My number one choice for inside container growth. 'Green Onion' Green Onion is one of the best to grow inside as it does fine with minimum light requirements. Do not leave your containers of bamboo outside during the winter months and expect it to live. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. Green Onion is being grown in containers very well and will reach mature sizes if the container is large enough. The largest I have grown in a 15 gallon container is 8 feet tall and has mature size canes. I always start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 10 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo should be placed in a larger pot. I prefer a 15 gallon size for this little bamboo. This allows plenty of growing room and this size still allows you to move it out doors during warm weather. After three years and you have stepped up to the largest container, the bamboo will need dividing every other year to allow for rhizome growth. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out a little between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage.
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My number two choice for inside container growth.   This hardy bamboo is fast growing and adapts very well to container growth. Under good conditions it will reach 6 to 8 feet in just a 5 gallon size container. I always start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 10 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo should be placed in a larger pot. I prefer a 15 gallon size. This allows plenty of growing room and this size still allows you to move it out doors during warm weather. After three years and you have stepped up to the largest container, the bamboo will need dividing every other year to allow for rhizome growth. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage. 3 gal. -$40 |
My number three choice for inside container growth. 'Arrow' Arrow bamboo makes one of the best bamboo to grow inside. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. it is being grown in several malls and office buildings. The largest I have grown in a 15 gallon container is 12 feet tall and has mature size canes. I always start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 10 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo should be placed in a larger pot. I prefer a 15 gallon size. This allows plenty of growing room and this size still allows you to move it out doors during warm weather. After three years and you have stepped up to the largest container, the bamboo will need dividing every other year to allow for rhizome growth. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage.   3 gal. -$45 |
My number four choice for inside container growth. Tessellatus This is one of my top 5 choices for indoor container bamboo. Although this beautiful bamboo usually less than 5 feet in height, it can grow to well over 7 feet. This is the largest leaf bamboo in cultivation with leaves up to 24 inches in length and 4 inches wide. This bamboo, even with its large leaves, adapts well to indoor plantings and loves the shade. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. Tessellatus or just call it 'Big Leaf' is being grown in containers very well and will reach mature sizes if the container is large enough. You can grow this bamboo to mature sizes which will be around 5 to 7 feet in a 15 gallon pot. I always start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 7 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo may need to be divided already or ready for a 10 or 15 gallon size container. This is a fast grower and very easy to divide and create more containers of bamboo for your enjoyment. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage. |
My fifth choice for inside container growth. Palmata Sasa palmata grows to a height of 7 feet with beautiful little 1/2 inch canes. It has large thick leaves that can measure up to 15 inches in length and 2 1/2 inches wide. It is one of the species suited for indoor sites since it adapts well to shaded areas. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. Palmata is being grown in containers very well and will reach mature sizes if the container is large enough. You can grow this bamboo to mature sizes in a 10 gallon pot. I always start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 7 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo may need to be divided already or ready for a 10 gallon size container. This is a fast grower and very easy to divide and create more containers of bamboo for your enjoyment. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage.   3 gal. -$45 |
My sixth choice for inside container growth. 'Giant Gray' Phyllostachys nigra Henon 'Giant Gray' culms are gray blue with beautiful dense foliage of green leaves. This graceful giant is a variety of Black bamboo that reaches a height of 65 feet and 4.5 inches in diameter when planted in the ground. This makes a great house plant in containers but will not reach mature size. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. Giant Gray is being grown in containers very well. It adapts well to most areas where limited sun light is available. Throughout the U.S. it is being grown in several malls and office buildings. The largest I have grown in a 25 gallon container is 18 feet high. I recommend starting with a 3 gallon size division and placing it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move to a 10 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo should be placed in a larger pot. I prefer a 15 to 20 gallon size. This allows plenty of growing room and this size still allows you to move it out doors during warm weather. After three years and you have stepped up to the largest container, the bamboo will need dividing every other year to allow for rhizome growth. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care.
 3 gal. - $75 |
My seventh choice for inside container growth. Rubromarginata makes a great house plant in containers, of course it will not reach mature size in a container. In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months. Rubro. is fairly easy to grow inside. The largest Rubro. I have grown in a container has been 16 feet high. Start with a 3 gallon size division and place it in a five gallon plastic pot. After one complete year move it to a 10 to 15 gallon size. After the third year the bamboo should be placed in a larger pot. I prefer a 20 to 25 gallon size. This allows plenty of growing room and this size still allows you to move it out doors during warm weather. After three years and you have stepped up to the largest container, the bamboo will need dividing every other year to allow for rhizome growth. Bamboo in its natural setting is free to roam finding just the right sun light and soil nutrients to grow to its mature species size. In a container it is not capable of this and will rely solely on your care. Since bamboo like high ambient moisture levels, daily misting of indoor bamboo is recommended. Place the bamboo where it can get direct natural lighting if possible. Most indoor bamboo cannot retain all their foliage and some leaf drop is to be expected. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote. Follow fertilizing directions for the size container you have. A good potting soil, such as Miracle Grow, mixed with perlite for drainage works great. Just keep a check on the soil and allow it to dry out between watering. Remember what I always say. Bamboo likes water, but loves drainage. 2 gal. - $40 3 gal. - $50 |
Phyllostachys aurea 'Golden Bamboo'. This beautiful bamboo for indoor use can be trimmed to In cold climate zones you must move the container into a protected warm area during the cold winter months.   3 gal. - $40 |
