Bamboo is a versatile and beautiful plant that can thrive in many environments. However, giving your bamboo the proper care and nutrition is key to helping it reach its full potential. One of the most important things you can do for your bamboo is to fertilize it properly. But with so many fertilizer options out there, it can be confusing to know which is best for bamboo. In this article, we’ll walk through the best fertilizers for bamboo and when to apply them.
Organic Fertilizers
Many bamboo growers prefer using organic fertilizers. Organic options break down slowly, feeding the plant over an extended period of time They also improve the soil, providing nutrition for the microbes living in it Here are some great organic fertilizer options
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Compost or Manure: Compost and composted manure provide a slow, steady release of nutrition. Spread 1-2 inches of compost around bamboo in early spring and again in early summer. Compost improves drainage and moisture retention in the soil.
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Worm Castings: Worm castings offer an array of nutrients and boast a high concentration of beneficial microorganisms. Mix worm castings into the soil around bamboo or make worm “tea” to water plants with.
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Seaweed Fertilizer: Seaweed is rich in potassium, magnesium, iron and zinc. It contains growth-promoting hormones like auxins and cytokinins. Dilute liquid seaweed fertilizer to water plants or mix granular fertilizer into soil.
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Fish Emulsion Fish emulsion fertilizers provide a quick nitrogen boost. The nitrogen is available right away, but it also slowly releases over the course of one to two months. Mix fish emulsion with water and put it around bamboo.
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Bone or Blood Meal: Meals made from animal bones, blood and other waste contain 14-15% nitrogen. The nitrogen releases slowly over 2-4 months. Sprinkle bone or blood meal around bamboo plants.
Chemical or Synthetic Fertilizers
While organic is ideal, chemical fertilizers can also be effective for feeding bamboo. Here are some top options:
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Fair Lawn Fertilizer: Look for a lawn fertilizer that has an NPK ratio that is close to 10-10-10 or 12-4-8. Use 2 pounds per 100 square feet in early spring and again in the summer.
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High Nitrogen Fertilizer: Since bamboo is a grass, it responds well to nitrogen. Use a fertilizer with a ratio around 20-5-5, applying 2 lbs per 100 sq ft.
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Slow Release Fertilizer: Slow release chemical fertilizers provide longer-lasting nutrition. Coated pellets gradually break down over 2-4 months.
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Ammonium Sulfate: Ammonium sulfate is 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur. Sulfur helps reduce soil pH. Apply 1 lb per 100 sq ft.
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Balanced Bamboo Fertilizer: You can find fertilizers marketed specifically for bamboo. These contain the key nutrients bamboo needs. Follow package instructions for application rates.
When to Fertilize Bamboo
Timing is important when fertilizing bamboo. Bamboo produces the majority of its new growth in spring and early summer. Fertilizing right before this growth allows the plant to take full advantage of the nutrients:
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Early Spring: Fertilize bamboo in early spring, just before new spears emerge from the ground. This fuels the rapid spring growth.
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Early Summer: Apply a second feeding in early summer, after new shoots harden off. This supports summer growth and winter hardiness.
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Avoid Mid to Late Summer: Don’t fertilize after mid-summer. This can cause weak new growth that is easy to damage in the winter.
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Fall: You can apply low nitrogen, high potassium fertilizer in fall to help bamboo harden off for winter.
How to Fertilize Bamboo
When applying fertilizer around bamboo, either organic or chemical, follow these tips:
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Water the soil before and after fertilizing to help move nutrients into the root zone.
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Spread fertilizer evenly around the bamboo, keeping it several inches away from the stems.
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For concentrated fertilizers, mix with water first before applying. Don’t allow concentrated fertilizers to touch foliage.
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Reapply organic fertilizers like compost each year. Chemical fertilizers won’t need to be reapplied for 2-3 months.
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Follow all label instructions carefully, including application rates and precautions.
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Consider doing a soil test to determine if any key nutrients are lacking or out of balance.
Providing Proper Care
While fertilizer is important, it’s just one part of caring for bamboo. Here are a few other tips:
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Water bamboo regularly during the first year, then only during droughts once established.
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Mulch around bamboo to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Leave space between mulch and stems.
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Prune out dead or damaged stems and contain rhizome spread through barrier installation.
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Protect bamboo from winter damage by providing adequate winter mulching in cold climates.
With the right fertilizer, proper care and a little TLC, your bamboo will thrive for years to come. Pay close attention to its needs throughout the seasons and you’ll be rewarded with vigorous, healthy and beautiful plants.
Spacing and Growth Rates
Bamboo should be spaced 3-5 feet apart to form a dense screen. If you are willing to wait a little longer for the screen to fill out, you can plant the types that spread faster farther apart. If you want an immediate screen, some types can be planted very close together as long as they have some space to spread in width. Most bamboo will not suffer from being planted nearly back to back, but their growth rate may be slowed. If you want a full-size bamboo grove with less dense screening, you should plant the bamboo at farther apart (5–10 feet, or even 20 feet in some cases). Starting from a small size, most bamboo will reach mature height within five or six years. Hardy clumping bamboo will usually grow about 1-2 feet taller and spread out a few inches each year. Running bamboo, on the other hand, will usually grow about 3–5 feet taller and spread out 3–5 feet each year. Height and spread rate is variable depending on the species and climate. Feel free to contact us to discuss details about your project. Visit this page for an example of a clumping bamboos growth rate in a series of photos over a few years.
Although most people have an idea of where they want to plant their bamboo, one should keep in mind that most large bamboos (Phyllostachys) do best with five or more hours of direct sunlight. They must be given ample water, fertilizer, and protection from competitive weeds. They will benefit from a windscreen and light shade when first planted as well. This is especially true of smaller plants. Fargesia, Thamnocalamus and Sasa do well with light to moderate shade. In fact the Fargesia and most Thamnocalamus are happier with some shade during the hottest part of the day. Fargesia and Thamnocalamus are the hardiest of the clump type bamboos. They can be planted without fear of spreading. Most other hardy bamboos can spread by their underground rhizomes and this must be taken into account when planting them. We recommend annual root pruning as the first option for control. Also, a barrier of 60 millimeters by 30 inches deep, HDPE (high density polyethylene) can be used for rhizome control.
One of the most fascinating things about bamboo is the exuberant growth of the new shoots each spring. For the bamboo grower, this is the equivalent of a colorful spring flower. Some bamboos can only be identified by the color and shape of their new shoots. Each year we hope for larger and more numerous shoots. Â Some types are edible as well, and large enough to provide a reliable vegetable crop each spring.
Bamboo is a giant grass and achieves new heights every year by sending up new and larger shoots each spring. Usually starting between April and June, the new shoots emerge from the ground and reach their full height in approximately two to three months. A young bamboo that is about 8 feet tall with four canes, for example, may produce three additional new shoots in the spring that grow to 10 feet within two months. Next spring, it may produce about five to ten new shoots that could reach 15 feet. Fast forward four years: the same plant is now sixty canes strong and up to 30 feet tall.
Soil selection for optimized planting
Most bamboo are happiest in a moderately acidic loamy soil. If your soil is very heavy, you can add organic material. The material can be dug into the soil where you intend to plant the bamboo, but you can also mulch very heavily and let the earthworms do the work, building a berm of nutritious soil (which also helps with bamboo control). Bamboo is a forest plant and does best if a mulch is kept over the roots and rhizomes. Spread two or more inches of mulch in the area around the bamboo and where you want the bamboo to grow.Â
It is best not to rake or sweep up the bamboo leaves from under the plant, as they keep the soil soft and moist. Leaves also recycle silica and other natural chemicals necessary to the bamboo. If you find dry leaf mulch objectionable, a low-growing shade-tolerant groundcover plant that will allow the leaves to fall through to form a mulch without being visible will work.Â
Almost any organic material is a good mulch. Grass is one of the best organic mulch materials as it is high in nitrogen and silica. Homemade or commercial compost is also great. Hay and manure are both good mulches too, but they are often a source of weed seeds, so that can be a problem. Any kind of manure works, if it isnt too hot. Limited amounts of very hot manures like chicken are OK if used with care. At our nursery we use a large amount of chipped trees from tree pruning services. This can harbor pathogens that may affect some trees or shrubs, but the bamboo loves it.
*We sell a blended organic compost, from Teufel Soil Products that has all the essential nutrients including active microbes, worm castings, kelp meal, and composted manure and bark shavings. We have been using this product for several years and it has been consistent in quality and has produced great results for our bamboo. â
Bamboo is an excellent container plant. It provides an upright, evergreen screen for many applications. We have developed a specialized container for growing bamboo called the Sugi Bamboo Planters as our flagship offering. They provide containment for up to 10 years before the bamboo needs to be transplanted.Â
Other options include galvanized metal stock tanks, cedar boxes, and large fabric pots (Root Pouch).  â
Best Fertilizer For Bamboo In 2023: Top 8 Picks From Experts
FAQ
What kind of fertilizer is best for bamboo?
In general, apply a high nitrogen grass or lawn fertilizer once in early spring (shooting season is February through April), and again in the summer, to match the two main growth seasons of bamboo.
Is Miracle Grow good for bamboo plants?
Also, the directions on the bottle say to use Quick Start Miracle Grow on newly planted bamboo when it is planted and again at the right time intervals to avoid problems during the transition and get the roots moving.
How do I keep my bamboo plant happy?
Lucky Bamboo plants prefer bright, indirect light and high humidity. They can be grown in soil or water and are considered low-maintenance plants.
Is coffee good for bamboo?
Other home remedies such as coffee grounds also provide untold amounts of nitrogen. It is simply distributed in the root area or added to the watering water. A mix of coffee grounds and bone meal provides all-around care.