Dwarf Bamboo Care And Display

Dwarf Bamboo in the genus Sasa is a common ground cover and makes a good accent.

This is a moss ball, or kokedama, planting. A kokedama doesn’t have a pot, it’s just a mass of roots and soil.

Sasa is a vigorous grower and can fill out fast. This one has grown out well but could use a touch up before using it in display.

After cutting out half the stems, I stood back for a look. In Japan I was taught to remove the lower growth and thin grasses and bamboo in the summer to give a light, breezy feeling, rather than a heavy one. By those standards this isn’t there yet.

After cutting away another set of stems. Now perhaps there’s the feeling of an airy bamboo patch.

In display you might pair this accent with an object or scroll of a cricket to suggest a summer night. Or a dragonfly for a summer day.

Dwarf bamboo is a thirsty plant compared to other accents. A heavy trim reduces transpiration and can ease summer care. It likes constant fertilizer and light shade in the growing season, or the leaves will turn yellowish.