Hibernate bamboo in a pot

bamboo is becoming more and more popular in domestic gardens. The evergreen sweetgrasses can even cope with the German winter and can easily be kept in the garden or in a pot. In order to overwinter bamboo in the bucket, a few things must be observed. Above all, the water requirement of the plant is important so that it does not dry out over the cold days. A dried up root ball over the winter is often the reason for a dying bamboo plant.

Winter quarters

The temperature in the winter quarters should ideally be between 3 ° C and 7 ° C, because cooler temperatures in a pot or bucket often lead to frost damage. The roots must not freeze, which fortunately cannot happen in frost-free locations. The following locations are suitable for this temperature range, as they can help with heating mats or the like:

•  Carport
•  Winter garden (unheated)
•  garage
•  barn
•  Garden shed
•  pavilion

Avoid the following locations, as the dry air does not get the plants over the winter at all. It would begin to form new shoots too quickly and to cure. That is, the stalks become soft and even mushy, which is not good for the health of the bamboo plants.

• heated living spaces
• heated stairwells

If you want to overwinter the bamboo outdoors, you can do that too. The location is also important here so that the plant does not get too much sun and wind. In the pot or bucket, it is more susceptible to the effects of the weather compared to the planted specimen. A place on a sheltered and shady house wall with around four to five hours of sun a day is recommended. If you live in a mild region, you can theoretically place the bamboo anywhere in the garden or on your property, as long as it is not too windy. In cold regions you should avoid wintering outdoors.

tip: if you only have a heated winter garden or unused rooms available as a location, you can also use these as long as there is sufficient ventilation. An exchange of air is necessary so that the bamboo stalks do not become overgrown during the winter.

Winter protection

After you have chosen a suitable location, you can prepare for winter protection. If you bring the bamboo through the winter indoors or other enclosed spaces, you don't need winter protection. Here you just have to be careful that the root ball does not dry out, as this could lead to the death of the plant.

Winter protection can be made possible in two ways:

1. Wrap up

The packing of the plant is recommended for containers that are to be free-standing. Here you make sure that the pot is prepared accordingly for the winter so that it does not freeze through and the roots dry out. For this variant you need:

• Styrofoam or a styrofoam box in which the bucket fits
• alternatively a box made of Styrodur boards with a thickness of 10 cm
• Styrofoam or Styrodur filling material if you use a box
• Bubble wrap or winter protection fleece

Depending on your preference, you can either cover the pot with styrofoam or put it in one of the boxes and fill it with the filling material up to the top. If you use a box, you have to close it with a foil or a lid, but not the surface of the soil in the planter. Then wrap the entire bamboo in bubble wrap or a winter protection fleece and fasten it with cords so that it does not open during the cold days. You can then place the plant in such a way that it is adequately protected and does not have to suffer from the environmental influences in winter.

2. Dig in

Burying is a popular way to get bamboo through the winter effectively and easily. This method is particularly suitable for mild winters or areas where the ground does not freeze completely. The space for this should be designed as follows:

• shady
• protected

Now dig a hole in which the entire flower pot fits and the plant can protrude from the ground. Now cover about 30 cm from the plant with straw so that the root ball stays warm. Alternatively, you can use bales of straw, which you simply place around the Bambuseae. Cover the straw with foil and wrap the plant loosely in a winter protective fleece. Finally, build a bamboo roller bridle around the plant. This provides additional protection against the cold. A big advantage of this variant: Snow acts as additional winter and sun protection due to its density.

tip: protect your bamboo from the winter sun with a so-called shading fabric so that the plant does not die from the sun. Alternatively, you can use a reed mat for this.

to water

Correct watering when overwintering is important so that the plant does not dry out in the tub. Since the bamboo as a potted plant has no connection to water resources or moisture in the soil, you have to do this work. Drought damage is the most common cause of damage to the plant and many bamboo owners mistake this for frost damage, although frost is not necessarily a problem for Bambuseae as long as hardy species and genera such as Fargesia are chosen became.

When pouring, proceed as follows:

• choose only lime-free water
• a water filter is particularly useful for this
• stale water is less recommended for bamboo
• It is poured only on frost-free days
• The root area must be moist, but not permanently moist
• Avoid waterlogging at all costs, otherwise the substrate and the roots will freeze and die
• Roots must not dry out

It is typical for bamboo plants to lose up to 50% of their foliage over winter. This is nothing to worry about and does not indicate any damage from drought. As the leaves fall off, the sweet grass in the pot saves energy so that it can grow again in spring. When watering, pay attention to the moisture of the substrate and the roots, because this is the only way to prevent the bamboo plant from suffering serious damage that would limit growth in the following year.

tip: Watering over the winter is essential, but the grasses do not need nutrients. You can therefore completely dispense with fertilizing the plant during the cold season.