The fast-growing plant impresses above all with its enormous growth height. In its natural environment, it can even reach a height of 30 meters. But the evergreen plant also impresses with its easy-care nature. Whether indoors or outdoors, bamboo is considered a classic decoration for everyone. In our article you will find out what is part of the right bamboo care. Have fun with it. The history of bamboo The globally known bamboo plants (Bambusoideae) form a subfamily of the sweet grasses (Poaceae). Overall, the bamboo family includes about 116 genera. It originally comes from China and Japan, but also from regions on the African continent, South America and Australia. Only in Europe and Antarctica was it not at home. Up until two centuries ago, bamboo was even unknown in Europe. Bamboo grasses only came to Europe from China and Japan in the middle of the 19th century thanks to French traders. Even today, the majority of the bamboo plants grown here come from China and Japan. In the meantime, the bamboo is very popular and is very good as a simple decoration or as a privacy screen in the garden. Now all you really need is information about the right bamboo care. And already you have a small feeling of tropical atmosphere at home. The right bamboo care: location, watering, fertilizing etc. The plant is one of those that are easy to care for. Therefore, with the right tips, bamboo care should be child's play for you. In the following, we will show you how to properly cultivate bamboo at home. Bamboo location: sunny - partial shade - shade Basically, the bamboo has fewer demands on the temperature of its surroundings. However, different species have different preferences. There are some that are very happy in the sun, others prefer to thrive in shade or partial shade. As you can see, there is no general rule as to where your bamboo feels most comfortable. If you keep your bamboo as an indoor bamboo, then it should not be in direct sunlight. It shouldn't be too dark either. In addition, indoor bamboo doesn't tolerate draughts. Tip: If the bamboo leaves are particularly large, then they also need more protection from the sun. Bamboo soil: It should be slightly acidic Loose soil with sandy-loamy to humic properties is best suited for bamboo care. These are good for water drainage, so that less waterlogging forms. It is optimal when the pH is between 5.5 and 6.8 (slightly acidic). If the pH value significantly exceeds this range, the bamboo can have root problems because it can no longer extract the necessary vitamins from the soil. Tip: If you notice that the soil is very impermeable, just mix in a bit more sand. Exactly the same applies to a substrate that is too sandy: Here you should mix in a bit more loamy soil and compost. Water the bamboo: Plenty of water please! Due to its rainy home in the tropical regions, the bamboo naturally also needs a lot of water at home. Therefore, it is important to water your plant regularly. Here it doesn't matter whether you have them in the garden or in the apartment. Every type of bamboo needs a lot of water! In contrast to other plants, this evergreen plant also depends on the soil having sufficient moisture in winter. In general, bamboo grasses that grow in tubs need more water than bedding plants that stand outside.In addition, you should always water early in the morning or in the evening, because at these times of the day the water evaporates less quickly and the bamboo has more of it Tip: You can tell whether you need to water your bamboo by the curled up small leaves. A visible sign of lack of water. Fertilizing bamboo promotes healthy growth Of course, proper bamboo care not only includes the right substrate and regular watering, but also fertilization. Especially in the growth phase, the bamboo needs nutrients regularly. These are not only necessary for growth, but also for the resting phase in the winter months. At least twice a year you should fertilize your bamboo with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer that has a low salt content. The first time to fertilize should be in spring, after which you can supply the bamboo with additional nutrients again in late summer. Always work the fertilizer into the slightly moist soil, then water again. Tip: If you want to do everything right, then buy a special grass and bamboo fertilizer that is tailored to the needs of the bamboo grasses. Cutting bamboo - a regular care cut Since the bamboo can also act as a privacy screen in the form of hedges, regular trimming is necessary here. But you should also do a pruning for single plants once a year. Because this makes the bamboo denser and more compact in its growth. Of course, you should prune it back immediately if it looks sick and damaged or has bald patches due to lack of light. Young bamboo grasses should generally not be cut yet, as they first have to develop enough leaves to carry out sufficient photosynthesis. When pruning, you can easily bring extremely protruding or diseased side stems to the desired height. Repot bamboo: It works so quickly Basically, bamboo care is very simple. If your plant grows in a pot, then it should be repotted every two to three years, as it has then become too large. As always, a good time for repotting is spring or late summer. The bamboo should not be planted in a new container between the months of April and June, as it forms new stalks and roots at this time and should therefore not be disturbed in this process. When the time has come that you want to repot your bamboo, place the pot in a tub of water the night before so that it can swell. The next day, tie the plant together and carefully remove it from its old pot. The new vessel should be significantly larger, since bamboo is one of the fast-growing plants. After planting again, please water sufficiently with lime-free rainwater. Propagating bamboo - your bamboo family To propagate your plant, you can easily use protruding shoots that you cut off when pruning. However, you should cut the shoot off the mother plant so that it already has some small roots. It is therefore best to remove the soil from the mother plant a little so that the shoot can be better cut off with its roots. You can then place the sections in a container with appropriate soil, the top ten centimeters should be covered with compost. The daughter plants should be watered just as well as the mother plant. Is the bamboo poisonous? You can rest easy, few of the bamboo grasses are poisonous. Mainly the seeds contain the toxic ingredients.However, the taste of these is inedible. This is how nature protects itself. Basically, all types of bamboo that we find are non-toxic. So you don't have to worry about your pet or even a toddler/baby being poisoned by it. Tips for problems with the bamboo Fortunately, bamboo care is very easy. Nevertheless, it can of course be the case that your plant develops yellow leaves, for example. This is a sign of waterlogging. If this is the case, then you must repot the bamboo into a new container without much hesitation, as the prolonged waterlogging can lead to the death of the plant. Tip: Make sure that the water can always drain away easily and thus does not accumulate in the ground. Find the matching plant In order to find the perfect companion for your bamboo and its tropical atmosphere, you can browse through our online range and be inspired by a wide variety of (indoor) plants. In no time you can design your own Urban Jungle at home or on the balcony or terrace! .
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