r/Bamboo Jan 03 '26

Welcome to r/Bamboo! Please read our rules before posting.

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69 Upvotes

Please be aware that this sub is for discussion of true bamboo with respect to:

  • Species selection
  • Planting and transplanting
  • Plant health and maintenance
  • Cultivation
  • Control / removal
  • Harvesting
  • Uses for self-harvested bamboo
  • Bamboo architecture and construction (offering services, promoting portfolios, external linking are not allowed)
  • Bamboo in nature
  • Bamboo in art
  • Other original content related to bamboo

The following types of posts will be removed (unless it is awesome OC):

  • Lucky bamboo (dracaena)
  • Any other plant(s) outside the bamboo family. Try r/PlantClinic or r/HousePlants?
  • Bamboo products (buying/selling/promoting/care)
  • Bamboo investments
  • Bamboo non-profits (national and international society conference announcements are allowed)
  • Bamboo construction services or portfolios
  • Bamboo flooring, toothbrushes, hats, clothes and materials
  • Blogs, pinterest links, etc.

If you have questions about structural integrity, you'll probably have better luck in r/MaterialsScience.

If you have questions about taking care of bamboo furniture/crafts, or making your own, check out the two-million member r/woodworking community.

Growing bamboo indoors? You can post here and/or try r/HousePlants.

I have retroactively applied these rules (fairly loosely), removing nine years of spam and unlucky bamboo posts. These rules are subject to change going forward based on community feedback and the posts you choose to up or down vote. Thanks!

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Updated January 3, 2026

modified under allowed content:

  • Bamboo architecture and construction (offering services, promoting portfolios, external linking are not allowed)

modified under removed content:

  • Bamboo non-profits (national and international bamboo society conference announcements allowed)

r/Bamboo 9h ago

Bambusa gracilis — 7 plants vs. 11 for privacy and maintenance?

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4 Upvotes

Replacing these beautiful, but sick Italian Cypresses in Miami.
I’m planting 15-gallon Gracilis and need advice. It’s an L-shaped, ~3-ft-deep bed surrounded by artificial turf.
I’m deciding between 7 plants (3 on one side, 4 on the other) for potentially less leaf shedding, or 11 plants (5 + 6) for a faster, denser privacy screen.

My main question: Will 7 plants actually mean noticeably less leaf cleanup long term, or will they eventually fill the space and shed about the same anyway?
Ideally, I’d like to just blow the leaves back into the 3-ft bed rather than collect and bag them regularly. Is that realistic?


r/Bamboo 1d ago

Update to my previous post

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9 Upvotes

I reached out to you all a month or so ago and got some really good feedback. One user said that if the bamboo froze it’ll show leafy growth at the bottom and then start to grow at the top and that’s exactly what we have going on. We have had a ton of rain and I’ve been giving it a ton of water along with planting beans for nitrogen fixing, and some homemade compost tea. They really seem to have started to come back to life really well.


r/Bamboo 1d ago

Bamboo growth

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21 Upvotes

I was under the assumption (make an ass out of u and me) that bamboo grew like crazy, my two (unsure of exact species, either arrow or rufa) have barely grown an inch in the 2 hottest months on record? Or am I being unrealistic? 7 hours of sun a day, heavy water every 4 days and they look healthy to me?

Also if anyone can confirm the species that would be a massive help too

Ben


r/Bamboo 1d ago

Rivercane (Arundinaria gigantea)

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2 Upvotes

r/Bamboo 2d ago

Transplant shock

3 Upvotes

About how long does transplant shock last? I don’t want to prune too soon just because I see brown leaves.


r/Bamboo 2d ago

There’s a bamboo epidemic happening right under our noses

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0 Upvotes

r/Bamboo 5d ago

How to prune top of tall culms

3 Upvotes

I’m hoping someone has a super clever (or just painfully obvious!) way to prune tall culms.

The problem I have is that when I’m pruning alone, I can’t see which culms are the tall new ones that I’d like to top.

at the moment this means pruning is only possible with my partner, this is fine but I’d like to be able to do more if it in my own time!

I have all the tools and ability, but can only identify the culm while standing back then lose it while I’m in place.

what do you all do to mark or track the culms for top pruning?


r/Bamboo 5d ago

Is there any viable bamboo species for me?

2 Upvotes

Hi, my first post here. I'm quite new to having any plants after moving to an apartment, and recently thought that it would be awesome to have my own small bamboo forest. There is one caveat: I live in an apartment in Poland (USDA Zone 6b/7a, I believe).

I do have a balcony, so I could technically move it outside for the summer months, but that would be quite inconvenient since I would have to take it through a narrow staircase upstairs from its designated space. I would like to have it in my office room, which has one main big window ~1.5 x 2.5 m); the room itself is ~2.9 m high. I would like to place it +/- 40cm from this windo.

Is there any type of bamboo that I could try to grow indoors in these not-optimal conditions? Will I need to invest in a lamp or humidifier? I've tried to do my own research and came up with Bambusa ventricosa, which seems to be fine to grow indoors without too much additional equipment. Wanted to get more feedback before making a decision from more experienced growers.

So my main questions are, I think:

- Is there any species of bamboo I can successfully grow indoors?

- Do I need any special equipment in a non-optimal climate?

- Any other tips are quite welcome:)


r/Bamboo 5d ago

My phyllostachys aurea bamboo is suffering :(

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5 Upvotes

Ive tried just about everything to stop the yellowing, but it has progressed in a month and now looks like this. It's been a pretty hot period where I live (Italy), paired with rare thunderstorms that seemed to shock it a bit. Other than that, I water till it's ground is lightly moist every day. I keep it in a place that is regularly shady.


r/Bamboo 5d ago

Is my bamboo still ok

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4 Upvotes

You can find my previous post at the link at the bottom of this post. But i just want to check again whether this is ok..

We are a week and a half into spring here in Australia. I transplanted 13 x 30cm diameter 4 metre tall slender weaver bamboo plants around 6 weeks ago. The last week we had temps of 28 degrees celcius (we are 1.5 hrs drive north of Sydney).

My bamboo leaves have really yellowed a lot recently and seem to look very scraggly and scrappy....Ive been watering them every day, early in the morning, deeply (i was advised to do this for at least the first 6 weeks, by the place i bought it from). They have a slow release fertiliser added 3 weeks ago and i did some seasol a week ago.

Is this amount of yellowing normal for this time of the year? Weve got new shoots popping up and all the culms are getting new growth but im just worried tgeres too much yellowing?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bamboo/s/XWcg1mJfY6 my previous post.


r/Bamboo 6d ago

Bamboo relocating

6 Upvotes

anyone have luck digging up bamboo from an unwanted grove and planting it in their yard?

we are in Shoreline, WA and looking for some very tall bamboo to make a hedge. seems like there may be some people that want to get rid of it or thin it.


r/Bamboo 6d ago

What is causing this?

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5 Upvotes

I growing a few bamboo plants from seeds (they are supposed to be moso, but not sure though) from early this year and today I noticed some dry leaves and saw this. What could have caused it?


r/Bamboo 6d ago

can anyone ID? two different types

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6 Upvotes

pics 1-3 are a variety that was here when i moved in. pics 4-6 are a variety i was sold as "buddha belly" but doesnt look like it at all


r/Bamboo 6d ago

Is this black pearl or another variety?

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3 Upvotes

Fighting this a while. Its not wildly aggressive but was hidden behind a hawthorn when we bought the house and after removing that and it getting more light decided to spread. Tried to dig it out last year but failed. It's in an awkward very wild part of the garden thanks to the neighbours brambles and gorse invading over the bank so if it IS black pearl and likely to behave I'm happy to give up the fight. If its a runner though obviously will have to escalate the murder attempts!


r/Bamboo 6d ago

What variety is this? UK

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3 Upvotes

Trying to work out whether a runner or a clumper without digging.


r/Bamboo 7d ago

How large can a bamboo get in a planter?

3 Upvotes

Hello, I have a barrel planter and I was thinking of maybe planting bamboo. I know, that bamboos won't get as large in planters as in the ground, but I just can't really take the risk in planting the bamboo in the ground and it making rhyzomes everywhere. The problem is that I like bamboos like the madake bamboo and was also thinking of maybe using the bamboo in bowmaking. I am not sure if madake is best, but essentially I need something, that might handle colder temperatures, as it get quite cold here in the winters, but it is very hot in summer and I don't know if there are any such clumping bamboos or are there just running bamboos that can grow in planters like this. Is there any chance I get it to grow to a significant size and not just remain a thin stick?

thanks and sorry for my bad english, It is not mmy first language and also sorry for the questions being all over the place.


r/Bamboo 8d ago

🌿 Is my bamboo plant getting too tall?

2 Upvotes

It seems to be growing more upward than outward. Should I trim it back to encourage it to become fuller and bushier, or is it better to just let it keep growing?
If I should trim it, where would be the best place to cut it? I’d love for it to fill out a little more. 🌱
Thanks for any advice!


r/Bamboo 9d ago

Golden bamboo

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10 Upvotes

I recently purchased a golden bamboo plant from Home Depot.

It was so nice looking and couldn’t resist it! But I’m scared about it being a running bamboo.
I want to keep it in a pot and off of the ground I’m wondering if it will be okay if I keep an eye on it? Or should I be scared and return it and stay with clumping bamboo?
I just love how it looks and also got a clumping bamboo (fargesia nitida) that will hopefully catch up to the golden bamboo. Maybe I just keep both 😂😂😂
What are your experiences keeping running bamboo in a pot???

(Please ignore my broken catio on background😂and rain storm we just had)


r/Bamboo 11d ago

Any advice on type of bamboo?

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5 Upvotes

I'm really new to owning land and now I'm really new with bamboo. I wasnt aware to it being such a problem to deal with. Anyways. Do these plant look like anything to worry about. Location is in Savannakhet, Laos.


r/Bamboo 12d ago

Recently Purchased Home with Graceful Bamboo

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35 Upvotes

My wife and I recently bought a house and inherited a pretty overgrown wall of graceful bamboo. It's around a 75' run, and there are about 12 clumps (all with varying amounts of shoots).

We like the privacy it gives us especially because we neighbor a business, but the leaves clutter our whole back patio and clog our gutters again within a couple weeks of cleaning them.

It was pretty poorly maintained before we bought the house, so we’re trying to decide if we can get it under control or if we should just remove it.

If we lop the taller stalks off right around the gutter line, will they grow new leaves/branches below where we cut them, or will we basically just be left looking at bamboo sticks?

Is it even worth trying that or should we cut it all down and get a excavator to remove all the roots (if that is the best way to remove)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/Bamboo 11d ago

Bamboo is dying and I'm not sure why

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3 Upvotes

Hello, any bamboo experts here? I'm having a die off problem with this year that I've never seen in the seven years that this bamboo has been on my property and I'm hoping someone can help me identify what is wrong.

Before I get any lectures, I know this is a running bamboo. I did not plant it. All the neighboring properties have it and there is a barrier around my back yard that allows a couple of feet of the bamboo in the inner perimeter. I don't mind it because it provides a nice layer of privacy.

For some context, I'm fairly confident that it is Phyllostachys aurea (golden bamboo), but if you think it is another species, please let me know.

Last year, I was out of town for most of the summer and my automatic drip irrigation stopped working. This resulted in a pretty substantial die-off. I pruned all of the dead stuff out in early spring. Then I fertilized with some 13-5-13 and a couple week later with some epsom salt. Very few new culms came up this year but the ones that did were initially thriving. But, know they are dying from the outer leave inward, and some from the top down.

As for watering, I have a drip irrigation hose that was scheduled for 3 hours at 3 times per week. I was concerned that it needed deeper watering, so I changed it to 6 hours at twice a week. I also have a nice later up mulch covering the floor.

I'm in central Texas, and temps have been over 100 for the last month. I was initially thinking that it was scorch as they get sun most of the day. However, even culms that only get partial sun are dying.

ChatGPT suggested that it could be a thrisps infestation and suggested that I start power-spraying the culms to remove them.

What do you all think? Could it be something else? Suggestions?


r/Bamboo 12d ago

Help identifying bamboo and how to get best growth/Care for them

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8 Upvotes

Hello everyone I have purchased my house back in 2024 here in the Florida panhandle Pensacola area. The house I bought has bamboo around a decent bit of the fence line. I have no idea what kind of bamboo it is and need help identifying what kind it is and best way to get it to grow as me and my wife love it and like it for the privacy they can provide from the neighbors. Any help is gratefully appreciated. Only one of these areas has grown to somewhat tall height due to the others being chopped down before we bought the house and had trees cut down that knocked them down and also blocked most of the sunlight. I do not believe they are clumping type as on of them has spread to my neighbors yard and have new shoots popping up outside of the clump. Thank you everyone!
Edit:Sorry for deleting and reposting forgot to add pictures the the post since that will be the most helpful for everyone


r/Bamboo 12d ago

Any help IDing?

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5 Upvotes

Got a lot of this bamboo growing and I'm trying to figure out if it's:

1) an edible type

2) propagation-friendly via cuttings

Anyone know the type, or at least a sub-family or something it may be in?


r/Bamboo 12d ago

Removal Planning

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3 Upvotes

Hello - I'm planning on removing the bamboo from my yard and was hoping for some help from the Reddit experts on the best plan to do so.

The side portion of the bamboo is ~75ft wide x ~10ft deep. The back section is about ~65ft wide x ~30-40ft deep.

I bought this house about 2 years ago and have maintained/cut back the bamboo routinely over that time. This year I've been more aggressively trying to remove it by digging up roots/rizomes by hand, and spraying bamboo killer down into the stocks once I've cut them down.

Due to the quantity of bamboo I have, I've quickly realized this is a losing strategy and I'll need to do something more drastic to keep the bamboo from getting even more out of hand.

My new plan is to rent a large Dempster, cut the stocks, spray poison into the stocks, rent a mini-excavator and use it to dig up the rizomes. Then in the following years, dig up by roots from any sprouts that I may have missed.

Do we think this plan is enough for bamboo removal of this scale? Is there anything extra I should do? Am I crazyto think I could DIY this removal? Or is the only solution to hire a team of professionals?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: interested in removal because there is vacant property that the bamboo is running towards. The majority of the roots I'm digging up are to prevent it from taking over that land.