Bamboos are not a heavy feeder, however, they still need an appropriate nutrient ratio to grow abundant foliage and big stalks, especially those grown in pots.
Looking for the right plant food for bamboo isn’t difficult, but not easy either. You need to inspect the plant nutrition needs, soil condition, and other factors. In this list, our expert testers list out the six best fertilizers for bamboo in pots. Take a peek!
Here are the best fertilizers for bamboo in pots you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Strong Roots: The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer
- Best For Long-Lasting Effects: Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11
- Best For Lush Foliage: Grow More 7857
- Best For Thick Stalks: Lewis Bamboo-Biochar Fertilizer 18-5-12
- Best For Faster Growth: Jmbamboo-40 Bottles of Super Green Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer
- Easy To Apply: EarthPods Premium Bamboo + Bonsai Plant Food-Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes
| 6 Best Fertilizers For Bamboo In Pots | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Strong Roots | The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer | |
Best For Long-Lasting Effects | Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11 | |
Best For Lush Foliage | Grow More 7857 | |
Best For Thick Stalks | Lewis Bamboo-Biochar Fertilizer 18-5-12 | |
Best For Faster Growth | Jmbamboo-40 Bottles of Super Green Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer | |
Easy To Apply | EarthPods Premium Bamboo + Bonsai Plant Food-Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes | |
Best For Strong Roots: The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer
- Strengthen roots and encourage new growth – the professional 18-6-8 ratio of macronutrients
- No risks of root-burning – urea-free
- Easy to store – zipper design
- No complaint
Young bamboos or those potted ones that you’ve just bought from plant workshops regularly have weak root systems, making them aggressively wobble in strong winds and easily fall over.
A great solution to strengthen their roots and encourage new growth is using a fertilizer product with rich potassium content like The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer.
It is recommended for both indoor and outdoor plants with no risks of root-burning.
Although the pack is quite small – only 5 ounces, each application requires very little amount and the effect lasts for months, which is still economical. We love the zipper design for easy storage.
| The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 5 ounces |
Fertilizer Analysis | 18-6-8 |
Highlight Features | the professional 18-6-8 ratio of macronutrients urea-free zipper design |
With rich potassium content, the The Grow Co All-Purpose Fertilizer can help your bamboos develop stronger roots.
Best For Long-Lasting Effects: Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11
- Long-lasting effects – 12-month slow-release formula using the latest plant nutrition technology
- Ideal for large bamboo gardens – the 2-pound size & small usage ratio
- Very affordable
- Not as good as liquid fertilizers
If you really love “set-it-and-forget-it” bamboo fertilizers, we believe the Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11 is the world’s best option.
Using the latest plant nutrition technology, this fertilizer feeds consistently for up to one year regardless of how much the plant is watered or it rains.
As the size is 2 pounds and the usage rate is 3 tablespoons/gallon of pot/year, it will probably take a very long time before you need to repurchase the product.
Besides, it’s less than ½ the price of most Home Depot products like Osmicote and Dynamite.
| Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 2 pounds |
Fertilizer Analysis | 13-5-11 |
Highlight Features | 12-month slow-release formula using the latest plant nutrition technology the 2-pound size |
While most slow-release bamboo fertilizers in the market only last for months, the Realgrowers Bamboo Special 12 Month Control Release 13-5-11 feeds up to a year, making it the best for long-lasting effects.
Best For Lush Foliage: Grow More 7857
- Providing for lush and healthy foliage - a balance N-P-K ratio
- Convenient to store – hard plastic bottle with a tightly sealed lid
- Require diluting, which is a bit inconvenient
The Grow More 7857 is specifically formulated for Sanderana and Dracaena grown in containers.
With a balanced N-P-K ratio, the product is capable of recovering ailing bamboo and boosting growth for green lush foliage. It’s also suitable for older plants to keep them growing healthily.
Despite the little bottle size, it will last for a very long time according to the recommended dose.
| Grow More 7857 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 8 ounces |
Fertilizer Analysis | 2-2-2 |
Highlight Features | a balance N-P-K ratio hard plastic bottle with a tightly sealed lid |
If you are looking for ways to boost your bamboo garden for healthy and lush foliage, the Grow More 7857 is one of the best solutions.
Best For Thick Stalks: Lewis Bamboo-Biochar Fertilizer 18-5-12
- Making stalks thicker – rich nitrogen content
- Long-term water retention - 30% Biochar
- A bit pricey
If you want your bamboo to have thicker stalks, feed them with more nitrogen like the Lewis Bamboo 18-5-12.
Making this product distinguish from its competitors is the 30% Biochar addition as a soil conditioner. According to a study by the University of Georgia, this ingredient helps hold water up to 158.4% for longer to prevent excess leaching or runoff.
The best part is it keeps your plants growing happily during drought season or when you’re traveling for a long time.
| Lewis Bamboo-Biochar Fertilizer 18-5-12 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 32 ounces |
Fertilizer Analysis | 18-5-12 |
Highlight Features | rich nitrogen content 30% Biochar |
For thicker bamboo stalks, we find no other products can beat the Lewis Bamboo - Biochar Fertilizer 18-5-12
Best For Faster Growth: Jmbamboo-40 Bottles of Super Green Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer
- Boosting bamboo growth – providing an ample amount of nitrogen and potassium
- Giving faster effects than regular Green Green in the market – liquid fertilizer
- No measuring required – coming in a set of 40 premeasured bottles
- More waste to the environment
Bamboo is known as a slow-growing plant. It takes 3 years to get established and then grow gradually from year to year. If you want to shorten this period of time, we highly recommend the Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer.
It provides an ample amount of nitrogen and potassium in the form of liquid to help your plants grow more healthily and quickly than regular Green Green in the market.
The product comes in a set of 40 bottles, 1.22 ounces each for no measuring and no mess during use. Additionally, it can be applied directly on soil.
| Jmbamboo-40 Bottles of Super Green Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 40 x 1.22-ounce bottles |
Fertilizer Analysis | 10-8-20 |
Highlight Features | providing an ample amount of nitrogen and potassium liquid fertilizer coming in a set of 40 premeasured bottles |
The Jmbamboo - 40 Bottles of Super Green Green Lucky Bamboo Fertilizer is a fantastic choice for those gardeners who want their bamboo to grow faster.
Easy To Apply: EarthPods Premium Bamboo + Bonsai Plant Food-Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes
- Easy to apply – capsule form
- Making bamboos explode with growth – containing 70+ all-natural minerals and macronutrients + good bacteria, fungi, and humic acids
- Reliable – made in the US & scientist-approved formula
- Quite expensive
- Leaving residue in the water
This fertilizer stands out from the rest for its capsule form, which is a lot easier to apply than liquid or granola ones. It is 100% odorless to not attract curious pets or insects and doesn’t leak. It doesn’t make your hands dirty during use, either.
In terms of ingredients, each capsule contains 70+ all-natural minerals and macronutrients, along with organic plant root bacteria, fungi, and humic acids for stronger root growth and greener lush.
Rest assured, the product is 100% manufactured in the US and professionally tested by the USA soil science lab.
| EarthPods Premium Bamboo + Bonsai Plant Food-Easy Organic Fertilizer Spikes Specifications | |
|---|---|
Size | 3.21 Ounces |
Highlight Features | capsule form containing 70+ all-natural minerals and macronutrients + good bacteria, fungi, and humic acids made in the US & scientist-approved formula |
The EarthPods Premium Bamboo + Bonsai Plant Food is a bit on the pricey side, but it’s a great value for ease of applying and superb bamboo-growth benefits.
How To Choose The Best Fertilizer For Bamboo In Pots?
NPK Ratio
As you might know it or not, all indoor potted plants require a different NPK ratio than their outdoors counterparts although they’re the same family. This not only applies to potted bamboos but also other potted fruit plants such as avocado, meyer lemon, or fig trees. The needs are also varied depending on the season, growing stage of the plant, and the soil condition.
To choose the best fertilizer for your potted bamboo, it is important to consider all of those elements.
An always-helpful trick for beginner gardeners is bamboos need a slightly acidic soil pH of 6 and higher nitrogen fertilizers. If the soil condition in your bamboo pots already contains a rich source of this element, an all-purpose plant food is good for them.
The NPK of every fertilizer is shown as three numbers on the label:
- N stands for nitrogen – aiding in the green foliage and health growth of the plant
- P stands for phosphate – aiding in the nutrient transference to other parts of the plant
- K stands for potassium – aiding in the root growth and metabolism of the plant
For instance, the Lewis Bamboo Biochar Fertilizer has a 18-5-12 ratio of NPK, meaning that it contains 18% nitrogen, 5% phosphate, and 12% potassium.
As stated above, bamboos require a high content of nitrogen for healthy growth so you should look for a fertilizer with the first number higher than the others in its NPK ratio.
Type Of Fertilizer
There are two types of fertilizer: the quick-release (usually in the form of water-soluble fertilizers) and the slow-release (like granules and spikes).
As the name implies, quick-release fertilizers provide a faster effect to the plant while the slow-release ones need months or even a year to completely enhance their effect.
While both of them have odors, the granules and spikes are more pleasant to the nose and less attract insects or pets, meaning that they’re suitable for indoor plants. The water-soluble fertilizers, on the contrary, are perfect for outdoor plants.
Which Brands Make The Best Fertilizer For Bamboo In Pots?
Real Growers
While Realgrowers is a small family-owned business founded in 2014, we appreciate their professional customer service and reliability in product quality and functionality.
All of their product lineups are made of 100% natural ingredients with pro nutrient ratios to provide specific plants the best growth.
Lewis Bamboo
With over 25 years of bamboo nursing, Lewis Bamboo knows thoroughly what this plant needs the most for each growing stage. They are the biggest bamboo nurseries in the US and also renowned for the quality fertilizer lineups dedicated for bamboos.
Earthworm Technologies
Earthworm Technologies are a reliable stop for those gardeners who want a better solution to grow healthy plants in an eco-responsible way.
Standing out for the exclusive Earthworm Technologies, their fertilizer lineups are known to be 100% environment-friendly while giving the same positive effects to the soil. In addition to bamboos, this company also makes great fertilizer for flowers, small vegetables or citrus plants. At the current, the brand has got two well-known lineups: EarthPods and TeaDrops.
FAQs
Does potted bamboo need fertilizer?
Yes, they do. Though bamboos aren’t heavy feeders, the potted ones still require a certain small amount of fertilizer periodically for healthy growth.
How do you fertilize potted bamboo?
Fertilize your potted bamboo every several months. It is more convenient if you use a water-soluble fertilizer: Dilute it with water based on the recommended dose, then water your bamboo.
Why are my lucky bamboo leaves turning yellow?
If lucky bamboo leaves are turning yellow, the reasons could be:
- Overfeeding
- Temperature shifts
- Exposure to too much direct light/sunlight
- Harm chemicals in the water
- Overwatering
Should I cut the yellow stalk off my bamboo?
Yes, you should. It is recommended cutting the yellow stalk off bamboo because yellow stalks don’t turn back to green. Removing them helps the plant grow more healthily.
Can bamboo turn from yellow to green again?
No, it can’t. Once a stalk of your bamboo turns yellow, it will not turn back to green.
Conclusion
To pick the best fertilizer for bamboo in pots, our team had tested a lot of models in the market and collected weeks of insight, along with third-party articles and customer reviews. Therefore, you can be reassured about each of these options which get the highest scores from us.
