Bamboo

Hello there! I was wondering if someone could offer some advice on growing bamboo indoors. I have two stalks that were a gift several years ago, and they have flourished wonderfully. They even survived an accident, when the vase was knocked over and shattered. I re-homed them in a slightly larger glass vase, filled with stones and water, and they've been on display on my kitchen chopping block ever since.

My dilemma, though, is this: they've gotten too big (high!) for the vase and are bowing down. I tried lacing them together to keep them upright, but now the stalks are growing crooked. My grandmother has been telling me to plant them in a large pot with soil, and I'm pondering the idea because in dirt, I could stake them up.

I was thinking of buying one of those self-watering containers, considering they live in straight-up water now; will that be healthy for them? Any suggestions on a soil mix bamboo would prefer? Any methods on how to spare them shock when I transplant? Also, can they be moved outside for the summer without harm? I really know nothing about growing bamboo, and am rather horrible with houseplants... any help would be much appreciated!

Thank you,

~ Heather :)