How to care for an indoor bamboo plant

• Written by Holly Hughes on March 16, 2022

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can bring the tropical vigor and vibrancy of a rainforest into your home, today you find the answer. This article will focus on how to grow and care for bamboo varieties indoors so that, no matter where you live in the world, you can bring a bit of the exotic into your home.

Here it is, our quick and easy care guide that will tell you the best way to grow this shrub.

Can you grow bamboo as a houseplant?

Though we often think of bamboo as a luscious outdoor shrub belonging to tropical rainforests, it is possible to care for bamboo plants indoors too.

In fact, there are several varieties that can do quite well as houseplants, such as the popular lucky bamboo, which isn’t actually a member of the species at all but rather a bamboo like houseplant.

If you know the right methods for taking care of bamboo plants indoors and are willing to give them a little extra loving care and attention, you can ensure this stunning caned shrub is the striking centerpiece of any room.

Best decorative bamboo plants for indoors

Of course, at the heart of all bamboo care instructions is the wise advice to choose a decorative bamboo plant that is sure to thrive indoors.

You have several options! For example, consider theGolden Bamboo – a variety with narrow leaves that grow in clusters and vibrant green canes that slowly golden in the care of time and sunlight. Indoors, you can grow it at any time of year. In fact, due to its sprawling nature, it does often grows better when cared for in a pot that prevents it from growing outward.

Japanese Arrow Bamboo is another variety that thrives indoors. In fact, this bamboo plant’s growth is more suited to indoor living, preferring a more shaded spot due to its large leaves and general hardiness.

Lucky bamboo though actually more of a succulent and not related to the family at all, still can add striking and exotic decoration to a home with its swirled canes and braided stalks. Excelling in shade and indirect sunlight, this variety makes a great indoor houseplant. It also is eye-catchingly beautiful with its braided stalks and characteristic swirls.

The list goes on! However, now we’ve identified some of the varieties we can care for indoors, let’s look at the best bamboo houseplant care to get these green beauties thriving.

The best container to use for bamboo

You can use any kind of pot or container to care for your plant – you can even pot your bamboo in a vase, particularly if using rocks and wishing to display a layered effect.

The one thing to take care of is to ensure you use a wide pot that is quite squat and has good drainage. Making sure water can quickly and properly drain from your pot will be key to caring for your plant.

A wide container is best as these fast growing plants will quickly grow and fill your pot before needing to be replanted. A pot that also has a wide mouth will make it easier to repot when the time comes.

The best rocks for bamboo plants

Adding rocks to the bottom of your pot is a good idea if you feel the container can’t properly anchor the plant’s weight. Any rocks will do, once they are clean and chemical-free. River rocks – available at your local garden center – are a popular choice.

Adding rocks can also encourage plant growth, particularly for the likes of lucky bamboo which grows best in small stones or pebbles submerged in water.

What is the best soil for lucky bamboo?

For this secret succulent, a rich soil with good drainage is sufficient. A potting mix that is well drained typically works well.

In fact, this is true of most indoor bamboo in soil. Ensuring the soil is nutrient-rich, well-drained, and acidic is the best way to take care of these plants. Bamboos are generally quite hungry plants too, so feeding it with fertilizers high in nutrients will help to keep it lush and vibrant.

Does bamboo need sunlight?

This hungry plant most certainly needs sunlight to thrive. To take great care of your plant, ensure it gets over six hours of direct sunlight a day.

A general rule to keep in mind when caring for any kind of indoor bamboo is this: the more sunlight it gets, the happier the plant.

In fact, if this plant is left in too much shade, it can weaken and fail to grow to its full potential. So, for best bamboo care indoors, leave it near your brightest window and take care to rotate it weekly to ensure all sides get enough light.

How to water bamboo plants 

Taking care to remember that these shrubs enjoy humid and high moisture environments, watering is the key to a healthy bamboo.

Having said this, the most common cause for this shrub’s failure indoors is overwatering. This is why ensuring your pot and soil are well-draining is so essential. Generally, it is advised to deeply water your variety approximately once a week or more – until water runs from the bottom of the pot holes is a good barometer -  but to wait to do this until the top inch of soil is dry.

Additionally, misting its leaves every day with a spray bottle to keep it properly humidified is a great way to take best care of your shrub.

How big does bamboo get?

This varies. While outdoor varieties can grow to 50 feet or more, indoor species understandably won’t grow quite so high. Lucky bamboo usually grows to a maximum of three feet while Japanese arrow variants can grow up to 18 feet!

With so much variety, there is bound to be the perfect indoor variety ready and waiting for you to care for it. Take a look at the many choices available at Plants.com and get growing bamboo at home!