Plant care
Moso Bambootemperature & humidity
Phyllostachys edulis
More about moso bamboo
Ideal temperature for moso bamboo
Moso Bamboo is comfortable in any room a person is comfortable in, roughly -15 to 38°C (5 to 100°F). The mistakes are micro-climates: a north-facing window on a frosty night, a south-facing windowsill in a summer heatwave, the standing draught between an opened kitchen door and the radiator behind it. Read the room around the plant, not the thermostat. Below roughly -15°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Moso Bamboo is comparatively hardy (USDA 6-10, RHS H5). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for moso bamboo
Moso Bamboo sits happiest at around 50–80% relative humidity. Naturally adapted to humid, subtropical climates. In dry climates or during hot summers, supplemental irrigation and mulching help maintain adequate soil moisture around the rhizome network. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Moso Bamboo temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for moso bamboo?
Moso Bamboo grows best between -15 to 38°C (5 to 100°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can moso bamboo tolerate?
Moso Bamboo starts to suffer below roughly -15°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 6-10, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does moso bamboo need?
Moso Bamboo prefers about 50–80% relative humidity. Naturally adapted to humid, subtropical climates. In dry climates or during hot summers, supplemental irrigation and mulching help maintain adequate soil moisture around the rhizome network.
How do I raise humidity for moso bamboo?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can moso bamboo live outside?
Moso Bamboo is rated for USDA zone 6-10 and RHS hardiness H5. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More moso bamboo care
In the UK? Keeping moso bamboo warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full moso bamboo care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.