+13 votes
by (2.2k points)
Hi I'm being given some bamboo tomorrow. I know to keep it contained in a pot. Apart from that I'm clueless. Does it need pruning? Lots of water? Any advice would be appreciated thanks.  
Hi I'm being given some bamboo tomorrow.

10 Answers

+11 votes
by (660 points)
Just plenty of water Once it outgrown its tub Take it out split it and put in separate pots I split mine into 4 each year
by (2.2k points)
@turin9 thank you. Do you prune it at all?  
+7 votes
by (7.9k points)
Make sure the pot is quite large - in fact a large dustbin would be brilliant for this. Plenty of drainage whatever you use and water frequently thy love it. Cut when it gets tall enough to use the canes.  
by (2.2k points)
@champerty thank you.  
+5 votes
by (300 points)
If its a clumper they are ok in the ground. But definitely not the runner kind, unless you put the bamboo restriction stuff down, which is a load of work! Im assuming its a runner your getting? Or are you not sure?  
by (2.2k points)
@aston10815 oh. I don't know. Will keep in a pot to be safe lol.  
by (300 points)
@psychomancy they like moisture. And choose your pot wisely. A shape that you can easily get it out! Dont make the mistake i have made in the past. Choosing it based on looks. Then having an absolute nightmare repotting.  
by (2.2k points)
@aston10815 I was thinking of a long trough.  
+13 votes
by (1.3k points)
No you don’t have to prune it . If you get a large giant pot full, you may like to take off the side leaves from the base to half way up the stem, just to show off the culms. I would recommend a saucer under your pot as bamboo will send out roots through the drainage holes in planters. They will need watering during hot or windy spells.  
by (2.2k points)
@dying thank you.  
by (1.2k points)
@dying a lot of water, I got three plants this week and it’s taken a lot to turn them green, they will stay in pots as a bit of a privacy screen until I sort my fence up, any tips from anyone appreciated
+13 votes
by (1.1k points)
We dug a trench and put concrete in it, filled it with compost and planted 2 bamboo plants, I have to admit I've not touched it in the 5 years it's been in.  
by (5.4k points)
@eurus it will get through it, it may be at the moment, ive seen them go through brick and concrete walls, and through house foundations, be vey careful, keep an eye on it
+5 votes
by (280 points)
Got mine in black bins
+2 votes
by (1.3k points)
Jon Marsh!  
+3 votes
by (1.1k points)
Bamboo is a nightmare!  
+6 votes
by (940 points)
Don't grow bamboo even in pot.  
+1 vote
by (230 points)
Burn it . more trouble than its worth . 40 years as a landscaper i hate the stuff
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