What to consider before shopping for bamboo:

1. Location
Where is it being planted? In the ground? In a concrete planter? Near a neighbor's fence-line? These factors will help us determine which species is best for your application. ​

2. Space
Some people want instant height when they plant their bamboo, but if you only have a 2’ x 2’ area to plant in, you will need to start off with a smaller container, which usually means a shorter plant.
Measure the width, length and depth of your planting area before shopping. This will also help determine how many bamboo you will need to purchase. Instant Jungle offers bamboo in 15 gallon containers all the way to 36” boxes. Our experienced sales team can help you determine how far apart to plant your bamboo plants. 

3. Design/Coverage
Are you trying to create a dense screen between your yard and a neighbor's? Does your courtyard need one really spectacular specimen plant? Is there a particular landscape theme you have in mind? Our sales team would be happy to walk you through the best options for any type of application. 
Style matters! Does the color, shade, or shape of your bamboo matter to you? Do you prefer striped bamboo, green bamboo, black bamboo, straight bamboo or curvy bamboo? Did you even know there were so many types of bamboo? Fret not, we have detailed pictures of all the varieties we carry HERE.

4. Height 
How tall do you want it to get? Will you be able to trim your bamboo? Are there power lines you need to watch out for? Instant Jungle carries bamboo that grow to a variety of maximum heights. Our bamboo descriptions HERE will tell you the maximum height of each species we carry. 

​5. Clumpers vs. Runners
Instant Jungle carries two different types of bamboo, clumpers and runners. 
The biggest difference between these two is the way the root systems work. ​The roots of clumping bamboos are short and grow close together in a circular pattern, at a very slow rate. The roots of running bamboos are rhizomes that can “run” underground, spreading far and wide at a fast rate. ​

6. Maintenance
​All species require ample sunlight, drainage, and water.  Make sure your bamboo has access to all of these before planting. Both clumpers and runners require regular maintenance to keep them from overgrowing an area or becoming unhealthy looking. We recommend trimming and thinning out your bamboo every few months.

If you have considered all of the above, you are ready to start shopping for bamboo! If you have any further questions or concerns, our experienced sales team is available to help you.

Which wall is right for you? 
 
​We are proud to work with Tournesol Siteworks to create the most durable and sustainable live plant walls available today. Below, you will find information on  the different systems we work with to create gorgeous custom plant walls; the VGP, VGM and TerraScreen. 
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VGM
The VGM module is our go-to for commercial properties and succulent plant walls. The steel mounting rails can be connected to any structurally sound wall and the system is designed and tested to withstand extreme wind loads.
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The recycled plastic modules are filled with Tournesol’s VGM3 Media Block, a lightweight growing media that allows plants optimum growth and stability. We recommend a grow-in period of 1 to 3 months to allow plant roots to become established within the system before on-site installation. Instant Jungle assembles, plants, stores and maintains systems so that they look their best before installation.  

We highly recommend this system for succulents, but micro-conditions (temperature, sun, exposure, wind), desired maintenance schedule, soil profile and overall look of the wall should be considered before choosing plants. ​

Author: Kathryn Newman ​