Thanks to its tall, bushy growth, the fast-growing indoor bamboo (bot. Pogonatherum paniceum) is an attractive plant both for indoor cultivation and for keeping on the balcony or terrace. The sweet grass also scores points for its easy-care, uncomplicated nature. If your preferences regarding location and care are taken into account, you will enjoy the plant for many years.
How do you properly care for indoor bamboo?
The indoor bamboo (Pogonatherum paniceum) is an easy-care plant that requires a lot of light, but not direct sun. To thrive ideally, it needs temperatures above 20 °C, regular watering and liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
Origin and Use
Some very different plants are available commercially under the name “room bamboo”. In fact, it is basically not a botanical plant name, but a common name. In general, the name “room bamboo” refers to the sweet grass species Pogonatherum paniceum, which is widespread in India, Sri Lanka, Burma and parts of China.
Despite the apparent similarities, Pogonatherum paniceum is not even remotely related to true bamboo species and varieties, but rather to the corn native to South America. We like to use the bushy and uncomplicated plant as a houseplant, but also to beautify balconies and terraces - for example as a privacy screen. Due to its lack of winter hardiness, the indoor bamboo may not be planted in the garden.
Sometimes the species is also offered in specialist stores as “cat grass”. The real cat grass – botanically Cyperus zumula – belongs to the sedge family. Dealers do not always use the correct botanical names of the different plant species correctly, which often leads to confusion and also makes care more difficult.
Appearance and growth
In its growth, the indoor bamboo is very reminiscent of real bamboo, even if it is not that kind. The evergreen and clump-forming plant develops numerous stalks, which are usually between 30 and 50 centimeters, but can sometimes be significantly higher. These stalks branch out around the top, so that the indoor bamboo appears quite bushy overall. After it has grown in height, the plant continues to grow steadily, but only in width thanks to the underground rhizomes.
leaves
The soft, light green leaves of the indoor bamboo are alternate and densely arranged on the upright growing stalks. The foliage is very narrow and up to seven centimeters long. Pogonatherum paniceum is evergreen and keeps its leaves all year round.
Flowers and fruits
In its natural habitat, Pogonatherum paniceum develops yellowish, inconspicuous spike flowers between June and August, which, however, only appear very rarely in indoor cultivation. If you want to make the indoor bamboo bloom, you should care for it on the balcony or terrace over the summer months at temperatures of more than 20 °C and, above all, ensure there is sufficient brightness - if it is too dark, the plant will not produce flowers.
If fertilization occurs during the flowering period, nuts called caryopsis subsequently develop, which are typical of the sweet grass family. Under favorable conditions, indoor bamboo tends to self-sow because its seeds begin to germinate quickly upon contact with the soil.
Toxicity
Pogonatherum paniceum is only slightly poisonous as a young plant, but the toxins it contains break down later. Instead, the hard, sharp-edged leaves, which can easily cut yourself, are problematic.
Which location is suitable?
The indoor bamboo needs a lot of light for he althy growth, but should not be left in the blazing sun during the summer months. The plant must be protected from intense sunlight during midday in particular. Otherwise, Pogonatherum paniceum feels very comfortable in warmth, with temperatures of 20 °C and more being optimal. However, it should not be cooler than 16 °C, as the houseplant, which comes from tropical and subtropical Asia, reacts very sensitively to it.
Substrate
The indoor bamboo thrives excellently in standard potting or houseplant soil. You can mix these with gravel, sand or expanded clay for better drainage. If possible, choose a high-quality compost-based substrate as this can absorb and drain water more easily than peat soil, which hardens quickly. Furthermore, the plant also feels very comfortable in hydroculture, which further reduces the already low maintenance requirements.
Planting and repotting
As indoor bamboo grows wider over the years, you should regularly move it to a larger pot. Choose a planter that is as wide as possible and made of a heavy material so that the plant does not accidentally tip over one day. Young plants need a lot of space for their roots and for the formation of new clumps and should therefore be repotted once a year. For older plants, it is sufficient to carry out this measure every two to three years.
Watering indoor bamboo
Regular and even watering is immensely important for the well-being of indoor bamboo. Don't let the substrate dry out, but don't water it too much either: Consistently too high moisture in the potting soil leads to root rot, which will sooner or later cause the plant to die. Before each watering, do a finger test first: If the substrate is superficially dry, Pogonatherum paniceum can tolerate being watered again. During very warm phases or a short absence in the summer months, you can place the plant in a saucer filled with water - but then the plant pot must have holes in the bottom so that the roots can absorb the water.
Indoor bamboo gets brown leaves, what to do?
If the indoor bamboo suddenly develops brown, dry leaves, there is usually a problem with the water supply. Either you water the plant too much - the resulting root rot means the plant can no longer absorb enough water and dries up - or you water it too little. To find the right cause, pot up the plant and examine the roots: If they are muddy and damp, or perhaps smell rotten, then you need to act as quickly as possible. Remove the adhering soil, cut away the rotting roots and repot the plant in a fresh, dry substrate. Water them less in the future. However, if the indoor bamboo is too dry, simply water more - but be careful not to overdo it with watering. Otherwise you will soon have the opposite problem.
Fertilize indoor bamboo properly
Between April and October, give the indoor bamboo commercially available liquid flower or green plant fertilizer about every two to three weeks (the smaller the plant and the pot, the less frequently it is fertilized). There is no fertilization during the winter months.
Cut indoor bamboo correctly
Pruning is not necessary as the indoor bamboo develops a beautiful growth habit all by itself. You should only cut off brown and dried stalks directly at the base. However, avoid such pruning work during the winter months, as the plant is now in its resting phase and can react quite sensitively to disturbances.read more
Propagate indoor bamboo
Over time, an indoor bamboo can become quite large, which is why it is advisable to divide large and wide specimens in the spring - ideally at the same time as repotting. To do this, simply pot up the plant, gently shake off the adhering soil and divide the root system into several sections. If necessary, you can also use a sharp, clean knife for this. However, be careful not to damage the roots more than is absolutely necessary: unfortunately, this often results in brown leaves forming.
Propagation by root shoots
Preferably separate the clearly visible root runners and then place them in a glass with water. Change the water regularly and place the jar in a warm and bright location. Once the offshoots have developed sufficiently strong roots of their own, plant them in a pot with a suitable substrate.
Propagation of cuttings
Vegetative propagation is also possible using ten to 15 centimeter long cuttings, which are also cut in spring. These require a constantly warm temperature of at least 20 °C and high humidity, which you can achieve with a translucent cover.
Sowing indoor bamboo
If your indoor bamboo forms spikes, you can also use them for propagation. Simply put them in a small pot with potting soil, keep it slightly moist, keep the air ventilated using a translucent cover and wait a few weeks. If the plant created from the seeds is about ten centimeters high, you can repot it in normal substrate and care for it as usual.read more
Wintering
It is an advantage to keep the indoor bamboo slightly cooler over the winter months at around 18 °C than in summer and to water it less and stop fertilizing. This overwintering helps the plant to survive the low-light season more easily. But be careful: If there are yellow or brown leaves on the plant, you may want to water it more often and/or fertilize it occasionally. Basically, special winterization measures are not necessary, but you should ensure sufficient brightness - for example through appropriate lighting.
Diseases and pests
The indoor bamboo is a very resilient houseplant that is rarely affected by diseases or pests. Symptoms of the disease are often a reference to care errors, especially in relation to watering, or an unsuitable location. In particular, if the plant is too dark, too cool or too moist, problems can arise as a result of root rot.
Pests sometimes include spider mites or aphids that find their way onto the indoor bamboo. However, you can easily get rid of these with the help of a shower jet.
Tip
Even if the indoor bamboo is occasionally sold as “cat grass”, it is better not for your furry four-legged friend to chew on its stalks: the rigid and sharp stalks can cause injuries and even get stuck in the throat.
Species and varieties
There are no special cultivars of the species Pogonatherum paniceum (also known as Seychelles grass or bamboo grass), which is usually referred to as indoor bamboo. Instead, there are some other indoor plant species that are quite similar in their appearance and in their care needs:
- Gold bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea): real bamboo, grows up to four meters high
- Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana or D. braunii): similar to Pogonatherum paniceum
- Bambusa multiplex: grows up to three meters high, has little frost tolerance
- Pleioblastus chino: up to one meter high, grows very clumpy and forms many runners, ideal for the balcony (frost-tolerant)