There are many reasons why you may want to swap real bamboo plants for artificial ones. They are beautiful, low-maintenance, and a great alternative if you can’t grow living bamboo plants in your space. But can fake bamboo plants be enjoyed outdoors, or will they be destroyed by the elements?
The good news is that you can take most artificial bamboo plants outdoors for a short while. For longer periods of time, you can take measures to protect your faux bamboo plants from sun damage, wind, and extreme temperature changes to keep them looking like new. A few types of artificial bamboo plants are best kept indoors year-round.
We’ll go over the different ways you can enjoy having artificial bamboo plants outdoors, some problems you may encounter, and steps to protect and maintain your artificial bamboo outside so you can enjoy it for years to come!
Do you want to jump ahead?
Reasons to have artificial bamboo plants outdoors
There are many reasons why you might want to opt for artificial bamboo over the real thing. Luckily, faux plants have come a long way in recent years, and artificial bamboo plants can look just as beautiful as true bamboo. Many people might not even notice the difference!
Here are a few reasons for keeping artificial bamboo plants outdoors:
If you can’t grow bamboo naturally (or don’t want to)
Bamboo grows natively in 5 out of 7 continents, including North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can cultivate bamboo in every corner of the earth.
You may not have the conditions to successfully grow bamboo to its best potential. Rather than have dying or struggling bamboo in your garden, you may want to enjoy the appearance of bamboo without worrying about its care needs.
Likewise, if you have just a small outdoor space such as a balcony or patio, you may prefer artificial bamboo. Although you can successfully grow bamboo in pots, potted bamboo can get unruly and requires regular maintenance. Faux bamboo plants, by contrast, require little care or space.
You may also prefer artificial bamboo plants for your outdoor space if you simply don’t want to deal with keeping plants alive. Whether you think you have a “black thumb” or are looking for low-maintenance greenery, artificial bamboo can be a great alternative.
If you’re concerned about invasive bamboo
There are several species of running bamboo that can be quite invasive if allowed to spread. If you love the appearance of bamboo but don’t want to have to install root barriers, you may enjoy artificial bamboo instead.
Different ways that you can use artificial bamboo outdoors
If you’ve been wondering how artificial bamboo might enhance your outdoor space, there are several ways that you can use artificial bamboo outdoors!
Privacy
Just because it isn’t real bamboo doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the benefits of true bamboo! Whether you hope to create a privacy fence on your patio or deck, or place it in front of a window to give your interior some additional privacy, artificial bamboo is a great and flexible choice.
Hedging
Tall artificial bamboo plants make excellent decorative dividers while shorter faux bamboo plants make excellent hedging, particularly if you have a small space. Faux bamboo hedging is perfect for creating separate zones in your outdoor area. Not to mention, they are quite beautiful!
Decor
If there’s an unsightly exterior wall on your house, but you don’t have the time or budget to fix it, artificial bamboo plants can help provide a decorative cover-up. It’s a flexible way to give that area a more refreshing look, as artificial bamboo can be quite a lovely replacement.
What’s great about using artificial bamboo to decorate your exterior is that it isn’t permanent, which is great for renters!
How to protect your outdoor artificial bamboo
Bamboo is one of the hardiest and fastest-growing grasses on the planet. Artificial bamboo plants, however, are not quite as durable outdoors as they are indoors.
Elements like snow, wind, humidity, and sun can damage your beautiful artificial bamboo.
Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect your faux bamboo plants even in extreme conditions.
UV protection
Unlike real bamboo, artificial bamboo plants cannot turn the sun’s rays into food with photosynthesis. Depending on the material, the sun’s rays can cause artificial bamboo plants to fade and even crack.
If you want to use artificial bamboo plants outdoors, you can select ones that are designed specifically for outdoor use with built-in UV protection. These outdoor faux bamboo plants are coated in a chemical stabilizer that absorbs the UV, ultimately protecting the plant. Think of it like a permanent sunscreen!
Some artificial plants are sprayed with UV-resistant chemicals after the manufacturing process, which occasionally results in an uneven coating.
For best results, buy a UV protectant spray and coat your artificial bamboo plants before placing them outdoors and again every 6 months to a year.
Water
Unless you keep your faux bamboo plants under protection outdoors, there’s a good chance they’ll get wet. For plastic bamboo plants, this shouldn’t cause any damage.
Unfortunately, some kinds of faux bamboo with silk leaves simply aren’t made for the outdoors, and getting them wet can cause the colors to run! The result is an unsightly artificial bamboo plant and money wasted.
To prevent water from ruining your outdoor bamboo, make sure to purchase artificial bamboo plants designed for outdoor use. This usually means that the leaves will be plastic.
While not as delicate as silk, these still result in a realistic bamboo display.
If you’re absolutely bent on taking a silk bamboo plant outdoors, you can try to protect the leaves by coating it with a waterproofing spray.
Wind
Wind can also be a problem for your outdoor artificial bamboo. Unlike living bamboo, faux bamboo plants aren’t rooted to the ground.
Additionally, they tend to be much lighter and as a result, they can easily be knocked over, shredded, or broken if caught in powerful wind gusts.
To keep your artificial bamboo plants safe from strong winds, place them in a wind-protected spot as much as possible, such as next to a fence or wall.
You can also find a way to affix your artificial bamboo to a wall, lattice, or tree, but depending on the type of artificial foliage, you may want to keep it protected from wind altogether.
It’s also a good idea to keep your faux bamboo in a sturdy pot. Most artificial bamboo plants will come in a small plastic pot, which you can then place into a larger decorative cachepot with stones for more stability.
Make sure the pot is sturdy and proportionate to the foliage so it doesn’t become too top-heavy, which can also cause it to topple over.
Cold temperatures
Some types of plastic will become brittle and break in extremely cold temperatures, so you may want to consider bringing your fake bamboo plants indoors during the winter.
Luckily, artificial bamboo tends to be lighter and easier to move around, and you can easily make a stunning arrangement with your bamboo once brought indoors.
Other tips for keeping artificial bamboo outdoors
There are a few more ways that you can ensure that your artificial bamboo stays in good shape so you can enjoy keeping it outdoors longer! Once your artificial bamboo is set up in a great spot with reasonable protection from the elements, there are only a few easy steps to maintain it throughout the years.
Pruning
That’s right, you can prune your outdoor bamboo, too, if there are any unsightly leaves that impact the overall appearance of your artificial bamboo. Faded leaves and broken leaves can be snipped off as desired.
Remember, your artificial bamboo won’t grow any more leaves to replace the ones you prune, so prune wisely!
Some faux plants and leaves contain wire, so it’s best to save your pruning shears for the real plants and use wire cutters instead.
Cleaning
Cleaning your artificial bamboo plants is crucial to keeping them in great shape. Anything kept outdoors is likely to become dusty or dirty over time, so giving it a good cleaning at least once each year will help keep it looking its best and will ensure that it lasts longer outdoors.
FAQ about artificial bamboo plants
Will artificial bamboo outdoors attract insects?
While some insects may hide in the leaves of your artificial bamboo for protection from the elements, artificial bamboo doesn’t inherently attract bugs because there isn’t a food source available for them. As long as you keep up with cleaning your artificial bamboo plants, bugs and insects shouldn’t be a major concern.
Are artificial bamboo plants safe for children and pets?
If you keep artificial bamboo plants on your balcony, you might be worried about whether they are toxic for your children or pets. Generally, these are safe to keep around children and pets.
However, they are not edible, so it would be best to call your doctor or veterinarian if you suspect your child or pet has consumed your artificial plants. Another concern would be securing the artificial bamboo so it doesn’t tip over and cause injury.
How long will artificial bamboo plants last outdoors?
You should be able to get many years out of your artificial bamboo outdoors as long as you take care of it properly and protect it from extreme weather. It will last even longer if you can bring it indoors or in a garage if the weather starts to turn.
