Bamboo Bonsai Care Guide

Bambusoideae

Bamboo Bonsai

Native to Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia and India. This famed genus has no less than 10,000 species across tropical to temperate regions all over the world. While they may be known by many for their remarkably fast growth, there are slower-growing species that suit bonsai cultivation well.

Bamboo Bonsai Care Tips

Bamboo are reliably strong plants that will survive just about any climate. This being said, an outdoor location with good sunlight is a sure way to bring growth. 

Bamboo bonsai needs to be kept moist at all times. These are fast growers and grass so you can be sure they are considerably thirsty.

Use a balanced feed for Bamboo bonsai. During the growing season is ideal, every two weeks should be regular enough – this is not a plant that needs encouragement growing. 

Pruning your bonsai is important not only to create or maintain an aesthetic style but to also ensure optimal health. There is no need to wire Bamboo bonsai, all the cultivation can come from pruning. Frequent pruning can foster a more refined or dense growth. The warmer the environment the faster your Bamboo bonsai will grow and the more regularly you’ll need to prune.

 

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Thanks to the pace of growth your Bamboo bonsai may need repotting yearly. In spring, examine the roots and if they are spreading all around the container this means you should repot. 

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

Bonsai trees aren’t only magnificent additions to an indoor oasis, they are more than capable of standing out in any garden. Many Bonsai species are incredibly hardy and withstand nature’s colder and damper turns with aplomb making them worthwhile outdoor plants. We have an extensive library of care guides for outdoor bonsai trees. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Bamboo Bonsai - Typical Queries

Bamboo is a remarkably simple bonsai to propagate. Division is a favoured method by separating the mother colony to create new bamboo. Cuttings is also a propagation method that produces successful results. 

When kept in good health and care, Bamboo bonsai are not all susceptible to diseases and pests. However, this species can attract red spider mites particularly when grown indoors. Scale is also attracted to Bamboo. 

Yes, Bamboo bonsai can be kept and grown indoors. This being said, like most, this a species best kept outdoors. Growing indoors is dependent on having enough light from your indoor placement and whether the plant is from a more temperate sub species.