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There are hundreds of bamboo species you can grow indoors, from colorful table plants to majestic centerpieces. Bamboo tends to be more stressed in an indoor environment, so plenty of tender loving care is required. A close eye on moisture is especially important to make sure the bamboo is getting plenty of water without soaking in soggy soil.

Follow the lucky bamboo instructions if your plant:
– has a species name beginning with Dracaena
– is labeled Lucky, Chinese, Water, or Curly Bamboo
– has red or orange roots as an adult[1]
or has been growing in water, not soil

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Planting Bamboo Indoors

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  1. Choose a container with twice the diameter of the root ball, or with at least 2 inches (5 cm) of space between the root ball and the sides. Good drainage is key to the survival of most bamboo species, so make sure there are sizeable holes in the base of the pot.
    • Line the container with plastic root barrier if it is cement (which can damage bamboo) or wood (which lasts longer if protected from moisture).
  2. Bamboo loves humidity, which can make indoor growing a challenge. Keeping water under the bamboo without letting it soak the roots is the easiest way to add moisture to the air. There are two ways to set this up:
    Pebble tray
    1. Fill a tray with a layer of pebbles.
    2. Add a shallow layer of water to the tray.
    3. Place the pot on top of the pebbles, without touching the water.
    Gravel
    1. Put a layer of gravel in the bottom of the pot.
    2. Place the pot in a shallow tray of water.
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  3. Bamboo needs a soil with light to moderate density: fast-draining, but able to hold moisture. You can use a standard potting mix, or make your own from ⅓ loam, ⅓ perlite (or washed sand), and ⅓ peat moss (or well-rotted compost). Most bamboo can tolerate a wide range of well-draining soils, so the exact composition won't make or break your plants.[2]
    • You can use decent quality soil from your garden instead of potting soil. Avoid heavy clay soil, which drains poorly and is difficult to improve.
    • Bamboo tends to do best in slightly acidic soil, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, but most species tolerate a pH up to 7.5. Most soil falls into this range.
  4. Keep the stem and the top of the root ball above the level of the soil to prevent rot. Press the soil down to get rid of air bubbles, and water in the plant with a good soak.
    • If your bamboo came rootbound, cut it out at the edge of the pot with a clean knife. It's probably had trouble getting water, so soak the root ball (but not the stem) for 20 minutes before planting.[3]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Caring for Your Indoor Bamboo

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  1. This is the most difficult part of growing bamboo indoors, since bamboo is both thirsty and vulnerable to overwatering. To start out, water until a little water runs out the base. Let the top 2 or 3 inches (5–7.5 cm) of soil dry out before each watering session. If the soil stays moist for more than a day or two, reduce the amount of water.
    • If the top of the soil is drying out quickly, dig down to 4 inches (10 cm) deep to check for moisture. This depth should stay lightly moist most of the time, especially during the first three months after planting.
  2. Most bamboo plants prefer humid air, especially in hot weather. As long as you avoid overwatering, any one of the following should keep your plant happy:
    • Place the pot over a humidity tray, as described in the planting section above.
    • Lightly mist the leaves with a spray bottle every couple days.
    • Run a humidifier in the room.
    • Keep plants close together (but be aware this increases the risk of disease).
  3. If you know the species name of your bamboo, look it up to find specific recommendations. If your plant needs more light than your climate provides, install evening grow lights. If you don't know the species, start with these rules of thumb:
    Needs more light:
    –plants with small leaves
    –tropical species
    –plants kept in warm rooms
    Needs less light:
    –plants with large leaves
    –temperate species during dormant winter periods
    –plants kept in cool rooms
  4. Bamboo grows quickly as long as it has room in the container, and needs extra nutrients to support this growth. A dose of slow-release fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season is a good way to provide a steady supply. You can use a balanced fertilizer such as 16-16-16, or a high nitrogen (N) fertilizer such as 30-10-10. The high nitrogen option discourages flowering, which weakens many bamboo species.
    Warning:
    –Do not fertilize within 6 months of buying. Most plants get enough fertilizer from the nursery.
    –Avoid seaweed-based fertilizers due to excessive salt content.[4]
  5. Most bamboo is very tolerant of pruning, so don't hesitate to shape it once it is established and healthy:
    • Cut withered, stunted, or excess stems (culms) at soil level.
    • To prevent a stem from growing above a certain height, cut it just above a node (branching point).
    • Thin branches regularly if you want to encourage vertical growth.
    • Remove lower branches for aesthetics.
  6. Bamboo can grow in two different patterns depending on species. "Runners" send out long shoots to start new plants, and will spiral around a large container within three to five years. "Clumpers" grow steadily outward, and may last up to six years in the same pot. Any bamboo plant needs a transplant to a larger pot once it becomes rootbound.
    • Once the roots have reached their maximum growing point, you just need to increase the size of the pot and re-plant.
    • To restrict growth, instead dig up the plant, cut away about ⅓ of the roots, and replant in the same container with fresh potting mix.
    • You can propagate most bamboo plants by cutting the stalks and replanting in separate containers. This does not work on bamboo with no hole in the center of the stalks, or only a very small hole.[5]
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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  1. It is fairly common for a bamboo plant to lose a lot of leaves when moved indoors or transplanted. As long as the new leaves at the ends of branches look healthy, the plant should recover. If those leaves drop or look unhealthy, a couple months outdoors (if climate allows) can help recovery. If your plant has been in the same place for a while, look into other possible causes:
    • Temperate species often drop leaves during low-light conditions. A cool, low-light dormant period in winter is good for these plants, and reduces leaf drop. The fewer green leaves there are, the less water the plant needs.
    • Many species drop leaves in spring (or less commonly, fall), gradually replacing them with new ones. If there's a mix of green leaves, yellow leaves, and new, unfurling leaves, the plant is probably fine.
  2. If the sides of the leaves roll inward, the plant needs watering. (Photosynthesis consumes water, so the plant is reducing it by avoiding sunlight.) If the leaves droop downward, the plant is overwatered, or the soil is not draining fast enough.
    • Overwatering is more dangerous than under-watering. Waiting to water until the leaves curl slightly will usually not harm the plant.
  3. If your bamboo is turning yellow outside of the dormant season, this could mean several different things:
    • If they look dry and the tips are brown or curling upward, the plant needs more water. It may be rootbound and in need of a larger pot.
    • Leaves that slowly become paler and more yellow usually have a nutrient deficiency. Add fertilizer with added minerals.
    • A sudden color change after fertilizing points to over-fertilizing. Treat this problem by removing any remaining fertilizer and watering abundantly to leach out the excess minerals.
  4. Indoor bamboo plants are more vulnerable to these problems, especially if there is low air flow in the room. If there is a light insect infestation, wash the leaves with insecticidal soap, or spray it outdoors with an insecticide spray. If this doesn't work, or if you think the plant has a disease, try to identify it and respond:
    • A black "sooty" mold is usually caused by insects. Remove aphids and ants.[6]
    • Circular fungus rings or grey/brown scale usually do not harm the plant. An anti-fungus treatment from a garden store can remove it.[7]
    • Wet, rotting patches are a sign of overwatering, but may be helped along by infestations. Dry them out and treat with insecticide or fungicide.
    • Sticky white webbing may hide bamboo mites or other insects. Spray it off and apply insecticide.
    • There are over 1,000 species of bamboo, so no one guide will cover all problems. If your plant has a disease that doesn't match the description above, consult a local garden center or university agricultural extension about disease in your area.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How often do you have to water a bamboo plant?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    With the proper amount of drainage, you can't overwater bamboo. As a new sprout, they should be given water about 2 times each week in the summer and more frequently once the temperatures get hot.
  • Question
    Can bamboo be kept indoors?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It takes more attention and more time to grow bamboo indoors, but yes, it can be done.
  • Question
    How much sun does a bamboo plant need?
    Maggie Moran
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Bamboo plants grow best with bright but indirect light. Avoid placing them in a spot that is too shady or one that receives a lot of intense, direct light.
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Tips

  • Find specific information on your species whenever possible. Species that do well indoors include Indocalamus tessellatus, Phyllostachys nigra, and Bambusa multiplex.
  • Some species of bamboo plants do best if kept with more than one to a pot. They don't flourish as well growing alone. This is not true for all bamboo, so it helps to know the species.
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Things You'll Need

  • Bamboo plant
  • Large container
  • Well-draining potting mix
  • Fertilizer (balanced or high nitrogen)
  • Humidity tray, spray bottle, or humidifier
  • Pruning shears

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About This Article

Lindsey Swett
Co-authored by:
Plant Specialist
This article was co-authored by Lindsey Swett. Lindsey Swett is a Plant Specialist and the Owner of Niche Plant Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. She has over a decade of experience working in several plant settings, including golf courses, public parks, and commercial garden centers. Her focus now is on helping plant owners care for their indoor plants. Lindsey holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from The University of Michigan. This article has been viewed 1,270,807 times.
11 votes - 96%
Co-authors: 40
Updated: June 12, 2023
Views: 1,270,807
Article SummaryX

To care for an indoor bamboo plant, water it every day, or as often as necessary to keep the soil lightly moist. Additionally, since bamboo likes humidity, mist the leaves with a spray bottle every few days. Once a year, treat the plant with a high nitrogen fertilizer to support its rapid growth. To prune the plant, cut it just above where a branch forms to encourage vertical growth. Keep reading for tips from our Horticulture reviewer on what to do if your plant develops yellow or drooping leaves.

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