Greetings,

I ordered it (the D. Asper) from Pacific Tropical Gardens in KEA' AU, Hawai'i (10" pot for $50 bucks). There web site is; [pctgardens.com]. What the heck....you've got to take a chance once in a while, right?

While I've got your attention I've got another question for ya. I planted a D brandesii & a B. textillis, kanahapa in my front yard under a large Magnolia tree. Neither plant did well there. The kanahapa put up 3 shoots in a year and the brandesii put up 0 (zero) shoots in the same period of time. Now I've been told that magnolia trees excrete "tanic acid". Would this stunt the growth of these or any bamboo? (I have since transplanted both plants). Also the brandesii's root ball was over 18" thick w/ little tiny roots and not one rhizome at all. The roots were even growing above ground.

Thanks for listening and any info from anyone will be greatly appreciated!!

I'll be interested to hear what others say, but somehow I don't see the tannins as a problem. I think lots of plants excrete tannins and they are fairly common in nature. anybody? Oaks have tannins which is partly why wine from Oak barrels does too. I can tell you that many fungus will degrade tannic acid. Pleurotus and Shitake mushrooms, for instance, can degrade it without absorbing it into their fruit. So, if you do find out that it is a problem.... just grow some 'shrooms!

Shrooms!!!! My new answer to everything!
Except renewable building.... which is where bamboo comes in.

When I left Mississippi I left all the pine and magnolia trees behind me. Swapped them out for bamboo and palms.

Did you think about the lack of sun having any effect on the production of new shoots? I know that my bamboo in shade produces fewer shoots a year than does the ones in the sun.

_________________
--------------------------
Roy Rogers
Southern Tampania de la Floridana Universidad (STFU)
STFU Motto: All Bamboos are not Created Equal; @ STFU, the Search Continues
**********
ROY'S BAMBOO LIST

Shrooms? I thought they grew best in bat bwanna! I did however, think about the lack of sun. The bamboo was in the shade primarily during the heat of the day. They got lots of sunshine in the morning and the late afternoon. I can't understand why the brandesii had the giant ball of finger roots that pushed up through the soil. They would have filled a bushel basket w/ a little bit extra but not one bud or rhizome in the clump. The only other thing I can think of is that the brandesii was very close to the trunk of the magnolia whereas the kanapaha was about 15' away and did produce shoots. Since I moved it, it has pushed up 6 new shoots in one month's time. Go figure?!

Mike

Mike,

I have quite a few bamboo in and around a few trees at the farm. It seems my biggest problem planting bamboo around trees is the amount of water the established roots of the trees take up. Mine seem to do better with a tree as wind protection, but not too close... perhaps 10 - 20 feet away from the drip line.

Immediately after the times when we get lots of rain, I see shoots... otherwise, they just sit there under the trees. I have Mesquite, Ash and African Sausage trees.

_________________
Allen D. Aleshire
Bamboo Nut Farm

http://www.boonut.com

Thanks Allen & Roy. Both scenarios do make sense. To little sun and to little water. I suppose I'll just have to eliminate the big ol' Magnolia tree. After all... it's not BAMBOO, is it!
What it is though, is one big messy tree with those big stiff leaves and the giant seed pods that dent the roof/hood of my truck when they fall!

About the only thing nice about them is their flowers, but that's not enough to overcome the negative attributes you outlined above.

_________________
--------------------------
Roy Rogers
Southern Tampania de la Floridana Universidad (STFU)
STFU Motto: All Bamboos are not Created Equal; @ STFU, the Search Continues
**********
ROY'S BAMBOO LIST

Hey Mr Mike! Question for you... Do you by any chance live on W? I believe you are my neighbor by way of down the street and over one.

edited for your privacy ... thanks hoe

Hi serenity,
Apparently I am since you know where i live! We'll have to get together and talk boo soon.

Mike

That's funny. A block away and a full zone apart.
Nevermind me. Neighbors! What are the odds?

A house each in Z9b and 5 acres in Z8b

_________________
--------------------------
Roy Rogers
Southern Tampania de la Floridana Universidad (STFU)
STFU Motto: All Bamboos are not Created Equal; @ STFU, the Search Continues
**********
ROY'S BAMBOO LIST

Ooops. My bad!

Mr Mike said....


When I had read your post and saw where you where from, then you said about the magnolia and I thought that has to be the place I occassionally walk my dogs that way and I had noticed the bamboo. We would always make a point to also drive by that way on the way to the park to look at the bamboo. The park has a nice clump also... as do a few other close neighbors.


hoe wrote...


We live in zone 9b, but we also have 5 acres in zone 8b.
But yes, I thought they were pretty good odds also. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I am also quite close to Roy and his Wonderful bamboo

African Sausage... Sweeeeeet.


'Shrooms can help distribute nutrients and compensate for a lack of light and moisture. See my 'What Fungi grows...." post. But that's probably all I'll say on shrooms for now.


Shrooms.
The Other Co2 producer.

If you want to see a big clump of b. vulgaris, drive along bayshore drive N. in Safety Harbor. There's a real big one there right by the road about half way between the spa and Philippi park on the water side! Also there is a giant clump of what I think is Oldhamii on (of all things) Washington St. (up toward the park turn west and it'll be on your right). Gotta be some 40-50 footers in there!! Salt water doesn't seem to be affecting those big ole clumps at all.

Mike