Hello all,
I found a seller on Ebay who has Madake bamboo rhizomes for sale, 12 inch sections for around $20, shipping and handling included. The store is called Bamboo Groves, and I am seriously considering buying from them. However, I heard that rhizomes are notoriously difficult to grow, usually with far less than 50% success rate. So before I blow my hard earned cash on something that may not work out, I wanted some expert opinions. And if this is not a good idea, maybe someone would be kind enough to point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance,
-Dion

I've heard quite a few times that rhizomes off of eBay are hard to grow especially given that anyone can sell them. The only time they have a high success rate when taken properly is during spring right before shooting season. I've grown spectabilis from rhizomes and had very good success this spring, starting with 1ft long rhizomes and ending up with 15 gallon established plants now with lots of rhizome, but it's also known to be one of the most aggressive species, and also the person who took the division had more experience than the average eBay rhizome seller. If you are seriously considering rhizomes, I would suggest waiting until next March or so when their survival rates are higher. Even if you get shoots from a rhizome now, they are more likely to grow with less vigor, and it may take a couple years before it finally takes off.

Someone on this forum might have madake available, but it might be a good idea to pay $12.00 to get a sure thing. This madake posting looks legit if the picture is true to the auction, and it looks like they get good feedback so it might be a lot better. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Madake-Japanese ... 2316630267

Also I would strongly recommend reading the feedback, even all of the positive feedback. Most of the time, people will automatically give good feedback if a package arrives in time, but if they have a few neutral and negative feedbacks, and the seller comes up with a bs excuse, I would be careful. Sometimes people will follow up on their positive feedback with a warning if the rhizome never sprouts.

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Hey Steve, thanks for the quick reply. Your name came up a few times on Gardenweb as being a good person to talk to about bamboo. The link you gave me was great, and I am checking out both sellers. Bamboo Groves (http://stores.ebay.com/BAMBOO-GROVES?_t ... 4340.l2563) has a lot more feedback, 800 as opposed to 50, and out of that only 1 negative and 5 neutrals. The negative and the neutrals were because the plants weren't growing quickly, but the seller responded that they didn't give the plants enough time. The neutrals were because no labels were included and again due to buyer impatience. I am debating between the seller you mentioned and Bamboo Groves. If Bamboo Groves offers some sort of growing guarantee, I will probably go with them. I have a few rhizomes of p. nigra that are growing roots pretty vigorously, even in the cold. I will ask both sellers a few more questions to better decide. Part of me wants the challenge of the rhizomes, part of me wants more instant gratification and doesn't want to risk the money.

Thank you for the advice, it was certainly helpful!

I've grown lots of Madake from rhizomes, rhizomes with roots, with shoots, with roots and shoots, etc. Just a foot-long rhizome making it is certainly possible but definitely a $20 gamble.

If you're ever out east of Sacramento, sorta Folsom way, we'll check around my mound and I think there are some down there you can have to take. It will be a longer than 12" and we'll try to keep as much dirt and roots on as possible.

According to Google, you are 152 miles, 1hr 44mins. from your house to mine. But the good news is that it is only 151 miles, 1hr 32mins back.

Same Google. Go figure. Maybe if you drove in reverse . . .

20$ for a rhizome of madake, it sounds expensive to me ....

have a good day

ph

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Elemento Bambù on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001852588023

I have bought 2 years ago, if not mistaken from same Seller madake rhizome, because in Croatia, there nowhere to buy Ph. bambusoides!

After 1 month


second year


Third year (left squere pot)


P.S. For me, a lot of slow progress, unlike vivax (first pot) which is 2 years from planting the rhizomes

Well, the seller really seems knowledgeable. In any case, they do guarantee their product, and they sell rhizome with roots.

$20 seems expensive for madake? There are other people selling it for $25 without shipping or more. In any case, they Ebay seller told me they often include extra rhizomes in the orders.

Tom, thanks for the offer, but that is just a little to far for me. My current schedule is a bit too packed for such a long drive, but I really appreciate the offer.

I have successfully grown p. Nigra from small rhizome sections. Just used good soil, black pots, stuck them in full sun and watered them with a bit of rooting hormone. Only had them for two months and they are shooting, and the roots are growing vigorously. Perhaps my early success is making me overconfident, but I like the challenge, and I do not mind the slow growth. I think I will go for the rhizomes, unless I find a better deal elsewhere.

The first rhizomes i bought from ebay - very few came up and they all died, but to be fair to the seller, i didn't know much about what i was doing and i think now i might could have better success.

But if you crunch the numbers, even with good care, you will be better buying potted plants.

I ordered 2 orders this fall from BambooGardenCenter.com 8 plants each time and i thought i got some good deals buying 16 plants on sale for 11.99 each plus shipping.

They didn't have madake on sale, but i think it's regular 20.00 and i have my own madake grove.

I bought some Rubromarginata and had enough wild rhizomes sticking out of drain holes to pot up into 5 or 6 new pots with shoots growing fine from the new pots after planting out the original.

I bought some nice Phyllostachys viridis 'Robert Young' for 11.99 and Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillon' for the same price and i see they still have some. Plus they have a black Friday special.

By the way, BambooGardenCenter is the newer version of BambooPlantation.com and there's lots of good info there as well.

You being on the west coast, i recently ordered some Japanese maples that were real nice from a seller out your way, and i see they have bamboo too. I actually e-met the owner and he seems like a real fine guy. He's nearer your location and his place is http://japanesemaplesandevergreens.com/

I have my greenhouse rather full, but it's always tempting to buy a few more plants.

I guess i need to start thinking about building on to the greenhouse.

Hope it helps!

I'll be dividing a lot of madake in the next couple of months. I'll have 5 to 8 ft plants for way less than 20 dollars. I'm in Scotts Valley 25 minutes from SJ. PM me if interested. Rgds

dionkar333, I highly recommend dealing with fredgpops. He is a great guy to deal with and has superior quality plants for low prices! If the ebay rhizomes survive, it will be years before you get plants the size of what you can get from fredgpops for less cost!

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God Bless,

Matthew

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Genesis 2:8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.

Righto, I have been busy, hence the huge delay. Thanks for the offer, I will pm you now.

Fred is a great guy, I've gotten a few bamboos from him over the years. Madake earlier this year, and they are both doing great!

Its also a treat to see his garden.

Thanks again Fred!

Don

If you live that close to a major collector, you might as well get divisions off everything you need, and now is a very good time to do it while they are pretty dormant. With strong divisions, you should have almost immediate results because shooting season should happen pretty early for you depending on how quickly it warms up.

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http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

Hello Phil,

I did not know what a synonym for bambusoides (madake..) ...
I also find it expensive!