Caring for King Julian
Light
Medium to bright light, and morning sun.
Water & humidity
Water when the top 5cm of soil is dry. The fastest way to kill a Bamboo Palm is to overwater or leave it in wet soil. King Julian enjoys the balmy Madagascan climate, so keep him away from cool breezes. Dry air or scorching afternoon light can lead to brown leaf tips.
Feeding
King Julian has the appetite of...well...yes, a king! His favourite cocktail is a Nitorgen rich plant food, like our Pokon Universal Fertiliser. Dilute the normal dose and feed monthly for best results.
Re-potting
Bamboo Palms can grow up to three metres and will need re-potting to accommodate growth. Re-pot every 1-2 years to one pot size up, King Julian likes to fit snugly in his throne. Also top up the potting soil every year to replace lost nutrients.
Atrium Top Tip
Brown tips all over the plant usually means there is a watering issue (although some brown tips are normal as a result of dry air). If the tips are crispy it usually means too little water. If the tips are yellowing and the leaves are falling out it is a sign of overwatering. Note: Yellow spots on leaves can indicate the plant is getting too much chlorine from our tap water. Flush out the chlorine build-up by letting a good dose of rainwater run through the pot.
Quirky plant fact
NASA’s Clean Air Study named the Bamboo Palm one of the best plants for removing significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene from the air.