How to grow Buddha belly bamboo? Detailed growing methods and precautions

1. Light and temperature

A newly planted Buddha belly bamboo bonsai should be watered thoroughly, then placed in a shaded spot for about 10 days, then in a spot with partial shade and partial sun for 5 days, and then placed in a sunny, well-ventilated, warm and humid environment for careful care. Because the pot is shallow and holds little soil, exposure to the scorching sun in summer can easily damage the root system, so appropriate shading is needed. In late autumn and early winter, when the minimum nighttime temperature drops to about 5 degrees C, it should be moved indoors, and the room temperature can be kept at about 8 degrees C; too high a room temperature is unfavorable for growth the following year. In the south, as long as the pot is buried in soil in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot, it can overwinter safely.

2. Watering requirements

Buddha belly bamboo likes moisture and fears waterlogging. After potting, the first watering should be thorough; afterward, keep the potting soil moist, but do not water too much, otherwise the rhizomes and roots are prone to rot. From potting to establishment, the leaves should also be sprayed with water frequently. If the potting soil lacks water, the bamboo leaves will curl; at this time, water promptly and the bamboo leaves will unfold again. In summer, water once every 1 to 2 days on average; in winter, water less, but ensure the potting soil remains moist to prevent “dry freezing.”

3. Fertilization requirements

For potted Buddha belly bamboo, the fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer mixed into the potting soil at potting time. After the bamboo becomes established, apply supplementary fertilizer appropriately, “light fertilizer applied frequently,” applying 0.5% urea or 1.0% compound fertilizer with water in spring and summer.

4. Repotting and soil changing

Generally, it is best to repot and change the soil once a year in spring before new shoots grow. For ground-cover bamboo, February is best. Because clumping bamboo produces shoots in summer and autumn, spring from March to May is better. When repotting, appropriately prune away curled roots and add new growing medium and base fertilizer. For plants that have grown too large, a pot one size larger can also be used in September. To make a potted rubber tree full in shape, pinch the growing tip when the seedling reaches 60-80 cm tall to encourage lateral buds to sprout. After the lateral branches grow out, select 3-5 of them, then shorten the lateral branches once each year, and in 3 years a rounded, full tree 1.5-2 m tall can be obtained.

5. Pest and disease control

The main insect pests of potted Buddha belly bamboo include aphids, scale insects, and so on, which can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsion or 40% dimethoate emulsion; the main diseases include sooty mold and witches' broom, and so on, so management should be strengthened and diseased plants pruned promptly.