A bamboo in a pot brings us closer to the land of smiles on terraces, balconies and public places. As a mobile greenery, it provides the necessary protection from wind and prying eyes where ground planting is out of the question.
How do you properly care for bamboo in a pot?
For optimal care of bamboo in a pot, you need a wind-protected, sunny to partially shaded location, a frost-proof container with at least 60 liters, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil, regular watering without waterlogging and fertilizing with a nitrogen-rich long-term fertilizer from March to June.
Decorative pots, tubs, mobile containers or inexpensive mortar pots with bamboo plants create green oases. Even if the bamboo in the pot does not reach the height or stalk diameter of freely planted specimens, it can grow up to five meters high. Like all potted plants, it requires a little more care and nutrient supply.
Bamboo in a pot – what should you pay attention to?
The ideal location should be sheltered from the wind, sunny to partially shaded. It is important that the container is at least 60 liters in size, transportable and frost-proof. It doesn't matter whether the bamboo plant forms roots or not. The roots won't come out of the pot. This is how you prepare the pot for planting the bamboo:
- Drill openings of 3 to 5 millimeters for water drainage to avoid waterlogging
- Place pottery shards on the openings so that they don't get blocked
- Fill in a drainage layer of expanded clay or gravel approx. 5 centimeters high
- fill up to 2/3 with humus-rich soil
- Water the root ball thoroughly before planting
Place the moist root ball in the middle of the prepared pot. The top edge of the root ball should be approx. 5 centimeters below the edge of the pot. Then fill with special bamboo soil up to 1 centimeter above the root ball. Water thoroughly after planting. So that the soil can settle around the root ball.
If the bamboo in the pot is to remain outside over the winter, it makes sense to plant winter-hardy varieties such as:
- Phyllostachys bissetii
- Phyllostachys aureosulcata Aureocaulis
- Phyllostachys aureosulcata Spectabilis
- Fargesia rufa
What care does the bamboo in the pot need?
Bamboos are among the most vigorous plants. That's why they need a slow-acting complete fertilizer with a high nitrogen content in the pot. The first fertilizer application can be made after planting or at the end of March. Stop fertilizing by the end of June at the latest so that the bamboo plants mature and increase their resistance to overwintering.
A bamboo is always thirsty. Especially in summer. Watering is necessary immediately when its leaves start to roll. Better not to let it get that far. Because that means unnecessary stress for you and your bamboo. Make sure that there is no waterlogging in the pot or saucer. The bamboo reacts to this with yellow leaves!
When to transplant the bamboo in the pot?
The bamboo is only vital and he althy if there is enough soil and nutrients on its feet. Depending on growth, a matted root ball must be replanted every 2 - 4 years in early spring. To do this, break up the root ball, divide it several times or shorten long rhizomes.
Tips & Tricks
Remove older stalks and thin, weak shoots regularly. To better show off the beautiful decorative straws, cut off the side branches a little from below.