Can Bamboo Survive Winter?

Bamboos are known to be very versatile and adaptive plants. They are also plants with many great benefits and uses which is why many people opt to plant and keep them. But, when cold breeze and heavy snow come rushing in, can bamboo survive winter?

Most common types of bamboo naturally don’t survive extreme cold weather. However, hardy bamboos can. Some of these hardy bamboos include yellow groove bamboo, water bamboo, Bissetii, Nuda, incense bamboo, blue fountain bamboo, dragon head bamboo, rufa, giant leaf bamboo, windbreak bamboo, and many more.

Most of these belong to the Phyllostachys and Fargesia genus of bamboos.

While some that normally can’t survive are tropical clumping or sympodial bamboos, as they are more used to warmer climates.

In buying and choosing the bamboo you’d like to take care of, it’s best to take note of your living conditions and the climate you’re in. Since weather tolerance differs for every species, it is essential that the bamboo you buy matches the weather in your area, so that it can survive and grow healthier.

Pieces of information like climate tolerance and what type of species your bamboo is can usually be asked to the seller or the gardener from whom you’re buying bamboos.

If you’re not sure about which one matches your living conditions, it is best to get the species that are most flexible and adaptive. You may also opt to look for different ways to protect your bamboos from the weather, like winterizing them.

This will further be discussed in the next section.

How to Care for Bamboo During the Winter

Though your bamboo may not be the most adaptable to cold climates, there are ways in which you can protect your bamboo and make it more adaptive to the season.

First, it is important to know that newly planted bamboos are usually more vulnerable and sensitive to extreme climates as they are just starting to adjust and establish themselves in the soil.

So, as bamboos get older, they also become less sensitive and vulnerable. But regardless of age, all bamboos should be protected.

You can do this through the following:

Planting In-Ground Instead of Containers

In-ground planting provides a lot more insulation and warmth as compared to using containers. Once containers freeze, it can cause damage to your bamboo a lot faster.

Use Mulch

Your bamboo just needs an extra layer of warmth which mulch can give. Even leaves and pine-straws work for this too. The best thing, mulch is also great even for summer, because it keeps the soil moist and prevents plant dehydration.

Insulate

You can make use of all the materials you readily have to give additional warmth to your planters. This can range from bubble wraps to blankets and many more.

Move Pots Indoors

If you’re planting bamboos in containers, it’s best to move the plant inside the house for the meantime, until weather conditions get better. This is to make sure that the bamboo will not be put to harm.

Pay Extra Attention to Small Plants

Your smaller and baby bamboo plants are again, a lot more sensitive to the cold. This being said, they need additional protection from the cold temperature. Some people opt to put them inside the house as well or cover them with a plastic bag or a trash bag, to give additional protection to them during long, cold climates.

Drainage

This is one of the most important things to keep in mind to make sure that you protect your bamboos from winter. When your soil is not well-drained, the water stays there, stuck in between the soil, and when winter comes, this lets the soil freeze much faster, which would then bring damage to your bamboo plants.

Summary

Though winter and bamboo are not necessarily two ideas that work together, we can see that we can find ways to make things work!

These are only among the few things you can do to make sure that your bamboo is protected during winter.

Not just bamboos and not just during winter, all your plants need protection from all types of extreme climates, and these efforts in keeping them alive matter!

So, no matter the season, make your plants’ health a priority!