Care Food and Water
Here you'll find out what bamboo needs so you can bamboo with confidence
More than just a gently swaying plume of foliage. Bamboo breaths in and out through its leaves which nourish the underground system of rhizomes, uniting the grove.
Rhizomes throw up more culms and the cycle revolves.
Bamboo obtains dissolved nutrients underground, via its shallow root system. Together with sunshine, this show runs on water and some fertiliser. Don't over fertilize.
Feeding times
Because growth is rapid bamboo should be fed regularly just prior to, and over summer. Spring is when the fast growing, new shoots of Running Bamboo emerge. Summer is shooting time for Clumping Bamboo.
Nutrients
Something like N:10.P:6. K:6, applied as a slow release, is preferred.
Feed a small amount often rather than a lot at once.
Bamboo responds well to lawn food, particularly liking chicken manure. Oh, and a few trace elements from time to time.
Too much fertilizer damages bamboo and then it washes down to the river and fertilizes it too. Eeek!
Giant Buddha Belly Bamboo should not be given much nutrient at all, it will grow too fast to attain its distinctive swollen shape. But. if the leaves yellow then... better feed it something.
Watering
Until it has become established in its new home bamboo needs to be kept moist.
In warm, summer weather this may take only 6 – 8 weeks.
In colder months, it may just hold out for summers' warmth to send out feeder roots.
Once established bamboo is hardy
Planted in the ground, it will withstand dry spells by shedding foliage. If you need it to look lush and green then an automatic watering system and time-wise feeding is recommended.
As a rule of thumb keep the soil moist.
Grey Water
Bamboo can absorb a lot of water so it is good to empty grey water here. The bamboo will suck it up and look great.
However, if too much grey water is discharged in one place the excess of nutrients will turn the soil noxious and your plants will suffer. Etc
Soil pH. Bamboo prefers a slightly acidic soil around 6.5 pH
(1) You can check with Sydney Water for watering system information and water saving tips.