Bamboo Crazy!

Capt. Scott Goodwin · 09-28-2008, 04:34 PM

My wife says my fishing obsession is switching to Bamboo. I'm not sure about that, but I am spending more time on land than I ever have and I have gone crazy for the many types of bamboo. When I bought my house ten years ago, it had some big stands on it and now they are bigger than ever. But the more I learn about it, the more I'm amazed by it's variety and growth rates. Many bamboo are runners and have sometimes given bamboo a bad name for taking over. There is an entire group of clumping bamboo that stay in a "clump" and can be easily managed in a small space. You can maintain a few culms(name for the stalks) as a specimen or let it go and get some screening for privacy. They do grow fast and that is a big part of the draw. A shoot bursts through the mulch and within 60 days it reaches it's full height whether thats 10 ft or 100ft. You can trim branches to expose the culms as much as you want. If you top a culm, it never gets any higher. Many can also be kept in pots. Here are a few picts of the highlights of the collection. I have gathered 14 different species of about 1200+ that are out there.
Does anyone else share this love of bamboo??
You will see that the black bamboo's come up green and then turn black with time.

Oldhami Bamboo

Hawian Greenstripe

Wamin Bamboo- This one stays knobby and 10ft

Tropical Black Bamboo

Timor Black Bamboo

Fishing Pole Bamboo

Blue Bamboo

Budda Belly Bamboo

Arrow Bamboo

Black Asper - This is a giant to be.

The Node of Black Asper

Angel Mist (White) Bamboo

Timber Bamboo - These are some fresh transplants. Some types can start new plants from cuttings that are buried at the node.

Ali · 10-01-2008, 01:58 PM

Very cool Scott!

jonboat · 10-01-2008, 04:00 PM

What is the growth rate of that nobby one that only gets to 10 feet? It seems like it might be nice along my fence line.

jb

Capt. Scott Goodwin · 10-01-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonboat

What is the growth rate of that nobby one that only gets to 10 feet? It seems like it might be nice along my fence line.

jb

It is slightly slower than some of the others, but still very cool. There are many shorter varieties that make good screens. The fishing pole makes a nice screen in my front yard and has taken years to reach14ft. It is a slow runner, but will spread out for you. It is not hard to control. There are short clumpers as well.

HELLBOY · 10-01-2008, 06:58 PM

I have had that wamin bamboo in my yard for 2 1/2 years and it doesn't seem to grow over 7 feet tall. Can I cut it and replant it ?

phlatsphil · 10-01-2008, 07:59 PM

ok, first of all, I would never have bamboo in my yard. That's one of the most invasive plants you can plant, their root system is like PVC piping that can extend to infinity and beyond.

We bought a house in Ft. Worth in 1980 that had bamboo in the back by the pool; took me months to dig it all up and kill it.

However!!!, bamboo makes for great FREE push poles. One of my neighbors (actually Tom Gordon's inlaws) have bamboo in their yard and for 10 years I went over to their house a couple times a year and cut a couple 15-18ft. stalks, cleaned 'em up and used 'em for push poles.

Then I got fancy and bought a Polecat pushpole.... I think the bamboo was better.

Every man needs a couple hobbies, one of yours just happens to be growing push poles. Congrats and good luck with that.

Capt. Scott Goodwin · 10-02-2008, 02:55 AM

Well it's true that the runners of the bamboo's have caused much greif, but the clumpers area totally different creature. You obviously were dealing with an aggressive runner.

About the Wamin, the ten ft mark is a general max height so it may take longer or it may not make it in it's current location. Don't cut it as you will have to start over with new culms. You might give it a shot of fertilizer. A palm fertilizer will work.

Capt Billy Rotne · 10-02-2008, 09:32 AM

I am getting ready to landscape my yard and hadnt even thought about bamboo! Some of those black and blue types look pretty cool.

Raven · 10-03-2008, 03:33 AM

I remember the giant bamboo forests in Maui, just un-real brillant green. I also have thought of adding bamboo or sugar cane to my landscape,but was told "Never ever put it in the ground,only in pots." Do you know of a large stock that will clump and not run?

phlatsphil · 10-03-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

I also have thought of adding bamboo or sugar cane to my landscape,but was told "Never ever put it in the ground,only in pots." Do you know of a large stock that will clump and not run?

knowin you, your neighbors will love you for it.... then they'll hate you again.... when that stuff pops up in their yard. I don't believe there's a variety of bamboo that doesn't spread like wildfire. Stick to pot.... I mean pots.

09-28-2008, 04:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Capt. Scott Goodwin Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 116	Bamboo Crazy! My wife says my fishing obsession is switching to Bamboo. I'm not sure about that, but I am spending more time on land than I ever have and I have gone crazy for the many types of bamboo. When I bought my house ten years ago, it had some big stands on it and now they are bigger than ever. But the more I learn about it, the more I'm amazed by it's variety and growth rates. Many bamboo are runners and have sometimes given bamboo a bad name for taking over. There is an entire group of clumping bamboo that stay in a "clump" and can be easily managed in a small space. You can maintain a few culms(name for the stalks) as a specimen or let it go and get some screening for privacy. They do grow fast and that is a big part of the draw. A shoot bursts through the mulch and within 60 days it reaches it's full height whether thats 10 ft or 100ft. You can trim branches to expose the culms as much as you want. If you top a culm, it never gets any higher. Many can also be kept in pots. Here are a few picts of the highlights of the collection. I have gathered 14 different species of about 1200+ that are out there. Does anyone else share this love of bamboo?? You will see that the black bamboo's come up green and then turn black with time. Oldhami Bamboo Hawian Greenstripe Wamin Bamboo- This one stays knobby and 10ft Tropical Black Bamboo Timor Black Bamboo Fishing Pole Bamboo Blue Bamboo Budda Belly Bamboo Arrow Bamboo Black Asper - This is a giant to be. The Node of Black Asper Angel Mist (White) Bamboo Timber Bamboo - These are some fresh transplants. Some types can start new plants from cuttings that are buried at the node. __________________ www.offshoreacademy.com

10-01-2008, 07:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
phlatsphil Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Edgewater, FL Posts: 365	ok, first of all, I would never have bamboo in my yard. That's one of the most invasive plants you can plant, their root system is like PVC piping that can extend to infinity and beyond. We bought a house in Ft. Worth in 1980 that had bamboo in the back by the pool; took me months to dig it all up and kill it. However!!!, bamboo makes for great FREE push poles. One of my neighbors (actually Tom Gordon's inlaws) have bamboo in their yard and for 10 years I went over to their house a couple times a year and cut a couple 15-18ft. stalks, cleaned 'em up and used 'em for push poles. Then I got fancy and bought a Polecat pushpole.... I think the bamboo was better. Every man needs a couple hobbies, one of yours just happens to be growing push poles. Congrats and good luck with that. Last edited by phlatsphil; 10-01-2008 at 08:01 PM.

10-02-2008, 02:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Capt. Scott Goodwin Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cocoa, Florida Posts: 116	Well it's true that the runners of the bamboo's have caused much greif, but the clumpers area totally different creature. You obviously were dealing with an aggressive runner. About the Wamin, the ten ft mark is a general max height so it may take longer or it may not make it in it's current location. Don't cut it as you will have to start over with new culms. You might give it a shot of fertilizer. A palm fertilizer will work. __________________ www.offshoreacademy.com

10-03-2008, 03:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
Raven Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ponce Inlet Posts: 156	I remember the giant bamboo forests in Maui, just un-real brillant green. I also have thought of adding bamboo or sugar cane to my landscape,but was told "Never ever put it in the ground,only in pots." Do you know of a large stock that will clump and not run? __________________ Don't pass on the first day what you're willing to kill on the last.

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10-01-2008, 01:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ali Nobody Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 117	Very cool Scott!

10-01-2008, 04:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
jonboat Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Islamorada Posts: 108	What is the growth rate of that nobby one that only gets to 10 feet? It seems like it might be nice along my fence line. jb

10-01-2008, 06:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
HELLBOY Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: PSJ Posts: 15	I have had that wamin bamboo in my yard for 2 1/2 years and it doesn't seem to grow over 7 feet tall. Can I cut it and replant it ?

10-02-2008, 09:32 AM	#8 (permalink)
Capt Billy Rotne Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Port Orange FL Posts: 570	I am getting ready to landscape my yard and hadnt even thought about bamboo! Some of those black and blue types look pretty cool.