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Eric
07-12-2009, 02:13 PM
Hi Guys :),
Since joining the forum, I have encountered many questions concerning bamboo. For those interested, I offer this generalized rule-of-thumb guide in the hopes that it will generate an evolving knowlege-base, for enthusiasts, within the body of this thread.

A Beginner's Guide to Growing Bamboo

:) TAXONOMY
Family : Gramineae / Genus : Bambuseae / Genus : Phyllostachys
Species of Bambusa tend to be tropical, clumping bamboos while the Phyllostachys tend to be temperate, runner types.
(clumpers = sympodial / runners = monopodial)
zB.: A runner-type is said to be a monopodial bamboo.
:) SOIL PREPARATION
Bamboos do best in a light, sandy, well-draining soil. Additions of peat, compost, and/or manure are also beneficial.
:) CARE : NEW SHOOTS
I'm listing this first due to the sensitivity of the new shoots. Bamboos typically send up new shoots in the spring but sometimes in the fall, as well.
These shoots are Extremely Sensitive.
The shoots rise from the ground with neither leaf nor limb. The growing leaves & limbs are contained within tan sheaths between the nodes. Hand pressure can seriously damage these new leaves & limbs. Take care that you touch them only very Lightly until the limbs emerge from the sheaths. - The shoots are spear-headed & are the diameter they will remain after rising from the ground. Once they've reached the height they will be, within a week or so the leaves & limbs will unfold, extending now from the nodes. At this point, it will still take days for the leaves to reach thier full size. Once finished, with exception to periodic leaf regeneration, growth stops.
:) CARE : GENERAL
Bamboos tend to, usually, be quite drought resistant and require very little fertilizing. They are, however, water-lovers and will grow faster & healthier with frequent watering and a feeding every month or two. This is offered as a rule of thumb; there are species that are quite particular as concerns water and feeding. If the leaves are curled along the length of the leaf, the bamboo is thirsty.
:) WIND
While a potential hazard for some younger bamboos, I've found little need to provide protective structures for those 5 feet or more in stature.
:) LEAF REGENERATION
Every spring - sometimes fall - most of the leaves will turn yellow & drop off of the culms. Do Not Panic. Bamboo remains active & green year-round. New leaves will be produced to replace the old, worn-out ones.
:) AESTHETIC CARE : GENERAL
Within about 3-7 years (typical for many), culms will finally die. Wearing protective gloves, simply cut them at least 1/2 inch below ground-level as the stumps are quite firm & easy to trip-up on.
:) AESTHETIC CARE : PRUNING
With no damage to the plant, whatsoever, bamboos can be 'topped'. Bamboo appears to be made-up of fingers & joints. The 'joints' are called nodes. To control height (for a hedge or bush effect), simply cut at a node at the desired height.
Also, thinning may be desired to ensure good sunlight; Most bamboos, with exception to some mountain types, love lots of sunlight.
:) CURING TIMBER
Thanx Beth! - Several methods are available. I prefer the time-honoured smoke-house technique: Within a sealed & confined space, create cement trenches in this order - A 4' wide culm trench (the length of & for the bamboo), a 2' wide walkway path, a 2' wide fire-trench (for burning wood, etc, to produce smoke), then repeat this series of trenches for the number of culm trenches required. Keep the unit tightly sealed off & smoke the culms for 2 weeks. To ensure that the culms do not curl along thier lengths, bricks may be lain to either side of the culms. The culms are now ready for building purposes. Also, blowing boric acid through the culms can help to strengthen the wood.
:) PESTS
Bamboos have no appreciable enemies.
:) DISEASE
Bamboos are resistant to virtually all known diseases.
:) RADIOACTIVITY
At Ground Zero, in 1945 Hiroshima Japan, the local bamboos sent new shoots through the irradiated soil a few days after the nuclear detonation. They not only grew, but thrived.
:) SUBTERRANEAN ACTIVITY
The rhizomes I've encountered are thick (generally 1/4" or more) and covered with a thick, gnarly mat of often hair-thin roots that can be quite sharp. The mat typically extends 2-4" from the rhizome. I always wear leather gloves when dealing with these. While most rhizomes are shallow, they can extend downward as much as 2 1/2' (small bamboos) to nearly 3' (large bamboos) into the ground. Pressures at 3 feet, however, do provide good resistance if natural clay is present at that depth (which is common).
:) PROPOGATION
To insure an identical species, rhizome propogation is best. In the spring, remove the soil from a rhizome (if necessary, as some rhizomes rise from the soil & snake back into the ground). Look for a bright (light-colored) bud along the upper surface. Once located, cut off a 1.5' section of the rhizome with the bright bud centered along the length. Plant in ground or pot - about an inch or so deep - and a new shoot will emerge within days, though sometimes more.
:) FLOWERING
Pray That It Does Not. Depending on species, Bamboos flower every 7-120 years. Moso is closer to the 120 mark. Because flowering is genetically encoded (timed) & since all bamboos, of a specific species, are propogated from a single mother plant, Flowering is Gregarious & Global: When a specific species flowers, it flowers all over the world and, within a short given time, dies all over the world.
While the flowers share a similar, visual structure with Bird of Paradise, they are Quite UN-spectacular, have no scent, no appreciable color, & produce no nectar. Pollination is strictly air-borne & by Incidental contact.
:) HISTORICAL FLOWERING
In the 1960's, Phyllostachys Bambusoides 'Castillonis' flowered. At the same moment, all of that species flowered all over the world. Bamboo enthusiasts in Germany collected seeds in an attempt to preserve the species. Thier efforts were successfull. The species was later re-introduced to the U.S. by the ABS (American Bamboo Society). A beautiful variably-striped bamboo, to this day, it is still somewhat scarce.
:) CONTAINMENT
While the root-balls of clumping bamboos expand mere inches per year, the rhizomes of runner bamboos can traverse as much as 12 feet & more per year. Since the rhizomes & new shoots can be potentially damaging to sidewalks, driveways, foundations, and other domestic structures, there is a vital need for containment. Some such infractions have actually resulted in legal suits against the enthusiast.
The best protection is by digging (for larger bamboos) a 30" deep trench (in 'circular' formation). Check first to learn where underground phone lines etc are located. The trench is most effective if dug at a very slight angle outward from the containment area. For large bamboos, 30" wide, 6 mil thick, high-density polyurethane is best. Special 2-sided, task-specific tape is typically offered for sealing the ends where they meet. While a simple trench & regular patrolling (with a sharp instrument) is possible, it is much more tasking & erosion can facilitate infractions. Concrete is ineffective due to cracking underground. Posthole diggers can be used for digging the trench. Insert the polyurethane rhizome-barrier in the ground leaving about an inch of the barrier above ground, secure the ends firmly with the 2-sided tape, then fill in the trench with soil. The rhizomes may yet, at times, snake out of the ground & rise over the wall. Simply clip these with a sharp shovel.
:) FOOD PREPARATION (Takenoko)
While young bamboo shoots are generally edible, ingestion of sufficient quantity of raw shoots can be hazardous. Moso bamboo is somewhat bitter & Must be cooked, prior to ingestion, due to potentially toxic concentrations of cyanogens in the shoots. For additional information on edible shoots, see:
http://agsyst.wsu.edu/bambroc.pdf
See also, Phyllostachys Aurea - the 4th 'Interesting' Bamboo species listed below. Tabeyo!!

SOME INTERESTING BAMBOO SPECIES

:) DREPANOSTACHYUM KHASIANUM BAMBOO
Aka, Khasia bamboo, Aka, Blue Hawaiian bamboo.
This is a Mountain bamboo of the genus Bambusa. A beautiful blue bamboo with purple bands above the white nodes and rainbow-like blue, horizontal colorations. Hates southwest & lower southern states... but I Luv a challenge! Origins are the lower elevations of the Himalayas in Nepal, Sikkim, & Bhutan. Hardy to 20 degrees F. Recommended for USDA zones 8b-9. Hates high-heat & humidity. Grows to 20' tall with a 1-1.5" culm. Performs best in a shady location.
:) PHYLLOSTACHYS HETEROCYCLA PUBESCENS
Aka, Moso Timber bamboo, Aka, Big Timber bamboo. A runner-type & very slow grower. The largest of the temperate timber bamboos. Has thin, short, satin-like leaves. Grows from 75-90' tall with up-to 7" diameter green culms. Hardy to -5 degrees F. Young shoots are edible. The timber is used in China for construction & bridge building.
Vital : Refer to "Food Preparation", above, concerning edible shoots.
:) PHYLLOSTACHYS VIRIDIS
Aka, Robert Young. Named after the man who first introduced it into the U.S.. A runner type. Culms start out green then turn yellow or old-gold. Though a fast grower, it tends to send up few new shoots (per year) compared to others and is, therefore, sometimes difficult to find for purchase. Culms often exhibit green vertical striping. Grows to 40' tall with 2.5-3" diameter culms. Has broad, shiney, 3-5" leaves. Hardy to -5 degrees F. Prized in Japan for fine-furniture making. Also, especially combined with Henon, the boiled shoots are quite tastey.
:) PHYLLOSTACHYS AUREA
Aka, Golden bamboo, Aka, Yellow Groove bamboo. Thanx for the reminder, Sandy! Common to shady woodlands of east Asia & southeast China. Canes are about 15mm diameter & about 18' tall. Hardy in Zone-6. In a reported event (Sandy), the rhizomes survived a brief period at -25 degrees F. While the canes died back, it sent up new shoots the following spring. Flowering occurs every few years. As the flowers (of this species) are hermaphroditic & since bamboo pollination is an air-borne process, covering the tops during flowering should suffice to insure seed of the identical species. Prefers a shady location. Unlike many bamboos, this one is Not drought-resistant; keep soil consistently moist. Reputed to produce the best tasting shoots of any bamboo of this genus. In the spring, harvest shoots that are 8 cm (in height) above ground-level. Cut these shoots about 5 cm below ground-level. Then grab a good recipee book! For other great Cuisine, Sweet Shoot bamboo (Phyllostachys Dulcis) is an absolute fave due to the sugary-sweet taste & because it requires much less cooking time to eliminate the inherent bitterness of bamboo.

Thanx to Bob, Lorax, & Sandy0225 for inputs & for the inspiration!

momoese
07-12-2009, 02:28 PM
Nicely done Jim!

Is the Blue Hawaiian a clumper or runner?

Eric
07-12-2009, 02:36 PM
Thanx :) Momoese !
The Blue Hawaiian is a clumping variety and one of the most Beautiful bamboos I've ever seen - and I've seen hundreds!
There's an excellent close-up shot at:
Bamboo color - red bamboo, black bamboo, blue bamboo (http://bamboonursery.com/bamboo_color.htm)
Just click on the 1st entry (in red-lettering) under "blue & white bamboos".

momoese
07-12-2009, 03:13 PM
That color is amazing! Too bad it doesn't last.

momoese
07-12-2009, 03:15 PM
Are you familiar with Mexican Weeping Bamboo? I see quite a bit around town and really like the look.

Eric
07-12-2009, 03:19 PM
Are you familiar with Mexican Weeping Bamboo? I see quite a bit around town and really like the look.

Wow! Now that's a new one on me (especially since I grew up in Oklahoma and grow Mexican sunflowers). I'll check that out. BTW, if ya like hummingbirds, Mexican sunflowers attract them in droves :).

Simply Bananas
07-12-2009, 03:25 PM
My favorite bamboo.
Saw it in Costa Rica last fall at the Wilson Botanical Gardens in the middle of nowhere.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/100_6332.jpg

My wife for scale.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/100_6329.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/100_6331.jpg
Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger bamboo!


Then a look up:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/100_6334_1.jpg

Bob
07-12-2009, 03:48 PM
Outstanding job! :woohoonaner:

rich985
07-12-2009, 04:15 PM
Did you know that bamboo can grow through a person in just a few days laying down on the ground? It was used as torture years ago.

Eric
07-12-2009, 04:22 PM
Thanx :) Bob!

Thanx for the awesome pics, Simply Bananaboos! Sorry... but that's some sweeeeeet bamboo!!!!!! Wish I could grow that here!

Eric
07-12-2009, 04:25 PM
Did you know that bamboo can grow through a person in just a few days laying down on the ground? It was used as torture years ago.

Anyone who believes it's no longer a method of torture, hasn't seen me & my little brother going at it :).

BTW, Has anyone seen some of the incredible pressed-board lumber being made from bamboo fibers, lately :) ?

Dalmatiansoap
07-12-2009, 06:01 PM
Good job Jim! Great thread. I was looking someting like this sometime ago.
:woohoonaner:

Eric
07-12-2009, 06:32 PM
Thanx :) Ante!
Over the past more than 5 years, I found bamboo info to be very scattered & hard to locate; kind of figured it could use a little quick clarity :).
Hope to see my thread attract a lot of great new info on the subject!
Give it about 4 or 5 more weeks & I'll be up dancing around like that :) !

conejov
07-12-2009, 07:13 PM
Great Thread! I think this will be good for those who want to start growing bamboo. Im growing Buddha Belly from seed its only 8 inches tall but ina year or two they should be big enough to plant in ground.

Eric
07-12-2009, 07:20 PM
Great Thread! I think this will be good for those who want to start growing bamboo. Im growing Buddha Belly from seed its only 8 inches tall but ina year or two they should be big enough to plant in ground.

Thanx :) !
Luv Buddah Belly!! Hope ya post some pics! Also, will luv hearing how that project comes along. When did ya start the seeds?

Simply Bananas
07-12-2009, 07:43 PM
We have Moso, Oldhamii, and multiplex riversrun yellow and green variegated. Oldham struggles, but the rest kicks.

Eric
07-12-2009, 07:51 PM
We have Moso, Oldhamii, and multiplex riversrun yellow and green variegated. Oldham struggles, but the rest kicks.

Awesome :) !! I'll be watching :) !
Also, I would like to invite members to set up 'reply' boxes, in this thread, to record thier work & progress with the various species :). I think this would be very beneficial & rewarding - especially since edits can be added to record progressively recent progress.
This thread could not only be Fun but a Very Useful Resource!!
:woohoonaner:

adrift
07-12-2009, 08:17 PM
Thanx :) Ante!
Over the past more than 5 years, I found bamboo info to be very scattered & hard to locate; kind of figured it could use a little quick clarity :).
Hope to see my thread attract a lot of great new info on the subject!
Give it about 4 or 5 more weeks & I'll be up dancing around like that :) !


This is a good source: ttp://www.bambooweb.info/ (http://http://www.bambooweb.info/)

adrift
07-12-2009, 08:19 PM
Great Thread! I think this will be good for those who want to start growing bamboo. Im growing Buddha Belly from seed its only 8 inches tall but ina year or two they should be big enough to plant in ground.

Are you growing (giant) Bambusa tuldoides 'Ventricosa' or (dwarf) Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' ?

Eric
07-12-2009, 08:26 PM
This is a good source: ttp://www.bambooweb.info/ (http://http://www.bambooweb.info/)

Really appreciate the link, Adrift! However, I keep getting 'address not found' when I click on it. Might need to double check the address.
Think I see the problem. Maybe:
BambooWeb - Bamboo Information and Photos (http://www.bambooweb.info)

All right :) !! This one works !!
Still VERY Interested in hearing about MEMBER'S own special projects :) !

conejov
07-12-2009, 09:03 PM
Are you growing (giant) Bambusa tuldoides 'Ventricosa' or (dwarf) Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' ?


I have Bambusa Ventricosa I believe.

conejov
07-12-2009, 09:19 PM
Thanx :) !
Luv Buddah Belly!! Hope ya post some pics! Also, will luv hearing how that project comes along. When did ya start the seeds?
Im very excited t watch it gow.

I started the seeds about 3 months ago and its doing very well. Ill post some pics soon. it will some time in the future go to my Work in progress Tropical corner.

Eric
07-12-2009, 09:54 PM
Im very excited t watch it gow.

I started the seeds about 3 months ago and its doing very well. Ill post some pics soon. it will some time in the future go to my Work in progress Tropical corner.

8" in just 3 months? That's great! Definitely gotta try some seeds for that one.

Eric
07-13-2009, 08:16 AM
Good job Jim! Great thread. I was looking someting like this sometime ago.
:woohoonaner:

Keep looking like that :). All good things take time but Life Will get Better :).
:nanerwizard: :woohoonaner: :nanerwizard:

Eric
07-13-2009, 08:18 AM
That color is amazing! Too bad it doesn't last.

Wasn't aware of that aspect... Could you enlighten me?

Dalmatiansoap
07-13-2009, 08:48 AM
Michael, Im starting with 2-3 varieties from seeds. Just hope that I ll do them right:ha::ha::ha:.
Keep fingers crossed:nanadrink:
I guess I can count on your help?
:woohoonaner:

momoese
07-13-2009, 09:06 AM
Wasn't aware of that aspect... Could you enlighten me?

This is from the page you linked to.

"Blue bamboos, White bamboos and Red bamboos all have moments in their lives when they are absolutely blue, red or maybe white. But these are moments. The spectacular color usually occurs when the plant is putting up its newest canes. Blue and White bamboos throw new shoots that are covered with a lot of powder (sometimes called ‘bloom’). When the canes are covered in this powder they appear (convincingly) to be blue. If you look at the photos on this site you will see examples of this color. None of the photos have been digitally altered but they were taken at particular moments in the life of the plants."

Eric
07-13-2009, 09:39 AM
Michael, Im starting with 2-3 varieties from seeds. Just hope that I ll do them right:ha::ha::ha:.
Keep fingers crossed:nanadrink:
I guess I can count on your help?
:woohoonaner:

Always count on my help :). What varieties are you trying out?

Eric
07-13-2009, 09:41 AM
This is from the page you linked to.

"Blue bamboos, White bamboos and Red bamboos all have moments in their lives when they are absolutely blue, red or maybe white. But these are moments. The spectacular color usually occurs when the plant is putting up its newest canes. Blue and White bamboos throw new shoots that are covered with a lot of powder (sometimes called ‘bloom’). When the canes are covered in this powder they appear (convincingly) to be blue. If you look at the photos on this site you will see examples of this color. None of the photos have been digitally altered but they were taken at particular moments in the life of the plants."

Still be well worth it for some great snapshots :) !!
:woohoonaner:

Eric
07-13-2009, 09:44 AM
We have Moso, Oldhamii, and multiplex riversrun yellow and green variegated. Oldham struggles, but the rest kicks.

Great :) !! Could ya post some pics in the thread? It'd be Great :) !!

Eric
07-13-2009, 10:19 AM
Just to start the ball rolling on pix:
My Robert Young bamboo, this year. The darker green culms are Red Margin Bamboo.
INFO:
May 03 2004 12:26 pm : Finished planting the Red Margin Bamboo. It was a 2' tall 3-gallon plant.
May 17 2004 11:32 pm : Finished planting the Robert Young Bamboo. It was an 1'4" tall 2-gallon plant.
The Robert Young put up no new shoots the first year.
May 18 2004 08:30 am : Found new 3'6" Red Margin shoot.
May 19 2004 09:10 pm : New shoot now 4'7" tall.
May 22 2004 12:30 pm : New shoot now 6'11" tall.
May 23 2004 11:56 am : New shoot now 7'8" tall & discovered a new 2'11" Red Margin shoot.
June 02 2004 03:38 pm : sheets of hail coming down. Later, discovered no noticeable damage to the bamboos.
April 17 2005 12:56 pm : Found 18 new Red Margin bamboo shoots and, finally, 3 new Robert Young bamboo shoots. The Red Margin shoots, within a week or so, reached a height in excess of 9 feet. In same time period, Robert Youngs reached nearly 6'.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19233&size=1

A close-up of the 1.5" diameter culms. Not quite the Simply Bananas King Kongs but I Luv it!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19234&size=1

Would sure Luv to see pics of yours, guys ?)
:woohoonaner:

southlatropical
07-13-2009, 10:40 AM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19235&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=19235&ppuser=973)

B. chungii 'Barbellata'

The white color seems to be staying longer as the canes get bigger.

Eric
07-13-2009, 10:47 AM
Thanx :) SouthLaTropical!
That's one beautiful bamboo & one great shot!

:woohoonaner:

momoese
07-13-2009, 11:01 AM
I only have one Bamboo, Alphonse Karr. These pics are old, it's much bigger now!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=5135&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5135)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=5006&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=5006)

conejov
07-13-2009, 11:06 AM
I cant wait till mine is even half that size. heres my Bambusa Ventricosa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v94/llorona/Garden/DSC03998.jpg

momoese
07-13-2009, 11:20 AM
It'll be big in no time!

Eric
07-13-2009, 11:27 AM
Hi :) Alex (Conejov)!
Great start! I envy you - Mine's near fully grown but you? You're at the start of one fantastic adventure! You'll Luv it!

:woohoonaner:

Keep pics & info coming as you go... I'll be watching :) !!

Eric
07-13-2009, 11:33 AM
Hi :) Mitchel (Momoese) !
Luv that variable green-striping & I've always been wild about yellow bamboos!!

:woohoonaner:

lorax
07-13-2009, 11:34 AM
Here's Neurolepis nana, an Ecuadorean endemic running bamboo. In the last photo, that's my friend Claudia coming up the hill - this stuff forms groves that cover whole mountainsides. It's got flechettes (little sharp spiky structures) at the base of each rosette of leaflets all along the culm, which means that one has to be cautious when travelling though it, since these are often right at eye level, and just long enough to be dangerous. Shoots of N. nana are part of the staple diet of both the Spectacled Bears and the people in the area.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/HabloPorArboles/AndeanBamboo2.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh196/HabloPorArboles/AndeanBamboo1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b8/NeurolepisGrove.JPG/800px-NeurolepisGrove.JPG

Eric
07-13-2009, 11:51 AM
Hey :) Beth, Luv those bamboo jungles!!
That makes twice, now, that I've come across bamboos that employ thorns as a defensive mechanism. Fascinating.

Thanx for the great shots!!

conejov
07-13-2009, 11:53 AM
I didnt know they had bamboo in Ecuador. I learned something new.

Eric
07-14-2009, 10:24 AM
I didnt know they had bamboo in Ecuador. I learned something new.

I'm beginning to wonder if they don't have it everywhere but the polar caps :ha: !
BTW, I'm new at this 'forum' stuff and have only been in Bananas.org since May 7 this year. What is 'my Work in progress tropical corner' & how do ya find it?

lorax
07-14-2009, 10:59 AM
Conejo, if you really want the mindbender, we have our own bears that eat it, too.

Thank you, National Geo! They never look this nice when you come face to face with 'em in the wild...
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/spectacled-bear.jpg

This eats bamboo!

Bob
07-14-2009, 11:07 AM
Come on fess up lorax, is that your pet? Looks kind of like a sun bear but I don't think trhey care for the tropics much. Does look to be something you'd have around the house though!

Eric
07-14-2009, 11:30 AM
Come on fess up lorax, is that your pet? Looks kind of like a sun bear but I don't think trhey care for the tropics much. Does look to be something you'd have around the house though!

I think it's smiling :) ! Luv that haircut!

lorax
07-14-2009, 11:42 AM
Bob, I'd never keep a bear as a pet. I'm still getting used to the concept of "bears that won't eat me" truth be known - being from Northern Canada, I've got a healthy respect for "bears that will eat me" - ie Grizzlies, Blacks, Cinnamons, and Polars. The concept of a bear the size of a large German Shepherd dog, that subsists on Bamboo, is very odd to me.

I was honest when I said that was a National Geographic photo; Andean Spectacled Bears (Tremarctos ornatus) are in fairly sever danger of extinction, and I'm lucky that they range in the same forests as I do, which means that occasionally I see them. They're very shy; I'm more likely to meet Ocelots or Jaguars in the forest than I am Spectacled Bears.

ewitte
07-14-2009, 11:51 AM
They're very shy; I'm more likely to meet Ocelots or Jaguars in the forest than I am Spectacled Bears.

For some reason reminded me of this

Woman, 65, Saves Husband, 70, from Mountain Lion Attack - Associated Content (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/135964/woman_65_saves_husband_70_from_mountain.html)

lorax
07-14-2009, 11:55 AM
LOL! Big cats here are much more scared of you than the other way on. In the case of Jaguars, because they are capable of eating me, I just freeze and let them go their merry way. Normally, this means that they stand and look at me for a while, then pass by. I won't say it's not scary, because it is, but it's also pretty cool. Smaller big cats, like the Ocelots, are always above you in the trees, and they run away pretty fast.

Puma, on the other hand, scare the living crap out of me. I've encountered them a couple of times in my travels, and I always get the feeling that what we have is an uneasy detente, and if I didn't have that big stick I might be dinner.

Bob
07-14-2009, 11:57 AM
Beth sometimes I loose track of the fact that you're originally from a place where bears are true omnivores..........meaning we're on the menu occaisionally. I of all should have remembered that. Stay away from the jaguars too please..... and keep the big stick.

lorax
07-14-2009, 12:03 PM
As I said before, Jaguars and cats of that family don't bother me much. It's Pumas (Mountain Lions, Catamounts, Cougars, whatever you want to call cats that answer to Puma concolor) that give me the heebidy-jeebidies.

Eric
07-14-2009, 12:13 PM
:lurk: Heebidy-Jeebidies...!? LOL !! Luv it!!!!!!

Jack Daw
07-14-2009, 12:15 PM
Beth sometimes I loose track of the fact that you're originally from a place where bears are true omnivores..........meaning we're on the menu occaisionally. I of all should have remembered that. Stay away from the jaguars too please..... and keep the big stick.
In our mountains they learnt to eat even what we toss out often wandering into mountain cities and causing havocs. It's not rare to see a "family" of 20 to 30 bears wandering on an empty promenade in a mountain city.
Yep. And try to hunt them down or scare them.

Once I was in a park close to the Carpathian highest peeks in here and I saw 2 policemen standing over 2 dead police fighting horses (you know those, 2 to 3m high, like a small truck, fatter, strong, aggressive...) that our mountain police uses. They were massacred by a single bear in about 2 minutes. Lovely.

No kitty (sorry lorax :D ) can beat that ... :D

Eric
07-14-2009, 12:21 PM
BTW, after much study of European bear species, I Definitely would Not try to scare one away... or even get anywhere near one :). Didn't realize how vicious bears, over there, were :eek: !

lorax
07-14-2009, 12:22 PM
Jack, that was my exact point when I said "I'd never keep a bear as a pet."

browndrake
07-14-2009, 12:37 PM
We have lots of mountain lions here and a fair number of bears in the nearby mountains. Cougars don't scare me at all...and bears don't unless they are close..

Cats are more scared of us than the other way around. But, it often seems that bears fear nothing.

black bear..which are quite small compared to other north american species can easily kill deer and even elk.
Cougars are natural deer killing machines, and will often kill 1 per day..when they have kittens. I have also seem cougars decimate wild horse herds.

I have walk upon both cougars and black bears without incident. They have all slowly left, as I watched them.
.........................
now totally off on topic..Michael, I love your thread..very informative.

aaron

Jack Daw
07-14-2009, 12:41 PM
BTW, after much study of European bear species, I Definitely would Not try to scare one away... or even get anywhere near one :). Didn't realize how vicious bears, over there, were :eek: !
It is different in here, 'cause we've been literally living with the bears for centuries, they were coming to our villages and taking whatever trash we had stucked next to our houses. That's actually why I wouldn't like to live in the mountain region.
It's impossible to outrun them, outmanouvre them, they can climb trees better than you (even though many of them go above 200kg ~ 440 pounds), they swim faster and you wouldn't want to meet them when they are hungry and annoyed from hot weather (May to september).
The real problem is, that tourists usually pick all the blueberries, strawberries and other forest fruit and the bears have been forced for about 100 years to specialize in rather carnivorous life style.
Fish, other animals, sheep, wolves!, lambs, deers, whatever the forests and mountains offer.
They also learnt something unheard off anywhere out of Europe: They learnt to live in communities and organize themselves for food gathering.

Jack, that was my exact point when I said "I'd never keep a bear as a pet."
Yet some people in mountain regions have bears as their pets. ;) :D It's a symbiosis based on food suppling and I don't dare to guess, what would happen, if the supplier (man) would stop supplying the bear community he holds (nature).
I guess it's nature:mankind 1:0 again. :D

I just wonder, Beth, those bears of yours, do they have sleeping periods like ours (when it is too hot in Ecuador)? Or are they active whole year long?

lorax
07-14-2009, 12:44 PM
Bears here are active year-round, and more so in the wet season when they're less likely to overheat. The last time I came across a bear in the dry season, it was swimming in a stream I had to cross, presumably to cool off. Litters happen in the wet season as well, since food is much more plentiful when it's raining.

Jack Daw
07-14-2009, 12:46 PM
Bears here are active year-round, and more so in the wet season when they're less likely to overheat. The last time I came across a bear in the dry season, it was swimming in a stream I had to cross, presumably to cool off. Litters happen in the wet season as well, since food is much more plentiful when it's raining.
Do they feed primarily on bamboo (herbivores) or are they also a little bit carnivorous?
If they had to choose a bamboo or a fish. What would be their choice? :D

Eric
07-14-2009, 12:52 PM
Jack - If I should visit Slovakia, I will bring a truckload of berries for the bears! Better them than me.

Browndrake - About as off-on topic as usual, in fact, unusually on-topic this time :). Thanx for the vote of Confidence :) !

Whew...! :) Glad we got the bamboo-/-fish thing settled! Actually, I would've said the Milky Way Midnight :).

lorax
07-14-2009, 01:03 PM
Jack - bamboo, no contest.

Eric
07-14-2009, 04:56 PM
Back again :nanerwizard: !
As I mentioned - much earlier on - Bamboo makes a really nice lumber but not Only as culms. For a quick look at non-primitive uses for bamboo, check:

Bamboo Countertop (http://mastergardenproducts.com/bamboocountertop.htm)

I've seen even more exotic lumbers but can't remember the sites, just now.

Dalmatiansoap
07-15-2009, 06:01 AM
Always count on my help :). What varieties are you trying out?

For now I have Bambusa lako, Himalayacalamus falconeri and Bambusa ventricosa seeds.
Black bambo germinated after only 3 days and others are still waiting for better days:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

lorax
07-15-2009, 09:44 AM
Michael - you're right on, of course. Here, we're starting to use bamboo in flooring, panelling, and cupboardmaking - it's a very attractive pale gold hardwood, actually, and it's much more sustainable than the traditional tropical hardwoods. The only thing is that the planks are a bit thinner than usual mahogany tablon - so it takes more to cover a floor. However, when you weigh that against a one-year growing season, I'd much rather purchase a bit more bamboo than cut down a 200-year old mahogany.

conejov
07-15-2009, 10:22 AM
Michael - you're right on, of course. Here, we're starting to use bamboo in flooring, panelling, and cupboardmaking - it's a very attractive pale gold hardwood, actually, and it's much more sustainable than the traditional tropical hardwoods. The only thing is that the planks are a bit thinner than usual mahogany tablon - so it takes more to cover a floor. However, when you weigh that against a one-year growing season, I'd much rather purchase a bit more bamboo than cut down a 200-year old mahogany.

I agree!

conejov
07-15-2009, 10:25 AM
For now I have Bambusa lako, Himalayacalamus falconeri and Bambusa ventricosa seeds.
Black bambo germinated after only 3 days and others are still waiting for better days:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

So only the black bamboo germinated? I hope the bambusa ventricosa germinates it was hit or miss with me.

Eric
07-15-2009, 10:40 AM
Hi :) Lorax,
It was what inspired me about bamboo to begin with. I've also seen very attractive dark-wood stains applied. And since many bamboos grow at an incredible pace, as far as lumber is concerned, I fully agree with you - I Speak For The Trees... too.

Dalmatiansoap
07-15-2009, 11:07 AM
So only the black bamboo germinated? I hope the bambusa ventricosa germinates it was hit or miss with me.

Ouh, Im pretty sore it will. As I said it was last sown.:nanadrink:
:woohoonaner:

Jack Daw
07-15-2009, 11:20 AM
However, when you weigh that against a one-year growing season, I'd much rather purchase a bit more bamboo than cut down a 200-year old mahogany.
This idea hasn't come to my place yet, although I can grow maybe 100 different hardy bamboos. Possibly a place for business? Maybe. When I have a field once...

Back again :nanerwizard: !
As I mentioned - much earlier on - Bamboo makes a really nice lumber but not Only as culms. For a quick look at non-primitive uses for bamboo, check:

Bamboo Countertop (http://mastergardenproducts.com/bamboocountertop.htm)

I've seen even more exotic lumbers but can't remember the sites, just now.
My entire yard is surrounded by thujas and they are slowly, yet surely, becoming very strong and difficult to manage. I cut them each year by about 1/6, but they are becoming so massive and robust, that I may have to replace them soon. Bamboo could be an excellent choice...

Eric
07-15-2009, 11:42 AM
Jack, a little 'temperature' info, for you, from the American Bamboo Society:

:) BAMBOOS HARDY TO -20 C (-5F)
Phyllostachys Rubromarginata
Phyllostachys Viridis
Phyllostachys Vivax
Phyllostachys Heteroclada
Phyllostachys Nigra 'Hale'
Phyllostachys Mannii
Indocalamus sp. 'Solidus'
Indocalamus Tesselatus
Sasa Palmata
Sasa Palmata Senanensis
Semiarundinaria Fastuosa
Semiarundinaria Viridis
Shibataea Kumasaca albostriata
Shibataea Lancifolia

:) BAMBOOS HARDY TO -23 C (-10F)
Arundinaria gigantea
Arundinaria gigantea subsp. Tecta
Fargesia Dracocephala
Phyllostachys Afrovaginata
Phyllostachys Aureosulcata
Phyllostachys Aureosulcata Alatu
Phyllostachys Aureosulcata Aureocaulus
Phyllostachys Aureosulcata 'Harbin'
Phyllostachys Spectabilis
Phyllostachys Bissetii
Phyllostachys Bissetii Propingua
Phyllostachys Viridiglaucescens
Pleioblastus Fortunei
Sasamorpha Borealis
Shibataea Chinensis
Shibataea Chinensis Kumasaca

:) BAMBOOS HARDY TO -29 C (-20F)
Fargesia Murieliae
Fargesia Nitida - all cultivars
Phyllostachys Nuda

I hope this will help. There may be others I'm not yet aware of but there are a lot of really nice looking ones here :).

conejov
07-15-2009, 12:02 PM
I wish I could grow more here but I have to stick to clumping bamboo. I've noticed the prices of bamboo at most nurseries is expensive for me, So I have had to resort to growing from seed, with patience in a few years it will be huge.

Bob
07-15-2009, 01:58 PM
Great list MJ, I thought this might be a popular thread. Will try and post pics of seedlings soon.

Taylor
07-15-2009, 05:56 PM
Anyone know where to get some P. 'Alphonse Karr' or P. nigra? Seeds or rhizomes...

What other clumping hardy ones are good?

Eric
07-16-2009, 11:14 AM
Anyone know where to get some P. 'Alphonse Karr' or P. nigra? Seeds or rhizomes...

What other clumping hardy ones are good?

Will be looking around. BTW, the Alphonse is actually of the genus 'Bambusa' and ya might want to watch the P. Nigra; while essentially a clumping-type, the rhizomes are quite vigorous - in China it is considered a runner-type & kept in check. Also, if you ever plan on potting Nigra, it has been known to bust through ceramic pots, within a couple of years, due to strong & rapid rhizome expansion.

conejov
07-16-2009, 11:33 AM
I've always wanted to grow Black bamboo but I'm concerened because it een known to run!

Taylor
07-16-2009, 11:37 AM
Michael,
I figured out it was Bambusa just after I posted it but didn't take the time to correct it. Oops, just making sure you all are paying attention, lol.

I'd like to keep it in a pot but the ground is best, at least for the first few years.

Eric
07-16-2009, 11:54 AM
Michael, I'd like to keep it in a pot but the ground is best, at least for the first few years.

Silly error, make it myself sometimes. Luv your choices; if we had about 20 degrees to spare, Alphonse would be high on my list. Have been considering Nigra due to the elaborate colorations over the 1st couple of years of culm development. However, am currently considering shocking the neighbors with some Moso :).
BTW, we both seem to be targetting around 35 feet. Am constantly on the lookout for new varieties of bamboo. Will let ya know If I discover any fascinating zone-8 clumpers.

southlatropical
07-17-2009, 07:34 PM
Anyone know where to get some P. 'Alphonse Karr' or P. nigra? Seeds or rhizomes...

What other clumping hardy ones are good?

Taylor,

I had some P. nigra potted up but they gave in to the heat/drought while I was on vacation. Some of it may still be alive. I dig some up every spring.

I would suggest you look into the Bambusa textilis varieties. They are a little less hardy than multiplex but have an upright growth habit while multiplex tends to look 'bushy'. Some good ones are........

B. textilis
B. textilis 'Gracilis'
B. textilis 'Albostriata'
B. textilis 'Mutabilis'
B. textilis 'Glabra'

Eric
07-19-2009, 03:38 AM
This is my latest project; Khasia bamboo.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19576&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=19577&size=1

The plant is every bit as healthy as any bamboo I've received, to date. In fact I was a bit surprised to receive such a large plant as a "1-gallon" sized specimen. As with most bamboos, it will double it's size by next spring.
For more info, refer to the 1st post in this thread (bottom of that post).

mckoinld
09-15-2009, 12:54 PM
This post is a nice read. Its great to find a guide to bamboo that doesn't take half a day to read. Thanks Eric.

Want Them All
09-15-2009, 04:06 PM
In August, I planted 2 pots of Phyllostachys aureosulcata "Spectabilis", last week I noticed 5 young shoots already. They were on clearance at Lowe's for $15 each. They're about 5' tall now, can't wait to see the red trunks and zig-zag shape of the canes.

Scuba_Dave
09-15-2009, 08:26 PM
Thanks for bumping this up - I made notes for Spring time
I'll have to prep an area to contain the bamboo
No time this year - wrking on siding the house now

Rmplmnz
09-15-2009, 10:32 PM
[QUOTE=Simply Bananas;84052]My favorite bamboo.
Saw it in Costa Rica last fall at the Wilson Botanical Gardens in the middle of nowhere.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y274/porkpi/100_6332.jpg

Awesome....I saw this species growing in Tahiti..

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23133&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23133)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23132&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23132)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23131&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23131)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=23134&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=23134)

Rmplmnz
09-15-2009, 10:39 PM
Another good source:

Introduction to Bamboo (http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1168/)

Scuba_Dave
09-16-2009, 06:57 PM
Giant Bamboo......I want some :ha:

Rmplmnz
09-16-2009, 10:22 PM
We are growing:
* Gigantochloa Atroviolacia- Tropical Black Bamboo
* Bambusa Vulgaris Vittata - Golden Hawaiian
* Bambusa Ventricosa - Buddha's Belly

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10673&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10673)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10674 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12440)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=9896&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9896)

sandy0225
09-17-2009, 06:52 AM
Here's the scoop on my Yellow Groove bamboo in Muncie, Indiana (zone 5)...You could put that Yellow groove bamboo in the -25 degree F catagory on your list. Not all of the culms died back last winter, only about 1/10 of them did. I'd definitely put it as hardy in zone 5. I did mulch it with 4" of leaves the first year, but nothing after that.
Also it seems to be pretty drought tolerant once it's established. We had some very dry weather last year in July, August and September and it did fine. We haven't had any measureable rain this month, and while the leaves roll up during the day slightly,meaning it's getting thirsty, they are ok by morning. If it is rolled up in the morning, then it's time for water.
Definitely a runner, even in this zone. Mine has spread to about 10 feet wide x 40 feet long. I'm getting ready to trench around it to keep it from going further. I don't think you'd need a trench 30" deep though. When you go to dig any runners that have gone too far, they're usually only about 6" deep at the most. The tallest culm we've had so far was 20' tall, but most of these are 12-15' tall at our grove in the center, and shorter around the edges. They are easy to strip out with the skid loader! Not so much fun by hand...
The culms that die back over winter are great for little construction projects around the house like stakes, trellis and bean poles. The largest diameter culms we've had so far have been 7/8 inch in diameter. If I actually took any kind of care of it and fertilized and watered it, it might be bigger in diameter.
It's mostly evergreen here, that means it stays green usually around to Christmas, then we start getting lots of wind with -0 temperatures and that causes the leaves to brown to a blonde color and then in the spring they fall off and the culms push out new leaves.
So it's self mulching.
We have been getting some zigzag of the culms near the bottom, but that is mostly because we get a lot of wind here in the spring and when the new shoots come up they are tender and easily damaged by wind or things walking through them. At a certain point about 3 feet tall, they can take more wind as they become more fibrous and tough. Before that point, I'm sure you could twist and bend them with a little wire and grow them into weird shapes, something I hope sometime in spring I have time to try.
The man I got this bamboo from said it wouldn't live if transplanted in the fall, but I put it out in late October and didn't loose any, not even one plant. I also had previously purchased some on ebay for $2 for a one cane division with a very small root system, which is supposed to be a big no no, and while it didn't grow much for about 4 years, it never did die and actually has taken off now like the others.
That's been my bamboo experience so far...

Rmplmnz
09-17-2009, 07:26 AM
We have never watered or fertilized any of our bamboo and all three species grow like crazy (I am frequently culling new shoots).