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Giant Reed

About Giant Reed

This plant is best grown in a 5-20 gallon container and covered with 1-6 inches of water. Best suited for large water gardens. Very invasive and difficult to eradicate. Less cold-hardy than some of its counterparts.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Arundo donax

Genus

Arundo

Family

Poaceae

Order

Poales

Also known as

Giant reed grass, Giant cane, Elephant grass, Carrizo, Arundo, Spanish cane, Colorado river reed and Wild cane

How to care for Giant Reed

💦 Water

How often to water your Giant Reed

Giant Reed needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Giant Reed in your home

Giant Reed love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Giant Reed does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Giant Reed in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Giant Reed

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Giant Reed: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Giant Reed after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Hi. Will this plant survive the winter in NC. Zone 7. It’s in a 20 inch pot currently. #GiantReed

Browse #GiantReed

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Giant Reed is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Giant Reed →

Common Giant Reed Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Giant Reed prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Giant Reed Water Frequency →

Giant Reed Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Giant Reed requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Giant Reed Light Requirements →

Giant Reed Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Giant Reed is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Giant Reed is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Giant Reed →

When and How to Successfully Repot Giant Reed →

What Are Healthy Giant Reed Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Giant Reed is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Giant Reed →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Giant Reed grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Giant Reed Lifecycle →

Giant Reed Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Giant Reed →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Giant Reed can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-10b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Giant Reed Temperature Tolerance →

Giant Reed Hardiness Zones →

Is Giant Reed a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Giant Reed can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Giant Reed →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Giant Reed, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.