Bamboo is an ornamental plant that can be grown at home. This article lists some tips to grow beautiful and healthy bamboo at home.

Bamboo is a woody perennial plant, belonging to the evergreen grass family Poaceae. Regions that popularly grow this plant include diverse climates of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and some parts of America. They are hardy plants which grow easily in different soil and climatic conditions. Bamboo has been used as a construction material for a long time in Asia and other parts of the world. It is inexpensive and now forms a part of contemporary décor. The lush green foliage and its distinct upright growth makes bamboo quite popular to grow in gardens and houses.

Growing Tips

From Cuttings
Bamboo is invasive in nature; it is almost impossible to uproot the entire plant, as most types of shoots grow from rhizomes (vertical underground stems). One way to propagate it is to cut off part of the root and the stem, and plant it in the ground. Another method is to use the clumps of the plant. Clumps are the horizontal rhizomes that grow along the surface of the soil, right next to the main plant. Dig around a clump and divide it by carefully separating the roots into sections of three a piece. Plant them in the ground or in small pots.

In Water
The plants grown in water mostly belong to species like willowy green bamboo, golden goddess bamboo, etc. Their height gets curtailed by the container water. Growing these plants in water is very popular, and finding them will not be difficult. Many nurseries and home décor stores have them. Pick the young canes with a healthy foliage and a few sprouted roots. Use a decorative container of glass, ceramic, or earthenware. Hold the canes down in place using some decorative pre-treated colorful stones. Pour water in the container until three-quarters full. Place the container in a location where it can receive partial or diffused sunlight. Replace the water once every week, and add liquid manure once a month. Check for any contamination in the water, especially on or around the stones. If you find any, take it out and clean it before placing it back in the container.

In Cold Climate
Plants grown in the house can be protected from extreme cold by ensuring appropriate air ventilation, and placing it close to a light source for some warmth. It is okay if your plant sheds its leaves, as new ones will sprout back in spring. For plants grown outdoors, it is best to grow cold-hardy varieties like Fargesia dracocephala, Phyllostachys heteroclada, etc.

Growing White Bamboo
White bamboo is officially known as 'Amoenus'―a variety of Dendrocalamus minor. It is a small member of the giant, clumping bamboo plants. It is not really white, but as its new shoots and clumps are heavily covered in white powder, it is known as white or ghost bamboo. It is a traditional ornamental plant with large foliage that turns pale green, and matures to yellow-green with darker stripes. It can be grown singularly or in large numbers. It is a very fast-growing plant, with new growth appearing at the end of winter. It can be propagated through cuttings of its clumps as well as its rhizomes. It is cold resistant and can be grown in cold climates without any extra care.

Though this is a hardy plant, it needs nurturing and care for healthy growth. It can be successfully grown either indoors in water containers, or outdoors in the garden. Bamboo plants look beautiful as hedges as well as standalone plants.