How do you take care of bamboo?

Question

I have a bamboo that is turning yellow, but I'm not over watering it. Could it be the heater vent blowing on the plant? Or is sitting in the window keeping it too cold? Also, its leaning...am I supposed to be pruning it? If so, how? Can I pot the pieces I prune off? How do I re-pot it? How much water and how often?

Answer 1

(m)

Bamboo has countless uses, not the least of which is to add beauty to a landscape. In many cases, bamboo is a hardy and generally low-maintenance grass. These steps will help you get the most out of it.

Steps
If it's planted in the ground, water twice per week while a plant is getting established. Once per week thereafter is usually enough. Bamboo likes a lot of water. But like other grasses, it will develop a more robust root system if it is made to grow deep to get water.
If it is planted in a pot, you may need to water more frequently. But be careful to not keep the soil wet, as this will cause root rot.
Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, but no more. Bamboo loves the stability of temperature and soil moisture that mulch provides. But adding too much can enable rodents to nest in it and damage your bamboo.
Fertilize your bamboo with a high nitrogen fertilizer during the spring and summer, such as one rated 24-8-16 (or a common lawn fertilizer if that is all that is available). Switch to a low nitrogen fertilizer such as one rated 3-10-10 or even 0-10-10 for the fall. Don't fertilize in the winter, especially if the fertilizer has nitrogen in it.



Tips
If you notice the leaves of your bamboo curled up, forget everything written above about making it work for water. Give it water as soon as possible, as curled leaves usually means the plant is dehydrated. After giving it water, see if you can figure out why it got dehydrated. Perhaps there is not enough soil for it. i.e., it has outgrown it's pot, etc. Perhaps it is planted on a hill and the water runs off before soaking in. Adjust your watering schedule or landscape to accommodate.



Warnings
Some types of bamboo can be highly invasive in some climates. Consider reading the other Wiki articles on bamboo before planting if you think this might be a problem for you.

Answer 2

You have ruled out over watering which is good,but then the heater vent & the cold near the widow are not good for any plant,bamboo included,if it is bending it will be towards light,you need to turn the pot occasionally so that all parts benefit from light/sunshine,bits of pruned bamboo from a potted plant will not be mature enough to strike root .Large mature soil grown bamboo are occasionally propogated from lehghts of stem,they send out roots at the node.For repotting ,the season should be right ,the procedure is no different from repotting any other plant & drainage should be good ,if you have too large a clump,cutting through with a sharp implement will give you material to start a new bamboo plant.

Answer 3

Is your plant in soil now?
Mine is not (see below) so I hope what I say will help...

First, no plant will like being in line with a heater vent. I'd move it.

When I bought my bamboo plants a few years ago, the fella told me that if it got TOO MUCH sun, the leaves would turn yellow. So I do not keep them too near the window, but they get indirect light.

My home does not get much sun, so this is specifically the reason I got these plants and they have done very well.

(I understand that they will grow inside offices well too)

Mine is grown hydroponically, with just the plant standing in a glass vase with stones for support. No soil, with the roots exposed.

I was told to keep the water at the same level as the tops of the rocks and not to let it get low.

Occassionally, if the leaves get dusty, I dampen a cotton square (cotton ball) and wipe the leaves so that the plant can breathe.

I hope this helps... :)

Good luck!
(pun intended, as bamboo is a symbol of luck ;) )