How to Care for Clumping Bambusa Variegata
Bambusa variegata and Bambusa glaucophylla are two synonymous botanical names for Malay dwarf bamboo, a clumping species of bamboo grown for its green and white variegated leaves. The species thrives in heat and will withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is suitable for cultivation within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9b and above. Under most circumstances, Malay dwarf bamboo needs little care and will reach a mature height of 12 to 15 feet despite neglect and poor growing conditions. However, the plants look best and live longer when given regular watering, feeding and pruning.
Prune away any overhanging shrubs to provide the Malay dwarf bamboo with full sun exposure. Leave a few high, sparse branches above the bamboo to provide light midday shade if it is growing in a particularly hot, dry inland location.
Water Malay dwarf bamboo weekly to a depth of 1 inch. Increase water during periods of extremely hot, windy weather. Run a garden hose at the base of the plant until the soil feels moderately moist in the top 3 inches. Water again once the soil feels dry when probed. Cease watering during rainy weather.
Mist the foliage and canes to keep them from dehydrating during periods of hot, windy weather. Spray a garden hose above the bamboo and let it rain down. Spray the undersides of the leaves as well.
Feed Malay dwarf bamboo monthly from after the last spring frost until midsummer. Use liquid kelp fertilizer or another low-phosphorus fertilizer blend. Dilute it in 1 gallon of water and pour it onto the soil at least 4 inches from the base of the bamboo. Water thoroughly after feeding.
Prune off and discard any damaged or misshapen canes as they appear throughout the year. Snip them off at their point of origin using sharp, sturdy pruning loppers. Discard the pruned canes into a green waste can rather than composting them since they could harbor pests or pathogens.
Prune heavily every few years to promote an airier, more erect shape. Cut back the arching canes around the outer perimeter of the plant to ground level. Prune off the top 2 to 3 feet of growth from the remaining outer canes. Make the cut just above a growth node using pruning loppers or shears.
- Leave the fallen leaves around the base of the bamboo to provide natural mulch and nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
- Avoid overwatering Malay dwarf bamboo since soggy soil stresses the plant.
Samantha McMullen began writing professionally in 2001. Her nearly 20 years of experience in horticulture informs her work, which has appeared in publications such as Mother Earth News.