In early spring, the fresh green leaves of the bamboo plants delight our senses. This annual splendor requires an evenly dosed supply of nutrients. Fertilize bamboo – but when? More about nutrient supply for he althy, evergreen plant growth.
How and when should you fertilize bamboo?
To fertilize bamboo, you should use organic fertilizer or special bamboo fertilizer 2-3 times a year, between mid-April and the end of August. Compost, bamboo leaves, coffee grounds and horse manure also provide valuable nutrients for bamboo. Complete fertilizers containing nitrogen are also suitable.
In order to support the good growth of bamboo plants, correct fertilization plays an important role. Because the root system of bamboo branches widely, nutrients must be able to be absorbed directly into the soil. To fertilize bamboos, it is best to use organic fertilizer or special bamboo fertilizer. But compost, bamboo leaves, coffee grounds and horse manure also provide the bamboo plants with organic nutrients. The use of organic fertilizer also prevents over-fertilization.
Best fertilization time and dosage
Caring for giant grasses naturally means meeting special requirements in terms of location and nutrient supply. Bamboos are heavy feeders. They need a lot of nitrogen for their rapid growth and should be fertilized 2-3 times a year. The fertilizer season starts in mid-April. Shortly before the stalks sprout again. Fertilization should not be carried out later than the end of August. This allows the stalks to mature until winter.
A nitrogen-containing complete fertilizer is suitable as fertilizer. Since bamboo is a giant grass, it can also cope with conventional lawn fertilizer. In addition to a pH value below 6, most types of bamboo are sensitive to soils that are too acidic.
Yellow leaf alarm – high time for special fertilizer
The fast-growing bamboos need trace elements. Nitrogen, silicon and magnesium. Yellow bamboo leaves can be an alarm signal for nitrogen deficiency, which should be remedied immediately so that he althy greenery can grow back again. Distribute a generous dose of horse manure or bamboo fertilizer evenly in the root area and then water well.
Coffee grounds and horse manure as organic fertilizer
Coffee grounds contain phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. All three have a metabolism-activating effect. Either add fresh coffee grounds to the irrigation water or bamboo water or distribute them directly around the bamboo.
As a grass plant, the same applies to bamboo as to meadows and lawns: nature provides the best fertilizer. Horse manure or cattle manure. Manure contains a high proportion of nitrogen. When using it, however, care should be taken to only use seasoned, composted manure from the previous year.
Because not everyone has a horse in their garden, there are alternatively special bamboo fertilizers (€33.00 on Amazon) with a long-term effect. By using organic fertilizers, plants receive important nutrients that are removed from the soil. The most important nutrients for bamboos are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). That's why the use of so-called NPK fertilizers is recommended.
Tips & Tricks
You can fertilize with coffee grounds all year round. Assuming there is no coffee mountain in the garden;). For a super fertilizer that really works, mix coffee grounds with horn shavings and spread lawn clippings on top. This saves money and waste.