Bamboo, or a piece of the tropics at your home

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Bamboo refers to plants belonging to several related botanical genera. Most often, how decorative (including indoor) plants breed species from the following genera: bamboo itself (Bambusa), leaf-grate (Phyllostachys), multi-branch (Pleioblastus) and saza (Sasa) Read about growing bamboos in indoor culture in this article.

Content:

Bamboos in their natural habitat
Features of bamboo in room culture
Bamboo requirements for conditions and care
Bamboo propagation
Features of indoor bamboo care
Diseases and pests of bamboo

Bamboos in their natural habitat

In its homeland, different types of bamboo are both herbaceous and lignified plants. They reach many meters in height, but in pots or tubs their sizes are smaller, since the walls of the containers do not allow them to grow. But there are varieties that do not grow more than a meter in height.

The bamboos of the cereal family come from the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia. These are the largest plants among cereals, with cranked hollow stalks-straws.

Bamboos grow on the edges of the rainforest, on the banks of rivers, on clearings. Bamboo is known as one of the most useful plants; there are up to 600 methods of its application.

Reaches the highest height bamboo burmeseHis homeland is India. Its tree-like stems grow in height up to 40 m, with a diameter of 10 to 20 cm. Such giants, of course, are not used in room culture. For growing indoors, undersized and dwarf forms of bamboo are suitable.

Features of bamboo in room culture

Do not confuse Bamboo with Dracaena Sander, often called "Bamboo of Fortune."

For frame culture used polysyllabic bamboo (Bambusa multiplex) the form is elegant, and the bamboo polysyllabic form is variegated (Bambusa multiplex f. Variegate), reaching a height of 2-4 m. The first form with white-motley leaves. For pot culture, dwarf forms are used, the height of which does not exceed 30-40 cm.

The decorative value of bamboos is in their transparent spreading greens, thanks to which they blend well with large-leaved plants.

Leaves on short petioles, linear or lanceolate, of different widths. The flowers are small, collected in large panicles. Bamboos are monocarpic plants: they die after flowering.

In room culture, bamboos are very undemanding. They grow well in a bright place with heavy watering, especially in the summer. Dying shoots are easily and quickly replaced by new ones. Tailored instances are transplanted once every two to three years, and potted ones annually. They require heavy and nutritious soil - clay-turf with humus and peat. The dishes should be spacious, as bamboo grows very quickly. Propagate easily and quickly by dividing the bush during transplants.

Bamboo is a very interesting plant for decorating cool rooms. Unfortunately, it is still not widespread, and almost never occurs in room culture. Thanks to beautiful openwork greens, undemanding in culture and ease of reproduction, the plant deserves the widest application.

Bamboo requirements for conditions and care

Lighting

Sunny, partial shade, in the summer, preferably in the open. In warm weather it can grow on the street, on the balcony and on the terrace. If the plant stays in the air for the winter, then the tub should be immersed in the ground in a sheltered place and watered with slightly warm water on days with a positive temperature. During prolonged frosts, bamboo may not freeze, but may dry out due to lack of moisture.

Temperature

In the summer, it is advisable to keep outdoors. In autumn, they transfer to a room where they are not threatened by frost (many varieties carry frosts to -5 ° C without consequences). As a rule, bamboos are not winter-hardy plants, only certain varieties withstand severe frosts, but they are rarely found on sale. For the winter they cover with fleece, reed mats or burlap.

The soil

Loose, well permeable, rich in humus.

Watering

Bamboo prefers uniform and moderate watering. The earth must constantly remain moist. Every four weeks they are fed with fertilizer for decorative leaf plants. If necessary, you can additionally feed with nitrogen fertilizer. Fallen foliage is convenient to use for mulching, spreading it between the stems of plants.

Bamboo can not stand both dampness and dryness of the soil. If you forget to water, then the leaves will begin to slide into tubules. Dying quickly dies.

Bamboo propagation

In the summer, they often plant in open ground, where it grows well and gives fairly strong root processes. Individual processes can be planted in a tub and grow a new instance. To do this, dig out the roots of bamboo, you can piecemeal, and separate a few strong root processes. Each process should have 2-3 shoots or nodules (kidneys), as well as the first thin roots. The shoots are planted in fresh nutrient soil for balcony flowers. And in spring, the plant can be transplanted again into the open ground.

Features of indoor bamboo care

First of all, when you buy bamboo for growing at home, you need to understand that bamboo needs moisture and warmth. With this in mind, you can proceed to the landing itself.

Once you have purchased a bamboo plant, you need to place it in a place where at the same time there is a sufficient amount of light and shadow. Thus, the plant will be able to get used to the limited amount of sunlight in the house. It is not recommended to use fertilizer immediately after the acquisition, as it may have already been used in the nursery or plant store where you purchased it.

Watering the bamboo depends on the microclimate of your area. If the bamboo is indoors and the soil dries quickly, it is best to water the bamboo thoroughly so as to saturate the soil and prevent it from drying out.

When growing bamboo in closed home conditions it is not at all necessary to water it daily; it all depends on the individual needs of each individual plant. An indicator of water demand is the condition of the soil and the condition of the plant itself. The twisting of the leaves indicates that the plant does not have enough water, and their drooping indicates its excess.

A great way to care for bamboo at home is to spray water and use a pan with small gravel. Water spraying is used regularly to simulate the wet conditions of bamboo's natural habitat. A pallet with small gravel is a pallet filled with fine gravel and then filled with water to a level at which the surface of the gravel remains above the water level. Then the container with bamboo is installed in a tray, so that it does not touch the water.

Tracking and caring for bamboo becomes easier over time as soon as you get used to it. You may need to regularly take it to the garden or install artificial lighting next to the plant to simulate sunlight and promote photosynthesis.

Diseases and pests of bamboo

Bamboos, as a rule, are little susceptible to various diseases or pests. A number of mushrooms cause spots or rust on the leaves, but rarely comes to treatment with fungicidal preparations. Aphids and worms settle on young leaves. These pests are disposed of by chemical treatment.

If you want to grow something unusual at home, then bamboo is perfect for this! Original, unpretentious and not amenable to diseases, it will perfectly decorate any interior.