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soil/mulch/fertilizer - taken as a whole

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:04 pm
by fredgpops
Looking at advice from large bamboo nurseries who have obviously experimented to get max yield, I thought Ned at Bamboo Garden and Jesus at Bamboo Sourcery presented the best info. It is clear that the subjects of mulch, fertilizer, and soil need to be discused as a whole. Here are a few excerps from their websites:
A) Ned
1) Bamboo is happiest in moderately acidic, loamy soil.
2) If soil is heavy, add organic material, Spread 2 or more inches of mulch over rhizomes and the area where you want the plant to grow, Keep bamboo leaves around the plant as it is rich in silica and other natural chemicals.
3) Almost any organic material makes good mulch. Grass is one of the best because of it's rich in silica and nitrogen.
4) Any kind of manure is good as long as it is not too hot.
5) We use a large amount of woodchips.
B) Jesus
1) Sandy and Alkaline soils - add organic materials like compost, peat, manure, sawdust, and woodchips. These materials help the plant retain moisture, acidifies the soil, and provides nutrition.
2) Alkaline soils need acid fertilizers. Use lime for overly acidic soils.
3) Clay soil needs organic material to provide better drainage.
4) he highly recommends composted horse manure. He uses it 4 inches thick.
Rgds

Re: soil/mulch/fertilizer - taken as a whole

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:05 am
by ghmerrill
I agree with them on mulch...... You just cannot mulch too much. I have seen the most impressive gains in those boos that I have used large amounts of grass clippings on, and this year I'm doing more wood chips too. Aside from holding moisture in the soil, if you look at a mature grove, mulching mimics the natural process of leaf and material fall to the floor of the grove, and allows for the growth of younger, more energetic rhizomes above the old in the interior of the grove.

Re: soil/mulch/fertilizer - taken as a whole

Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 11:31 pm
by benboo
I found a post about growing in pure compost. could you also grow boo in a pot with a lot of composted cow poo without burning it?