Simon Bamboo (Medake) care

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Grows most vigorously in full sun, producing tall, strong culms. Tolerates partial shade but becomes less dense and culms may lean toward light. At least 5–6 hours of direct sunlight produces the best upright form and tallest growth. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for simon bamboo — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering simon bamboo: 2–3 times per week in summer, once per week in winter. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Requires reliable moisture, especially during the spring shooting season when new culms elongate rapidly. Water deeply and mulch the root zone. Established plants tolerate short dry spells but prolonged drought causes leaf rolling and culm dieback. Reduce watering in winter.

Soil and pot

Simon Bamboo grows best in deep, fertile, free-draining loam. Prefers deep, fertile loam or sandy loam that retains moisture yet drains freely. Incorporates well-rotted organic matter to aid moisture retention. Tolerates moderately heavy soils but struggles in waterlogged conditions. Neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0–7.0) preferred. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Simon Bamboo sits happiest at around 50–70% humidity and -15 to 35°C (5 to 95°F). Performs well in typical temperate outdoor humidity. In exposed, low-humidity or windy sites, leaf tips may brown and scorch. Windbreak planting on the prevailing wind side significantly reduces moisture stress. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed simon bamboo sparingly. Apply a high-nitrogen granular fertiliser (e.g. 20-10-10) in spring as new shoots push. Feed again with a balanced fertiliser in midsummer. Avoid autumn feeding which stimulates tender late growth vulnerable to frost damage. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on simon bamboo in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Rhizome spreading out of control — Simon Bamboo is a vigorous runner that can spread many metres per year in warm conditions. Install heavy-duty HDPE rhizome barriers at least 70 cm deep before planting. Monitor edges annually and sever escapees with a spade.
• Culm overcrowding reducing vigour — Established thickets become congested after 5–7 years. Thin out old and weak culms at ground level in late winter, leaving only the strongest canes from the past 2–3 seasons. This improves light penetration and culm quality.
• Leaf drop in cold winds — Severe cold or desiccating winter winds cause premature leaf drop. Provide windbreak protection on exposed sites. Plants re-leaf in spring; cut back any dead culm tips to healthy nodes.

Propagation

Propagate by dividing rhizomes in early spring. Cut sections of healthy rhizome 30–40 cm long with 2–3 culms attached. Plant in large pots or prepared ground at 5–10 cm depth and keep evenly moist until established. Large divisions establish faster than small ones. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Simon Bamboo is pet-safe. Pleioblastus simonii is a true bamboo in Poaceae. Bamboos are not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. No toxic alkaloids, glycosides, or oxalates are associated with this genus. Safe for dogs and cats. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Simon Bamboo deep-dive guides

Every aspect of simon bamboo care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common simon bamboo problems & fixes
• Simon Bamboo watering schedule
• Simon Bamboo light requirements
• Best soil mix for simon bamboo
• Simon Bamboo fertilizing guide
• When to repot simon bamboo
• How to propagate simon bamboo
• How to prune simon bamboo
• What's eating my simon bamboo?
• Simon Bamboo growth rate & size
• Simon Bamboo cold hardiness
• Simon Bamboo temperature & humidity
• Is simon bamboo toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is simon bamboo toxic to cats?
• Is simon bamboo toxic to dogs?
• All 8 Pleioblastus varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

Simon Bamboo qualifies for 11 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best pet-safe large indoor plants — Big, floor-standing houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — a statement plant that is safe around pets.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Simon Bamboo is also commonly called Simon Bamboo or Medake.

• Alocasia Brancifolia care — light, water and common problems
• Alocasia Triangularis care — light, water and common problems
• Alocasia Reversa care — light, water and common problems
• All 8452 plant care guides in the Growli library