How to Transplant Bamboo From the Ground to Pots

Digging Bamboo

• Prepare the bamboo for transplanting by soaking the soil around the root ball 24 hours before the move. When you dig out the clump, place the shovel 12 inches from the base of the canes and dig down at least 12 inches to remove as much of the root ball as possible. Bamboo has tough roots; if you can't get through them with a shovel, try a sharp garden saw to cut through the roots. If you are only digging out part of a clump, use a sharp shovel or saw to cut through the roots between the sections of the clump. Lift the bamboo from the root ball and place it on a tarp or in a wheelbarrow.

Container Selection

• For bamboo, choose a planter that is at least 18 inches in diameter. For larger clumps, select a container at least 2 inches wider than the diameter of the root ball. For stability, look for planters that have a wide mouth opening and shallow depth. Larger planters, like half barrels, work well for bamboo. Check the planter for drainage holes before you plant. Planters without drainage cause water to pool around the roots and can cause rot problems.

Container Preparation

• Start by spreading a 1 to 2-inch-deep layer of pebbles over the bottom of the planter to cover the drainage holes without clogging them. Prepare the soil by mixing in a slow-release fertilizer, like a 9-6-12 formula, at a rate of 2 1/4 tbs. for each 18 inches of pot diameter. Add enough potting soil on top of the pebbles to fill the planter one-third full. The slow-release fertilizer will provide enough nutrients for the first two to three months after transplanting. Fertilizers can vary significantly, so if the label indicates a specific ratio for mixing, follow package directions.

Transplanting

• Lifting the bamboo by the root ball, lower it into the pot. The base of the canes should be about 1 inch below the lip of the pot. If the bamboo is too high or too low, lift it out and adjust the soil level under the root ball. Fill in around the root ball up to the base of the canes. This will leave 1 inch of space between the soil line and the lip of the pot so you can water and fertilize the plant. Water immediately after transplanting bamboo until you start to see water draining out.

Storing

• If you can't replant the bamboo right away, you can store it for a few weeks; just make sure it doesn't dry out or you could loose the clump. Wrap the root ball in a piece of damp burlap and tie it closed. Place the bamboo clumps in a shady area until planting. To keep the roots moist, water the burlap whenever it starts to dry out.

Hardiness in Containers

• A container offers a very different growing environment from the ground. Even if the bamboo you transplanted has been thriving outdoors all winter for years in the ground, once you transplant it into pots, the same plants could freeze. Ground soil insulates the roots, while above-ground pots are prone to freezing. Bring bamboo into a protected area in winter, like a covered porch or garage, if temperatures are likely to drop below freezing.