. For mature bamboo, the leaves and sheaths will naturally create a ground cover and replenish nutrients to the soil. For established bamboo, no additional care is need, but you could add house scraps out of preference.

Once the bamboo has reached the mature height, pruning can be performed to achieve the desired look. As with most plants, the target is to avoid removal of more than a third of the plant during pruning. This pruning can help showcase the base of the culms (particularly for ornamental bamboos) or create a more open feel to the clump. Clipping lower branches using a hand pruner can result in return of branch growth. To prevent regrowth at these locations, saw the branches as close to the node as possible. Over time, old culms should be removed. The culms will begin to change color and lose leaf growth. Removal of the dead canes will help promote air flow and space for new growth. This will improve the aesthetic appeal and benefit the health of the bamboo.

Winter Considerations

Many factors will influence the bamboo’s chance of survival or resilience during winter months, such as bamboo maturity, degree of exposure, humidity, soil moisture, and exposure time. If the bamboo is isolated and exposed to wind, the bamboo will experience more rapid heat transfer while losing moisture. The material covering the ground (such as mulch or compost) will also influence the rate of heat transfer from the rhizome and control the extent of exposure. While it is common to list a temperature for cold hardiness, the circumstances are not well-defined. As a result, it is also unclear what the extent of damage will be – the bamboo could defoliate and return next spring, or it could be lost entirely. Here in Charleston, the snow has been observed to defoliate Bambusa Multiplex and Bambusa Textilis at approximately 17 degrees F.

For best results, place the less cold-hardy bamboos in the less exposed areas. Be sure to provide adequate water to the bamboo prior to extreme cold. Also, maintain a layer of insulating material (such as mulch or compost) above ground at the base of the bamboo to help protect the rhizomes and roots. Young bamboo that is not fully established will require extra care, and may experience more of a "hit" from extreme cold than a fully established plant.

In the case of defoliation, remember that bamboo is resilient. If the rhizome is healthy, the bamboo will recover. Defoliation is expected to be a rare event for the Charleston region.

There are other varieties of clumping bamboo that are cold-hardy, but these are not expected to be suitable for the humidity and heat of the Charleston region (Fargesia varieties).

Troubleshooting

Generally, bamboo will not require much care or attention. Yellow Leaves: over watering of the bamboo. Reduce water or improve drainage. Curled Leaves: bamboo likely needs to be watered. Some bamboo varieties will curl the leaves during the peak of afternoon sun, so keep an eye on the leaves once the sun begins to set. The leaves should look healthy, green, and relaxed during sunset.

Spotted Leaves (excessive): check leaves for spiders and search online for solutions. We have not had these issues in the lowcountry.
Black Mold at Nodes: this is a result of insect activity on the bamboo. This has not caused any observed health issues for the bamboo. This residue can be cleaned off. If undesirable, non-multiplex varieties may be more resistant to this appearance. This takes time to form, so cutting the other culms should lessen this appearance on the bamboo.