How to Grow Bamboo Plants Indoors

Bamboo grows vigorously when planted under the right conditions, whether in a garden or indoors in a planter. However, successfully growing bamboo indoors relies on choosing a variety that occurs naturally within a dim, somewhat dry environment since they can prosper without much attention under typical indoor conditions. Yet even the most resilient species of bamboo must have its basic needs met to encourage prolific growth, so regular watering and feeding are essential to growing a healthy, thriving bamboo plant indoors.

Planter

Potting soil

Compost

Coarse sand

Perlite or vermiculite

30-10-10 ratio fertilizer

Pruning shears

Spray bottle

Choose a suitable bamboo variety for growing indoors such as fernleaf bamboo (Pleioblastus distichus), black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) or kuma-zasa bamboo (Sasa veitchii), all of which are clumping and tolerant of dim light and low relative humidity.

Pot the young bamboo plant in a permanent planter offering at least three inches of space on all sides. Use a mixture of 3 parts potting soil, 2 parts compost, 1 part coarse sand and 1 part perlite or vermiculite when potting the bamboo plant to provide abundant nutrition, moisture retention and adequate drainage.

Place the potted bamboo plant where it receives about six hours of indirect sunlight per day, such as near a large window. Pleioblastus shibuyanus "Tsuboi" and Indocalamus tessellatus "Giant Leaf" are among the bamboo varieties that tolerate and thrive with less light if a very bright place is not available.

Water indoor bamboo plants according to their size and the needs of the species and cultivar. Water most small bamboo plants to 1 inch every five days, and larger bamboo plants to 2 inches every seven to 10 days. Apply water only when the top inch of soil dries out.

Feed indoor bamboo plants with high-nitrogen, 30-10-10 ratio fertilizer once a month from March until late September. Follow the label directions exactly when applying the fertilizer. Water the plant thoroughly after feeding it.

Prune indoor bamboo plants in early spring to control their size. Use a pair of clean, freshly sharpened pruning shears. Remove no more than a quarter of the total length of each cane. Completely remove damaged canes or leaves at their point of origin.

Mist indoor bamboo plants using a spray bottle or plant mister filled with filtered water. Mist them as often as possible to raise the humidity around the plant and to keep the leaves hydrated and free from dust.

Repot indoor bamboo plants once they outgrow their planter or become top-heavy or root-bound. Move them into a planter providing an increase of 2 inches in diameter and depth. Use fresh soil and pot the bamboo plant so the soil level is the same as in the old planter.