Bamboo Growing Tips

Bamboo is a plant which is easy to grow and requires less attention. However, it can prove out to be challenging for few growers, especially the beginners. Bamboo is a mysterious plant, as for many years, it was thought to be a primitive grass. However, recent DNA testing has shown it to be one of the most highly evolved forest grasses. There are around 1200 forms and varieties of bamboo that grow around the globe. A woody perennial, belonging to the evergreen grass family Poaceae, bamboo is grown in several regions across the world such as Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of America. Growing a bamboo is relatively inexpensive and can add to the beauty of your garden. The best aspect about growing bamboo plants is that they can grow easily in different soil and climatic conditions. This article provides you with tips for growing a bamboo plant. Learn and try out this unique and healthy cultivation.

 

Climate should be the first and foremost concern for a bamboo grower. Bamboos favor tropical and warm temperate climates, although they can be grown in adverse conditions, like desert and extremely cold mountainous regions as well. In order to get a successful yield, it is better to do a survey on the species of bamboo that you want to grow and see if the climatic condition of your place supports that particular specie or not.

 

Most of the bamboo species generally grow and flourish in full sunlight, especially the giant ones. However, some tropical species may require some amount of shade during the hottest part of the day. Shade for bamboos is very important during winter days, because frost, when combined with direct sunlight, tends to accelerate diminution of the water from the plant. Therefore, it is advisable to choose an area that receives partial shade at some part of the day.

 

There is generally no selective soil required for the growth of bamboos. However, there are certain guidelines that can be followed for a proper growth. All kinds of bamboos do well in a loam or a marl soil. Loam soil is a soil comprising of sand, silt and clay. This kind of soil contains high amount of nutrients and provides greater amount of drainage than the silt soil. Bamboo plants usually prefer a moderately acidic soil. Rocky or soggy soils should be kept away from bamboos.

 

Heavy and impermeable soils are also not desirable for the plant, due to their tendency to slow down the growth, causing rhizome rotting. It is advisable to create a layer of mulch around the bamboo to help protect its roots and rhizomes, which are vulnerable during the earlier stages of growth. Mulch acts as a shield to the growth of the plant against the harsh environment. Organic mulch is the ideal choice for the growth of bamboo plant.

 

Bamboos grow faster and taller because of their shallow root system. However, this very feature of the plant makes it amenable to wind damage. Wind not only uproot the plant, but also leads to dehydrating situations. Bamboos need a lot of water to protect them from drying out due to wind. A garden or an area with surrounding hedges or trees is an excellent place for wind protection.

 

Spacing multiple bamboos is a tricky task and needs to be executed with care, especially when bamboo is planted to build a hedge or a privacy screen. Bamboos should be planted at a distance of 3-5 feet from one another, in order to get a dense privacy screen and a dodge; or else you might have to wait for a couple of years for the hedge to grow completely.