One might think that growing bamboo indoors is similar to growing large trees indoors that would require a huge commercial space with high ceilings and a very specific and closely monitored indoor environment. Actually it's more similar to growing plants indoors at home. There are over 1200 different bamboo species and there are a number of varieties that are well suited to growing indoors. They aren't a giant palm in an indoor shopping mall and they're not as fussy and difficult to grow as you might think. There are three keys to success in this venture:
1) Choose the correct species of the plant for your particular indoor environment.
2) Choose the correct container for the plant and feed and water appropriately.
3) Mimic the growing and lighting conditions the plant is most familiar with.
Choosing the correct species is important for your individual situation. This is especially important when it comes to sunlight exposure, mean temperatures, humidity levels and where in the dwelling you intend to grow your bamboo. It thrives in a sunny, high moisture environment but the soils must drain and pass the water and minerals through it well. It is recommended to add a medium to the soil such as a gravel-like sandy particulate, or even foam packing peanuts to the container. To keep the root ball moist but not saturated it's also a good idea to add stones and rocks about an inch in height to the container and add the water into the container, leaving the tops of the rocks exposed. This way the roots benefit from the humidity of the evaporating water but the roots aren't saturated which promotes root rot. Another consideration is height of the plant. There are bamboo plants that grow 30-40 feet tall and some that are very short- between 6 and 8 inches and grow like small ferns or grasses. The environment should be exposed to between 5-7 hours of good filtered or indirect sunlight per day and have the humidity level within the home at or around 40 percent. Also helpful is spraying the leaves with a hand-held mister daily to simulate the high humidity external environments they're used to.
The correct container varies a bit with the different species but as a rule the plant thrives in a container that is approximately 2 feet wide and 2-3 feet long with at least 6 inchs space around the roots to grow into. The plants love moisture but as I've said need to be well-drained. Drill 2-3 holes in the bottom of your container and place them in a shallow catch dish or plastic tray. Because the root system grows very shallow and runs laterally, the container doesn't need to be any deeper than about 15 inches. These roots are sometime referred to as "runners" as they run along the top layers of the soil as opposed to deep seeking tap roots. The soil the bamboo is planted in should be a combination of one part potting soil, one part compost or peat moss, and one part drainage material like coconut coir or a sand and gravel-like substrate. Once the plant is established, it is recommended to feed it with a slow release nitrogen rich fertilizer like Miracle Grow. Water the plant about 1" every 3 days or about 2 inches per week. The bamboo is very hearty and tolerates pruning regularly- this also promotes growth and further branching of the stem and leaves.
It should come as no surprise that plants grown successfully indoors will very closely emulate it's natural growing conditions outdoors. If you have access to a southern or western exposure your bamboo will benefit from adequate sunlight to stimulate photosynthesis. An indirect filtered sunlight is preferred to a hardcore direct sun source. Because the plants are living indoors and not exposed to the cold nights or shorter days, they will not go dormant or slow it's growth as it would naturally. As a result, the plant will routinely loose it leaves which is normal and occurs with other larger house plants. The moisture content of the air surrounding the indoor bamboo is somewhat critical. Spray the leaves regularly with a spray bottle and exercise the leaves. This also adds to the leaves photosynthesis properties and keeps the dust level down on the leaves and makes for a shinier, healthier plant.
Bamboo is a very robust, hearty plant that grows incredibly fast in the right conditions indoors or outdoors in a garden or anywhere on your property as a screen from the sun and/or your neighbors. It can range from 30 foot tall tree-like structures to low-growing fern-like ground cover. The recipe for success is choosing the right variety for your specific indoor environment and simulating the growing conditions it's used to in its natural environment. The use of artificial fluorescent lighting is also a great way to supplement the wide wavelength light the plant needs to flourish if you're in an area where Mother Nature doesn't provide enough lumens in a given season or the days are short.
Kelley Murphy, owns a successful media production business in the healthcare vertical market, and is a new e-commerce business owner of gottabgreen.com, promoting and selling a responsible lifestyle and eco-friendly green products online. Looking to rid the world of plastic, follow his blogs and shop for green products online at GottaBGreen.com and other earth smart Green Products Web Sites.
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