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Monk's Belly Bamboo

About Monk's Belly Bamboo

Monk's Belly Bamboo is a popular houseplant 🌿 that is a fun challenge to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Monk's Belly Bamboo likes soil that is well draining. You may want to supplement with a gentle, organic fertilizer throughout the peak growing season.

Monk's Belly Bamboo belongs to the Phyllostachys genus, and is native to China to Vietnam.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Phyllostachys aurea

Genus

Phyllostachys

Family

Poaceae

Order

Poales

Also known as

Monk's belly bamboo, Golden Bamboo, fishpole bamboo and fairyland bamboo

How to care for Monk's Belly Bamboo

💦 Water

How often to water your Monk's Belly Bamboo

Monk's Belly Bamboo 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?

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Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Monk's Belly Bamboo in your home

Monk's Belly Bamboo love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

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

Monk's Belly Bamboo does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Monk's Belly Bamboo in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Monk's Belly Bamboo

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Monk's Belly Bamboo: 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 Monk's Belly Bamboo after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Can anyone help me save these Bambusa Oldhamii? These were sent to me today from Florida. They're almost 3 feet tall. The boxes had been compeltely crushed, but that didn't seem to be the main issue. It's the care from the nursery I bought them from. I'm very new to plant care in general. And this is just a mess. One of them, the main stalk, is 3/5 broken. Enough to bend down but not completely snapped. I stood it back up with a bamboo pole that I had from another plant, im not sure if it can heal back together like some tree branches can since this is technically a grass. As you can see, there is immense yellowing of the leaves, even the green ones are dry and crispy. The soil was wet (and one has sprouts of some other plant popping up??). I did a full water, draining into my sink, and they're getting what afternoon sun we have left. But considering their condition, I don't know how much or what type of light is best right now. I do know that they need to be watered very frequently, but that's all I have right now. I was planning on transplanting these to my backyard to block off my porch, but to grow them indoors for the hot season in large pots. If anyone can lend any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, these are Giant Timber Bamboo. Greg just doesn't have that species registered. #bamboo #timberbamboo

Browse #Phyllostachys

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Monk's Belly Bamboo can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Monk's Belly Bamboo →

Common Monk's Belly Bamboo Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Monk's Belly Bamboo 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.

Monk's Belly Bamboo Water Frequency →

Monk's Belly Bamboo Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Monk's Belly Bamboo 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 🏡.

Monk's Belly Bamboo Light Requirements →

Monk's Belly Bamboo Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Monk's Belly Bamboo 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

Monk's Belly Bamboo does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Monk's Belly Bamboo →

When and How to Successfully Repot Monk's Belly Bamboo →

What Are Healthy Monk's Belly Bamboo Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Monk's Belly Bamboo 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 Monk's Belly Bamboo →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Monk's Belly Bamboo grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Monk's Belly Bamboo Lifecycle →

Monk's Belly Bamboo Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Monk's Belly Bamboo →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Monk's Belly Bamboo can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 6a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Monk's Belly Bamboo Temperature Tolerance →

Monk's Belly Bamboo Hardiness Zones →

Is Monk's Belly Bamboo a Weed? →

🍂 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 Monk's Belly Bamboo, 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.