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Botanical name: Chamaedorea erumpens
Family: Arecaceae
Sufamily: Arecoideae
Common name: Bamboo Palm
Chamaedorea erumpens commonly called Bamboo Palm is an easy plant to grow indoors and is also known to be a good indoor air clean.
The yellowish bamboo-like canes and beautiful deep-green broad leaflets make Bamboo Palm stand out as a focal point plant.
Chamaedorea erumpens belongs to a group of palms called cane palms which produce tall reed-like stems which look like bamboo-like canes when mature.
Chamaedorea erumpens can grow to a height of 6-10 ft under good conditions but Bamboo Palm grows slowly and may take a few years to reach the average height of 6ft.
Once grown and mature apart from being attractive, Chamaedorea erumpens also produces flowers followed by bright-orange fruits.
The Bamboo Palm fruits contain oxalic acid which can irritate skin; wear gloves when handling and are also toxic to humans and pets.
According to the NASA Clean Air Study, Chamaedorea erumpens was found to get rid of common VOCs like xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloethylene from indoor air.
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Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) grows best in partial shade, close to an east- or west-facing window.
Too much light will cause your Bamboo Palm to develop a yellowish color. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Keep the soil moderately moist at all times for Chamaoderea erumpens during the growing season.
Reduce watering your Bamboo Palm in the cold season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
Use chlorine-free water to water your Bamboo Palm; like all palms Bamboo Palm is sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water.
Avoid getting the base of your Bamboo Palm wet to prevent rotting. Do not allow the palm to sit in soggy soil as it may lead to root-rot and eventual death of the palm. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Average warmth with a minimum of 120C is ideal for Bamboo Palm. If the temperature is comfortable for you it is suitable for your Bamboo Palm.
Protect your palm from cold draughts. Check out this guide on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Bamboo Palm has no need for high humidity. However, it benefits from occasional misting of the leaves during the hot weather.
Occasionally clean the mature leaves of your Bamboo Palm by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust. Read more on how to clean houseplants.
Feed Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) monthly with a nitrogen-rich water-soluble fertilizer during the growing period.
Water your Bamboo Palm thoroughly until the solution comes out through the drainage holes inorder to get rid of any accumulated chemicals from the soil.
Withhold feeding your Bamboo Palm in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
Repot Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) at the beginning of the growing season only when the palm has become root-bound as Bamboo palm does not like root disturbance.
Use a pot 1-2 sizes larger that has a drainage hole and free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter for your Bamboo Palm.
Pruning Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) is easy. Cut away the old brown and dry fronds near the soil surface to maintain your palm neat and tidy.
Where the seeds are required for propagation, allow the fruits to mature and drop then cut away the spent flower stalk.
Where the seeds are not required, cut away the flower stalk immediately to prevent your Bamboo palm from wasting energy on developing the flowers and seeds. Read more on how to prune houseplants.
Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) can be propagated in three ways; from seeds, offshoots or by division.
Bamboo Palm seed germination is difficult and may take up to 4-6 months.
Sow the seeds in moist soil and place the set up in a warm place, about 300C.
Maintain the soil moist through out the period until germination takes place.
Lower the temperature slightly after germination and maintain the soil moist until the new Bamboo Palms are well established.
Carefully cut the offshoot from the mother Bamboo Palm. Ensure the offshoot has adequate roots before seperating it from the mother.
Pot the offshoot in its own pot, place in a cool shaded place and maintain the soil moist through out.
Allow the new Bamboo Palm to be well established before transplanting.
During repotting, divide Bamboo Palm into sections and pot up the sections in individual pots.
Place the set up in a cool shaded place and maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges.
Allow the new Bamboo Palm to be well established before transplanting.
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There are four reasons for brown leaf tips in your Bamboo Palm. Trim off the brown tips with sterilized scissors.
One reason for brown leaf tips in your Bamboo Palm is dry air. Raise humidity for your Bamboo Palm by setting the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The second reason for brown leaf tips in your Bamboo Palm is underwatering. Keep the soil for your Bamboo palm moderately moist at all times during the growing season.
Reduce watering in the cold season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
The third reason for brown leaf tips in your Bamboo Palm is cold draughts. Protect your Bamboo Palm from cold draughts or keep it away from draughts inorder to maintain an average warmth with a minimum of 120C.
The fourth reason for brown leaf tips in your Bamboo Palm is damage by touching. Keep your Bamboo Palm away from the line of traffic.
Underwatering Bamboo Palm is the reason for yellowing leaves. Keep the soil moderately moist at all times during the growing season. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Brown leaf spots in Bamboo Palm may be due to two reasons. Cut away the affected parts and discard.
One reason for brown leaf spots in your Bamboo Palm is overwatering. Keep the soil for your Bamboo palm moderately moist at all times during the growing season.
Reduce watering in the cold season and allow the soil to dry out between waterings.
The second reason for brown leaf spots in your Bamboo Palm is sudden decrease in temperature due to cold draughts.
Protect your Bamboo Palm from cold draughts or keep it away from draughts inorder to maintain an average warmth with a minimum of 120C.
The lower leaves in Bamboo Palm may turn brown and droop due to age; remove by cutting and not pulling.
However, if browning is general and accompanied by rotting the reason is root-rot disease due to soggy soil.
Common plant pests in Bamboo Palm are Red Spider Mites, Scales and Mealy Bugs.
Regularly check underneath the leaves of your Bamboo Palm for these pests. Isolate the affected Bamboo Palm to prevent spread to other houseplants.
The foliage of Bamboo Palm (Chamaoderea erumpens) is non-toxic to both humans and pets. However, the fruits (berries) are highly poisonous to both humans and pets.
It is important to prevent flowering by removing the flower stalks when they begin to form. The fruits contain oxalic acid which can irritate sensitive skin; always wear gloves when handling.
