How to Grow a Bamboo Tree with Seeds

Growing bamboo from seeds is quite challenging work, but the results will be well worth the effort you put in. To get started, order bamboo seeds from a trusted supplier. This is followed by preparation and soaking of the seed pellets. After sowing bamboo seeds into the pellets, you will see the plants grow up quite quickly. After about a month, you can plant the young bamboo plants in pots and let them live in the pots until you decide to move them to a larger space in the garden.

Table of Contents

Install greenhouse

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Buy a mini greenhouse for indoor plants. You can buy greenhouse kits from companies that sell gardening materials. They can provide everything you need to grow bamboo by seeds. This greenhouse set includes a tray, some seed pellets, information labels and a lid to create a greenhouse effect. ^{[1] X Research Source}

This is very effective for growing young bamboo plants all year round in an indoor environment. You don’t necessarily have to buy a greenhouse designed specifically for growing bamboo.
Mini greenhouse set has many sizes, from 6 plants to 70 plants. Set of 50 plants measuring 28cm x 28cm. Chances of success will be higher if you choose a set with enough room for 50 plants or more.
After purchasing the greenhouse, you will see that each tablet has been placed in a compartment. This means that the greenhouse is already prepared and almost no installation is required.

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Immerse in water up to half the height of the tablets. Pour water into the container until the water is about half of the tablets. You need to adjust the amount of water depending on the number of tablets needed. It doesn’t matter if the surface of the tablets gets wet during the pouring process, as long as the water level is half full of the tablet. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Check the diagram and instructions on the package before watering or sowing seeds. Some greenhouse sets are even designed for automatic watering. You may need to fill a large pot with water, which will then supply water to the carpet underneath the tablets, helping you to reduce the number of waterings.
Another option is to take the tablets out and place them in a rectangular metal baking tray. Pour boiling water into the tray until the tablets are half submerged. High temperature will help sterilize the tablets.
The ideal water temperature for watering the pellets is 10-15 degrees Celsius. You can also use distilled water to water the seedlings to minimize contaminants.

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Wait 5-10 minutes for the tablets to absorb water. Watch as the tablets begin to absorb water almost immediately. Make sure the tablets are fully expanded in the compartments, add more water if any are not fully expanded. When the tablets have fully expanded, take the tray to the sink and empty the remaining water. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Your aim is to keep the tablets moist but not soggy to prevent disintegration.

Drills

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Buy bamboo seeds from a trusted seller. Talk to your local gardening center about ordering bamboo seeds. In the US, sometimes bamboo seeds are also difficult to buy, because people have to quarantine for a while if they are imported from abroad. Once you have purchased the seeds, you should plant them as soon as possible to increase the plant’s chances of survival. ^{[4] X Trusted Source University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Go to Source}

It’s also a good idea to order more seeds than you plan to plant. This way, your chances of growing a tree will be higher, even if some seeds don’t germinate.
Only buy bamboo seeds from sellers who have proof that they have followed the required quarantine procedures.

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Soak the bamboo seeds in water for a day. Pour water about 30°C into a shallow glass container. Drop the seeds into the water and let them sit for 12-24 hours. This step stimulates the seeds to start germinating and increases the chances of success. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Use a food thermometer to make sure the water isn’t too hot; otherwise, the seeds may be overcooked and not germinate.
If a container is not available, you can place the seeds in a plastic bag filled with water.
Place the seed box in a warm place so the temperature doesn’t drop too quickly. You can also cover the container to keep it warm inside longer.

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Sow one seed in the center of each tablet. Use a wooden stick to poke a small hole in the top of each tablet, then place 1 bead in the center. Use your fingers to press the tablet down slightly to cover the seeds completely. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Planting seedlings

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Place the greenhouse in a location with indirect sunlight for about 12-16 hours. This is the minimum amount of light for seeds to grow into seedlings. Do not place the greenhouse in direct sunlight to avoid the risk of seed burn. Cover the greenhouse to keep the temperature inside the greenhouse.

Plant lights can also warm the seedlings. Hang an incandescent bulb at least 60cm away from the tree to avoid the risk of burning the plant. If you use fluorescent bulbs, just hang them about 15cm away from the greenhouse.

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Water the tablets every day until moist. Stop watering if you see standing water on the surface of the tablet, and next time remember to water less. Note that each tablet may require a different amount of daily watering. You should see shoots emerging from the ground about 10 days after seeding.

Maggie Moran

Gardener

Maggie Moran is a professional gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran
Gardener

Do you know? Bamboo grows very fast! It will only take 1-3 weeks for the shoots to reach the surface.

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Open the greenhouse cover when the shoots begin to touch the lid. When the top of the plant touches the greenhouse lid, it’s time to open the lid. The heat in a covered greenhouse can actually burn the shoots.

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Transfer the seedlings to a larger pot after 30 days. You need an 8-quart pot for every 3 pellets. Fill the pot half full with potting soil, then fill the other half with bark mulch. Dig a hole in the soil that is only slightly wider than the pellet. Gently lift each ball and place it in the hole you just dug in the pot.

You can put multiple tablets in one pot, as long as they don’t touch each other.
Even if you don’t see the shoots growing in the pellets, you can still plant and hope the plants will sprout in time.
Cover with a layer of potting soil about 10 cm to cover the tablet.

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Place the potted plant in a location that receives at least 6 hours of indirect sunlight per day. Direct sunlight for a long time will continuously “burn” the young bamboo. So you need to make sure the plant gets half sun, half shade. You may even have to move the pot to make sure it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight.

The young bamboo will have a light green color. If the plant turns yellow or brown, it means the plant has been exposed to too much sun.

Grow mature bamboo trees

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Move the plant from the pot to the outdoors in the fall or winter. Use a spade to dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and as deep as the pot. Then, mix the soil you just dug up with the potting soil to make a 50-50 mixture. Gently dig around the potted plant and turn it upside down to loosen it. Place the tree in the hole you just dug. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Find a potting soil specifically designed for outdoor garden plants. This soil is denser than standard potting soil.

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Water the newly planted bamboo 2-3 times per week. Bamboo grows best in moist but well-drained soil. If water is left standing on the ground, the plant may begin to rot. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You can test your soil’s drainage first by observing it after it rains. If the water doesn’t drain completely and remains on the ground, the area is probably not the best place to plant.

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Catch insects by hand or use insecticide. Some pests like aphids are easy to see on bamboo plants. You just need to hand-pick these little green bugs off the tree and spray them with insecticide to prevent them from coming back. Some other pests, such as mealybugs, may be resistant to pesticides. In this case, the best way is usually to use a continuous stream of water to dislodge them from the plant. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Keep the area around the tree well-ventilated to prevent plant diseases. Before watering the plant, you should brush off dead branches and leaves on the ground. These debris can spread harmful molds, which can lead to root rot. In addition, you should also avoid over-watering, as the fungus will thrive on wet soil. ^{[10] X Research Source}

If the bamboo stem starts to shrivel and become wet to the touch, it is probably rotting. You need to dig that tree up to prevent the fungus from spreading.

Advice

If the first seeding fails, try again. You may need to switch to a different seed supplier or experiment with different levels of light and water.

Warning

When buying seeds, be sure to find a supplier that operates legally. Otherwise, you may end up buying unapproved seeds due to the risk of disease.

Things you need

Bamboo seeds
Rectangular tray
Greenhouse box
Water
Woodland
bark cover
Plant pots

Steps