momoese

This is our Alphonse Karr. It's almost 3 years old now. Purchased from Bamboo Headquarters in So Cal in five 5 gal containers. It's about 15-20 feet tall now and makes a solid privacy screen. If not for the bamboo you would be seeing a 2 story house instead!

Fcastro

Just curious, how many containers of it did you plant ?

momoese

We planted 5 containers in a trench that was 4 feet deep by maybe 2-3 feet wide and filled with compost, steer manure, green sand, organic plant food and gravel on the bottom We also added a barrier to keep the bamboo on our side of the wooden fence that's right behind it. I love this Bamboo!!

AnnaJW

Mitchel,

What kind of a barrier did you use for this?

Thanks!

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-Anna Banana -

Living my life in MMORPG's

Fcastro

There is a place a couple of miles from my house that has a ton of Bamboo. It's about 200 yards long by 50ft wide. I'm new in this town ,but I've been told that it's been there for over 50 yrs. It's on both sides of the street for a good piece, so it was probably there before the road got put in. It's a forest of Bamboo.I think that they could have used a Rhizome Barrier.




Anna,

A rhizome barrier is a piece of platic,about a foot high that you bury around a plant that you want to contain. The rhizome gets to the plastic and stops growing right there.


Mr. Bamboo-Man,

Could you tell me where you got that Chungii Bamboo ? It's beautiful, I need some of that !

momoese

A plastic barrier made for bamboo. It comes in a big roll. This type of Bamboo is clumping but I didn't want any of it growing on the other side of the fence.

Bamboo Conne'iseur

Typically, only runners use the barriers. Here and there some people use them, although most of the time its not needed with clumpers. Clumpers, especially the giants would destroy a barrier like the ones used for runners, because the root system on some can lift pavement. The clumpers though are very easy to control, even the giants.

Fcastro, you can find this plant(B. chungii) here at tropicalbamboo.com

Fcastro

Thanks !


Momoese,

You could have thrown a dead stick in that pit and grown a giant Oak with all of that stuff in it.

momoese

This is the other reason we chose Alphonse Karr.

Taylor

Mitchel, you can't see that beauty from the other picture. That's why nobody should judge a book by its cover. I thought it was just bamboo, but that makes it just a bit different, if you know what I mean

momoese

Yeah, the color was a huge selling point! Once a year I trim some of the bottom growth so we can enjoy seeing the striped culms. I even put a 20 watt spot on them for the evenings!

Taylor

Very nice plant Mitchel! If they ever grow out of the barriers, they have a hole waiting for one in VB.

Just kiddin.

It is worth the spotlight and the trimming.

Taylor

momoese

The view from a different angle.

Fcastro

That's awesome,beautiful stuff

Bamboo Conne'iseur

Definitely.

NANAMAN

I have a couple varieties:unknown multiplex, bambusa emeiensis viridiflavus, both are really small now. And I collaborated with Greenie ( of this forum) to propagate some bambusa vulgaris vittata. So far we have two out of nine attempts that seem to be growing, will keep you posted. Pictures forthcoming!

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Greenie

here are 2 pics of the current project.1 potted bamboo has new growth at the nodes but the other has zero.

Bamboo Conne'iseur

NanaMan, you are really gonna love the B. emeiensis 'Viridiflavus' . Once it takes off you are really gonna be impressed. It is a very beautiful bamboo, and it gets loads of leaves. It is a very fast grower under the right conditions, and is still rare enough that you will have something not many have once it gets to maturity. Great choice.


On the multiplex, I might be able to id it if you can provide a couple of pics. If I cannot, I know who can if you would like.
With the B.vulgaris 'Vittata', I have learned that this bamboo is odd in relation to cuttings. Don't give up on those others, because this one has been known to sit quietly for almost a year before you realize it finally did take. What is so odd, is that usually the ones that take so long grow the fastest, and outpace the others that took quickly. Its really amazing about this one, how its has so much energy in the culms that it can sit like it does for so long, before taking off.
You and Greenie are doing a great job, as evident by your pics.

NANAMAN

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement Aaron. I'm not really concerned on IDing the mutiplex, it was given to me and I'm growing it mainly for stakes for my tomatoes, and a privacy screen from my neighbors. The Viridiflavus had my complete attention the first time I saw it! I purchased it at Tropical Bamboo here in Loxahatchee FL., where I saw a mature clump and knew I had to have it. I'm also planning on using old culms of it to prop up heavy banana bunches, but thats a couple years away. BTW is that you in the picture of the Viridiflavus?

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Bamboo Conne'iseur

Brian, no thats not me. That pic comes courtesy of Bambooweb.info. I believe it was snapped at Bountiful Earth, another great place for bamboo. Great folks there too.
I like Tropicalbamboo as I am sure you can attest to because of their quality. I have ordered several times from Robert, and every time I have been satisfied. Robert also happens to head the Florida chapter of the ABS society, so he is very knowledgeable as well when it comes to bamboo.