How Do I Grow Bamboo Indoors?

The basics of growing a bamboo plant indoors includes choosing a plant, making sure it has adequate lighting, and giving it enough water. For best results, choose a plant that is healthy, not wilting or discolored. Bamboo plants are usually more than capable of surviving under lighting conditions that are unfavorable for most other plants, so you can normally place them just about anywhere in the home. Another difference between other popular indoor plants and bamboo plants is that you cannot overwater them. To successfully grow bamboo indoors, keep at least 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of water in the container at all times.

If you do not plan to grow bamboo indoors from seed, choose a bamboo plant that has a healthy and vibrant appearance. Generally, a healthy bamboo plant is not yellow or dark green but a light green. There should not be browning, wilting, or other signs that could indicate the plant is no longer thriving. If possible, purchase the plant from a local nursery rather than a shop that must ship the plant to you; this way, the bamboo plant does not have to endure the stress of being shipped and will likely be healthier.

When growing bamboo from seed, it is likewise usually recommended to acquire the seed from a local plant nursery. The seeds found at a local nursery — as opposed to those purchased from an Internet shop, for example — are less likely to be from overseas. Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be very invasive, so importing a foreign bamboo plant into your own country might be illegal and dangerous if the plant were to escape cultivation.

To grow bamboo indoors, the plant will typically need at least some natural sunlight. Depending on the species of bamboo, however, you might be able to place the plant in a very low-light room like the bathroom. Some species do better in very sunny areas, like the living room, kitchen, or front porch. Check the instructions or ask a nursery employee about the specific lighting conditions needed for your plant.

One key thing to remember when you grow bamboo indoors is that it is virtually impossible to overwater the plant. Bamboo requires soaked soil or approximately 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of water if in a container without soil. It is important to keep bamboo well watered, and you need not be hesitant to water it so that stem is partially submerged.