Phyllostachys is among the most famous bamboo families in the garden. Giant, dwarf, green, yellow black… there’s one species for every garden! Discover how to care for it in a few simple steps.
Ah, before we start: it’s important to really check the variety of the bamboo you’re planting: some Phyllostachys bamboo species are really invasive and spread fast. For these, you’ll have to set protections up first.
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Bamboo loves cool and well-draining soil, neutral to lightly alkaline. It hates windy areas and soggy-wet terrain. Place it either in full sun or in light shade.
Plant in spring, after any risk of freezing has disappeared. It’s also possible to plant at the beginning of fall, before the first frost spells.
If the variety you’ve chosen has runners, set up a rhizome barrier all around the hole.
Water during the warm season. Indeed, in winter, you shouldn’t add any extra water: bamboo won’t like it. However, from April to October, watering should be frequent and abundant. The goal is to keep the substrate cool.
Every spring, add a healthy dose of natural fertilizer with high levels of nitrogen. You can either go for crushed horn, or a layer of compost at the base of the bamboo stalks.
To grow a healthy bamboo in a pot, you must be able to water it as soon as the soil dries out. Bamboo require huge amounts of water. Water every evening on days when temperatures are high. If not particularly hot, water on a regular basis, whenever the surface soil is dry.
The pot must be large enough for the plant to develop comfortably, and it should have a drainage hole at the bottom for excess water to drain out. Add soil amendments designed for shrubs or leaf plants upon planting.
In spring, give the plant bamboo or lawn fertilizer, to give your Phyllostachys the nutrients it needs to grow. Indeed, bamboo plants are part of the grasses family, just like our lawn grass!
Bamboo don’t really need any pruning. It’s enough to remove dried culms, this will help make space for new ones.
Dried leaves will continuously fall to the ground. You can simply let them be, they’ll form mulch that will protect the clump from the cold in winter, and keep the soil moist in summer.
There are different varieties, each of which has different ornamental attributes. Here is our small selection:
Phyllostachys aurea: this is a variety that copes with 10°F (-12°C) and reaches nearly 30 feet (8-9 meters). Its leaves and stalks are a soft green color. When exposed to the sun, the stalks change color and becomes like gold.
