Am I Taking Good Care Of My Bamboo Palm?

Is your bamboo palm shielded from direct sunlight?

Is your bamboo palm shielded from cold drafts?

Is your bamboo palm planted in a well-drained potting soil?

Do you water your bamboo palm regularly?

Do you fertilize your bamboo palm whole year-round?

Did you prune dead and wilted leaves off of your bamboo palm?

Do you keep your bamboo palm free of pests and diseases?

Find a location for the bamboo palm that offers indirect or filtered sunlight. Place indoor plants in a southeast-facing window of the home. Failure to give the bamboo palm proper lighting can lead to a loss of fronds and you may end up with a sticklike plant with few leaves toward the top.

Protect the bamboo palm from cool drafts, as they grow best when temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no lower than 60 Fahrenheit during the night. The exception is during winter when the plant is not experiencing active growth. During this period a temperature of 55 to 60 Fahrenheit is best.

Bamboo palm loves lots of moisture but it shouldn't sit in soggy or flooded soil as it will promote root rot. Make sure the soil is well-drained and the pot has holes at the bottom.

The bamboo palm plant likes to have consistently moist soil. You should aim to water your bamboo palm in a way that will keep the soil at a level of moisture that is only just perceptible to avoid overwatering and causing root rot. The top few inches of soil should be allowed to dry out in between waterings, as a bamboo palm will tolerate slight underwatering much better than it will tolerate overwatering.

Fertilize the bamboo palm using a slow-release or diluted liquid fertilizer, but only during active growth in spring and summer. Only feed monthly or less often if you notice plant damage, such as brown edges and tips. This occurs with excessive use of fertilizer that leads to a buildup of salts in the plant's soil. Cease feeding completely during winter when the plant becomes almost dormant.

Prune the bamboo palm to remove yellowing or dried fronds. Inspect the plant regularly for dead or wilted leaves and trim them off at the base of the stem using a sharp pair of shears, so the dead fronds do not affect the health of the rest of the plant.

Good job! You are taking good care of your bamboo palm.

Regular rinsing of the plant with distilled water removes excess fertilizer salts from the soil and keeps bamboo palm pests, like thrips, scales, and mites, under control. Maintain good watering practice to avoid root rot and other fungal diseases.