Enclosed you will find the bamboo plants you ordered. We have watered and then packed them with great care, and they are sent on Mondays (or occasionally Tuesdays) so there is a minimum chance of them sitting in a warehouse over a weekend. For larger plants we sometimes have to either cut or bend the culms (stalks) to fit them in the box. They will generally straighten within a few days. In rare instances, due to pressure on a box during shipping, a culm may crack at the bending point. In this event, if you splint the spot with a twig and some tape, usually you can save the culm. Due to bamboo’s unique characteristics, water and nutrients will continue to flow through the broken area, and the culm and its leaves will remain healthy. Also, occasionally we intentionally remove the root ball from the pot in order to more easily fit the plant into its box. If you receive a plant without a pot, you may place it temporarily in another pot until transplantation.

The following are some tips for assisting your bamboo to make the transition to its new home:

First, take your plants out of the box immediately, water them, especially if the soil has dried, and make sure they have good drainage.

Then put your bamboo in a sheltered place (meaning NOT in full blazing sun, and NOT exposed to near freezing temperatures.) Mild temperatures and semi-shade are best for a transition period of 1-2 weeks. If the planting location you had planned fits this description, go ahead and plant in the ground immediately. The new soil level should be about the same as it was in the original pot. We recommend you do not fertilize right away. Your bamboo has enough nutrition for 6 months to a year. Please consult our catalog for basic fertilizing instructions after the first 6 months.

You will need to keep a close eye on your bamboo for a while to determine how much and how often to water in your particular micro-climate. Generally, a deep watering less frequently is best, rather than a shallow watering every day. For example, it is best to flood bamboo with a hose, soaking the soil deeply, and then wait until the soil is slightly damp (not wet, and not bone dry) before watering again. Check to make sure the water is soaking in to a depth of 2 feet. This is especially important during the first 2-3 months after transplanting. After that point, you can usually depend on a spray emitter irrigation system, using 2-4 emitters per plant (we do not recommend drip systems, as they do not emit enough water). As a rule of thumb, when the leaves are drooping this means your bamboo is getting too much water and/or not enough drainage. If the leaves are curling lengthwise this means your bamboo is not getting enough water.

Bamboo prefers the ambient moisture levels generally found outdoors, rather than the dryer conditions inside. So if you must keep your plant indoors for a while, make sure to mist the leaves every day. For more information on care of indoor bamboo, please consult our catalog.

Remember that shipping is stressful for any living thing, during any season, whether the shipping takes 2 days or 7. If your plant yellows or loses leaves, don’t panic. This can be one of the normal symptoms of travel and transplantation stress. By following the guidelines above your plant will leaf out again within a month or two.

We hope these tips will help you and your bamboo. Feel free to call us if you have questions. In the meantime, may you and your bamboo flourish!