a)   Bamboo is actually considered a grass and is composed of nearly 1,200 different species.

b)   Bamboo naturally grows in every continent except Europe & Antarctica and some species can tolerate temperatures as low as -29C.

c)   Bamboo can provide the necessities for all aspects of life: ‘Take away bamboo from the Japanese culture and there would be scarcely a house left standing, not many bridges, nothing to sit upon, nothing to carry water in, no hats, no fencing, no erosion control, no bird cages, no scarecrows, no beds, …' 
(The Gardeners Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboo – Michael Bell)

d)   The fastest growing bamboo in the world can grow over 3 ft per day!!

e)   Some bamboo construction has endured over the millennia.  The suspended bamboo bridge at An-Lan over the Min River, built during the 3rd century AD!  At 320 m (1,066 ft) long, it still stands today.  The bridge is sustained by 15 bamboo cables, each having 5 cm (2 in) in diameter, whose resistance is four times higher than that of hemp ropes.

f)    The tallest bamboo ever recorded was from the species Dendrocalmus Giganteus, common in North East India.  Typically growing to 30-35 metres, the tallest culm specimen measured was over 42 metres or 137 feet!

Are most bamboo the same color and size?

Bamboo comes in all sorts of colors and sizes. Culms or shoots come in yellow, black, green, red, blue, yellow with green stripes, green with yellow stripes and yellow with black stripes. Bamboo leaves can be long and skinny, short and fat, they can also host colorations such as green with white stripes and yellow with green stripes.

I’ve heard stories about bamboo that can spread uncontrollably into unwanted areas of a yard or a neighbour’s yard.   Are all bamboo species considered running bamboo? 

Of the 1200 different bamboo species the vast majority fall into two distinct categories based on their root systems.  The Leptomorph bamboo are considered running bamboo as their root systems like to spread out from the base of the plant. Pachymorph bamboo are considered clumping bamboo as their root systems are short and compact.  Many people enjoy growing running bamboo as they have a large property where the bamboo can naturally grow and spread.  People with smaller yards can grow running bamboo in large containers or even use a rhizome barrier (see resources section of this website).  Due to its name, clumping bamboo can be planted anywhere in a yard without the concern of it rapidly spreading.

Can running bamboo be planted in a pot to contain it?

Many people grow bamboo in a pot or container which allows them to enjoy the beauty of bamboo but not have to worry about the bamboo spreading into unwanted areas of your yard.  People should know that bamboo planted in a container or pot will eventually become root bound just like any other plant.  Depending on the size of the pot or wooden barrel and the size of species of bamboo that you plant, you may get 3-5 yrs before the bamboo needs to be repotted.  Root bound bamboo will show signs of stress (leaf curl, slower growth, brown tips on the leaves, etc.) and at that time the bamboo should be removed from the pot and divided with a saw.  You can give away or replant divided clumps elsewhere in your yard and then replace one smaller portion or clump of the bamboo back into the pot for another 3-5 years of carefree enjoyment.  A nice container of bamboo provides vertical greenery, screening and beauty for any deck or landscape.

What is the best soil mix to use for my bamboo?

Remember that although bamboo loves water, it doesn't like to grow in soggy, water laden conditions. Soils with large amounts of clay will retain too much water and pack too hard inhibiting proper bamboo growth – some bamboo will even die if the soil conditions are too wet! Bamboo loves organic material of almost any type, especially material that breaks down over time and releases its nutrients slowly.

There isn't a special recipe for a soil mix, however the addition of one or more of the following components will ensure a great start to your new bamboo:

1) Top soil (rich soil loaded with nutrients… a few red earthworms wouldn’t hurt either!).

2) Coarse river sand (enhances drainage) and prevents soil compaction.

3) Bark Mulch or Nuggets (reduces soil compaction and enhances drainage while adding organic nutrients). Many of the larger bamboo nurseries in Washington use a significant amount of bark mulch and/or wood chips. Some landscaping companies offer a blend of topsoil and bark mulch compost which is already premixed for you.

4) Manure (fish compost, steer, horse or chicken manure), I’ve used it all and it gives the bamboo the organic “kick” it needs for strong growth. Make sure the manure isn’t fresh or it may burn your bamboo.

* 5) Optional: Grass clippings are loaded with nitrogen; that’s why lawn care specialists suggest mulching your lawn instead of removing your grass clippings. A sprinkle of grass clippings will provide a healthy organic fertilizer for your bamboo as they slowly break down into your soil.

Grass Tar (this is a personal touch of mine). I compost my grass clippings and at the end of the year, I find a black, sticky tar-like substance at the bottom of the pile. I call it grass tar for lack of a better name because it’s black and sticky. I break this up into pieces and sprinkle it into the soil mix because I know that it’s loaded with nitrogen from the composted grass clippings.

Is Lucky bamboo really bamboo?

Lucky bamboo is a popular plant, increasingly available in shops and stores.  The plant is easy to maintain, thrives without soil in a few inches of water and requires only a little sunlight to grow.  It is however not bamboo.  It is Dracenia sanderiana, a member of the lily family.

Approximately how many new shoots or culms are produced by a healthy bamboo plant each year.

The number of new shoots produced each year depends greatly on a wide variety of factors such as bamboo species, the health of the bamboo, soil and weather conditions, invasive pests or animals, etc.  Clumping bamboo normally produce far more new shoots than running species but the running species will normally produce taller and thicker shoots.  Bamboo usually grow 3-5 new shoots in the spring or early summer when the warmth from the Sun stimulates growth.  Larger bamboo may produce up to 7-10 new shoots, with new shoots sometimes growing into the late summer.

Will a bamboo shoot or culm continue to grow year after year much like a tree?

No.  When a new bamboo culm reaches it’s maximum height and stops growing taller, that is the maximum height the culm will ever achieve.

If I cut or trim a mature bamboo culm, will it re-grow back to its  original height?

No. Any section of a bamboo culm that is cut or removed will not re-grow.

How often should I fertilize my bamboo?   

During the growing months, healthy bamboo will benefit from a moderate fertilizer schedule. Remember that both organic fertilizers (manure,  compost, etc.) as well as granular and liquid fertilizers work well but too much fertilizer will hurt your bamboo.

How often should I water my bamboo?

Watering schedules also depend on a number of factors such as weather, soil conditions and bamboo species.  Obviously you will need to provide more water for your bamboo when the weather is hot compared to when the temperatures are cooler.  Heavy clay soils retain more water than lighter, sandy soils.  Bamboo likes water but doesn’t like to “sit” in water saturated soil.  As growers begin to understand their bamboo and their soil conditions, the appropriate watering schedule will become clear.  Many species of bamboo can tolerate some drought and most will experience leaf curl if the bamboo is dry and in need of water.  When dry, the bamboo curls its leaves to reduce the surface area of the leaf that is exposed to the sun.  After watering, the leaves will usually open up again in 15-30 minutes.

If I want to divide a large clump of bamboo, when would be the best time of year to do this?

Bamboo will go into shock when it is divided as its roots and culms are somewhat traumatized when they are cut.  Some bamboo handle division much better than others – I’ve divided clumps of Phyllostachys Aurea with a saw only to watch the new smaller clumps grow new shoots within 2 weeks!!  Other bamboo species, such as Borinda Boliana, really go into shock when even the most careful division is done.  Some growers divide in the early spring prior to new growth while others divide in the fall but either option is similar in that it avoids placing the newly divided bamboo under the strain of intense summer heat.  Fall divisions should be taken at least 1 month prior to the onset of winter to allow the bamboo to regain strength.