ABOUT BAMBOO
.jpg "Bamboo Leaves")
.jpg "Flowers")
Clumping vs Running
Clumping Bamboo grows only inches away from their mother rhizome thus creating a circular clump, where as the running rhizomes can grow up to 50 feet away from its mother’s rhizome and grow out of control!
The Phenomenon of Seeding
The short regenerative cycle of some bamboo species means that some are periodically offered as seedlings more than others. In the interim years of growth the plants will be supplied as divisions. Towards the end of the cycle we usually hold onto that stock material if we are aware of the imminence of seeding.
If bamboo plants in the garden centres show signs of flower heads forming in place of branch leaf they should be avoided unless you are keen to participate in the fun of realizing the renewable resource potential of that species!
Though a seeding period may elapse for 80 years or more for some species there is little likelihood of reversing the cycle to lengthen a plants life. If you are planning to grow as a privacy screen, check whether the bamboo is about to seed again soon, especially the short cycle 'Fairy' varieties.
If bamboo plants in the garden centres show signs of flower heads forming in place of branch leaf they should be avoided unless you are keen to participate in the fun of realizing the renewable resource potential of that species!
Though a seeding period may elapse for 80 years or more for some species there is little likelihood of reversing the cycle to lengthen a plants life. If you are planning to grow as a privacy screen, check whether the bamboo is about to seed again soon, especially the short cycle 'Fairy' varieties.
The Diversity of Bamboo
- Useful in sub-alpine climates as high protein cattle shelter & fodder
- Avocado horticulture for amending clay soils
- Supplementary stock fodder
- Dairy runoff seepage sequestering cycle fodder
- High sheath litter shedder for mulch moisture retention and microbial activity odour reduction
- Heavy humus producer for healthy soil
- Stream bank fortifying
- Degraded soils modification plant
- Large upright bamboo stabilizer for land contour modification