Bamboo Plants Perth | Bamboo Landscape Plants | Bamboo WA » NEWS

Bamboo in Pots

Scott Harriden — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 07:34:33 +0000

We are always being asked as to what bamboo would best grow in a pot, so much so that we have decided to post this on our page.

Bamboo does grow in pots but there are many factors to consider before racing out and buying your pot.

Is the area it will be positioned in be in sun? (particularly summer sun)
Does the area get much wind?
What size/material pots are you using?
How tall do you want the bamboo to grow?

The problem we have here in Perth is that our climate is very hot and windy, especially during the warmer months.
Growing bamboo plants in pots in Perth’s semi-arid climate really does require some care and can be high maintenance once the bamboo establishes itself.

Clumping bamboo grows from the centre outwards, imagine dropping a pebble in a pond, the ripples travel outwards from the centre in much the same way that clumping bamboo grows.
If you are considering growing it in narrow planters (anything less than 500mm) be aware that the plant will not grow sideways to fill the trough. This means that you may need to add additional bamboos into the pot in order to achieve your screen etc. Each bamboo will grow outwards to whatever the size of the pot is. When the bamboo does not have ample room to grow it will very quickly fill the pot with root and you will find that there is no visible soil remaining in the pot.

On a hot summers day the bamboo will need moisture and as there will be no soil left in the pot to hold it, the bamboo will then stress due to a lack of water. (See image)

If you have a large lush canopy of leaf this will happen very quickly AND as the bamboo pulls any and all moisture from the pot it will become very top heavy (foliage) and the slightest gust of wind will blow it over.

Thin walled plastic or fiberglass pots are not advisable in full sun positions with bamboo as they dry the soil out very quickly as the suns radiant heat passes through the thin wall of the pot and dry’s the soil out. This normally makes the soil in the pot shrink (no moisture) and an air pocket will develop between the soil and the sides of the pot. When you go to water the plant you will see water running out of the drain holes at the bottom and, thinking you have given it ample water because of this, you will stop watering. In fact the plant has had NO water as the water has just travelled down the air pocket and out the drain hole. With this in mind we always recommend an annual drenching with a soil wetting agent when planting in pots.

Be aware that when growing in pots you are never going to get the height of the plant that it would reach in the ground. Too much tall foliage acts like a sail and catches the wind and you will be picking the plant up every time there is a slight wind. Additionally, the small pot cannot support the life of all the tall lush foliage.

If you are keen to plant in pots we recommend something such as half wine barrels. They hold a lot of soil and are relatively cheap for the size. Additionally, they are thick walled and the timber acts as a good insulator against the suns radiant heat. Just remember to put some drain holes in the bottom of the barrels.

When people question us about growing in pots and see that we are growing them in nursery pots in full sun they need to remember that as a nursery we are watering our plants up to 3-4 times per day in the heat of summer.

Another important tip on growing in pots is to avoid planting in pots with a lip on the inside (many fiberglass pots have this) as the new canes will get caught under this lip and it will make getting the plant out of the pot impossible. Another type of pot to avoid is ‘pot-bellied’ pots. When the bamboo outgrows the pot and you try to remove it from the pot you will quickly find this task impossible!

Growing bamboo in pots here in Perth’s harsh climate is possible, but the above factors need to be considered before you race out and buy all your materials.

We hope this has shed some light on this topic for you and we are happy to answer any questions you have and to give you the best, honest advice possible in relation to growing bamboo here in WA.

Which Bamboo Is Right For Me?

Scott Harriden — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 07:22:40 +0000

If this is your first time purchasing a non-invasive (clumping) bamboo, or you now have another need for this versatile plant, this is a great tool to work out which bamboo is right for you. With just a few questions to answer, you can narrow down your choice of bamboo drastically!

1. What purpose is my clumping bamboo for?

Are you planting your bamboo primarily because you are needing privacy screening or hedging, do you want to create shade, will they be a fencing replacement, will they be used as a feature plant to enhance your garden aesthetically? Generally there will be one primary reason you need bamboo, although you could have multiple, and this is a great start with which ‘category’ of bamboo to select from.

2. How tall and wide do I want my clumping bamboo to grow?

We like to suggest doing an actual measure of the area you are wanting to plant in, as well as the desired height needed, as casual guesses can often be far off the reality. Ideally you will measure the height needed, length and width of the garden bed. All bamboos have a typical growing height and width of their clump, the size in which they will cease to expand and simply exist at that size (as clumping bamboo do not spread, they simply develop a circular clump). Also consider the ‘air space’ the bamboo can fan out. Some bamboo are very upright, others grow in a V shape, taking up more room at the top then they do in the ground.

3. What type of conditions will my clumping bamboo be growing in?

Are you planting in a full sun position? Are you planting in a shady area in between two houses? Are you planting your bamboo in pots? Different clumping bamboos have different tolerance levels, growing requirements and some species are more maintenance than others . Please consider your sun situation, soil condition, amount of water they will receive.

These fundamental questions are what our friendly and knowledgeable staff initiate with any customer to discover the requirements they have before suggesting the ideal bamboo species.

VITAMINS FOR PLANTS

admin — Mon, 04 May 2015 09:05:26 +0000

Give your plants a good dose of Seaweed Solution now, it should be a ritual part of your spring watering routine. Seaweed Solution is a bit like a vitamin tablet for your plants and encourages new root development and minimizes stress over the hot weather ahead. If you Seaweed Solution your plants consistently each fortnight you will achieve the best results.

We sell Seaweed Solution as a plant food concentrate in a 600mm bottle valued at $10.00.

Newsflash: BUYER BEWARE

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 09:36:52 +0000

It has come to our attention that there are several sellers of bamboo out there who are selling bamboo to people that has been incorrectly labeled. You may think you are buying a particular variety only to be sold a very cheap and common bamboo plant that will not meet the needs you are seeking. These cheaper bamboo plants are also magnets for pests such as Mealy Bug and are quite unattractive when mature. Make sure you are getting what you are paying for!

If you are in any doubt as to what you are being sold you should contact us for confirmation.