Q&A for How to Care for an Indoor Bamboo Plant

With the proper amount of drainage, you can't overwater bamboo. As a new sprout, they should be given water about 2 times each week in the summer and more frequently once the temperatures get hot.

It takes more attention and more time to grow bamboo indoors, but yes, it can be done.

Bamboo plants grow best with bright but indirect light. Avoid placing them in a spot that is too shady or one that receives a lot of intense, direct light.

The use of tap water from the house can cause the leaves to turn yellow due to the chlorine found within the water.

This is most likely due to shallow watering. If you flood water well (until water starts to drain out the base), you will not have this problem.

True bamboo will not root in water. You could try a hydroponics system , but it's easier to buy a "lucky bamboo" or "dracaena" plant instead. These are unrelated to bamboo, but look very similar, and grow well indoors in a glass of water and rocks.

This problem is most common with lucky bamboo (a "false" bamboo species described in a separate article ), and means the plant is in serious danger. Possible causes include overfertilizing, chemical buildup from water (switch to distilled), drought, or extreme temperature changes. A "true" bamboo species also turns yellow as it dies, but insects or fungus are more likely if the yellow is patchy and near the base.

Yes, a brown stalk is dead or nearly dead. Cut it off at the base.

Yellow leaves could be caused by many different things (from harmless growth cycles to insect infestations). Leave them be unless the leaf is completely yellow, and keep an eye out for pests. Brown area are dead and can be removed. They are usually a sign of damage from heat, underwatering, insects, or disease.

Follow the instructions for planting in this article. Use fresh soil and make sure not to bury the plant deeper than it was in its last pot. If your plant is rootbound, you may need to cut the bamboo free by running a knife around the edge of the pot.

Of course! Though you might want to take it out from time to time for some sunlight unless your bathroom has a window.

At least weekly to provide the plant with constant clean water and prevent mosquitoes.

That's entirely up to you. Pruning will not hurt the plant, but neither will letting it grow. Trimming just above a branch node should prevent the plant from growing taller.

You can try, though it is better to cut off a shoot. Before you do it, sterilize a sharp knife and cup in the middle of two nodes. Seal them both with clean wax to prevent infection.

If you did that, the plant would probably get shocked and ultimately die. But you can take a cutting and plant it in a pot with soil and discard the old plant when the new one establishes.

You should do it when the shoots are new and bendy, then just use pegs or something of that sort to hold it in place. Then the bamboo should grow into that form. You can choose almost any shape you want, from simple twirls to more complicated hearts.

If the roots are black, it may be dead. Maybe try transplanting it to another pot or watering it more.

Temperatures are too cold. Plant when the weather is warmer. Be sure to plant varieties recommended for your region.

A good time would be when it gets to be about 10 feet tall, because then it would grow faster.

It needs to be watered once a week or so. It does best with a light, fast draining soil placed over a humidity tray.