Bamboo plant, genus and species description, photo. The structure of bamboo and saxaul stems. Which plant does bamboo belong to?

08.04.202427.05.2017

Bamboo is an evergreen perennial plant that belongs to the grass family and is common in tropical regions of Asia.

This plant is known as a strong building material and as the fastest growing plant on the planet.

For 2,000 years, bamboo has been widely used as a material for the construction of bridges, homes, boats, household utensils and musical instruments. The omniscient Chinese made needles from bamboo for their ancient medical operations, tenths of a millimeter thick, as well as plumbing, which was used until the 3rd century BC. Using such a water pipeline, they transported salt water from salt springs to Tsu Liu Ching (Suchian Province).

Bamboo stems can grow up to 40 meters. At the same time, the growth rate of the plant can reach 75 cm per day.

A group of bamboo in a certain area blooms only once every few decades. In this case, bamboo of the same type blooms at the same time, regardless of where it grows.

Another mystery is associated with the fruiting of bamboo. Plants of the same group, which originated from the same “parent,” bloom at the age of 33 to 66 years and die after fruiting. Such mass death of bamboo groves has an extremely negative impact on both human life and the lives of animals, such as giant pandas from China.

Bamboo groves are actually thickets of giant grass, as the plant belongs to the grass family.

Another feature of bamboo is the different diameter of the trunks, which depends on humidity, soil composition and species. Therefore, it is very difficult to collect a large number of shoots of the same diameter. To transport the trunks, ingenious knots are used, which make it possible to group shoots of different diameters and thicknesses. In modern times, special adhesives and even accessories such as bolts are sometimes used.

In countries where bamboo grows, this plant is treated with respect. Bamboo is used not only for construction, but also for making furniture and crafts. bamboo is considered a symbol of purity and happiness.

Some bamboo varieties produce a special oil, tabashir, which is used, for example, as a medicine for asthma, cough and even as an aphrodisiac in southwest Asia. And heated bamboo produces a flammable resin used in lanterns. By the way, the first light bulb, made in 1880 by Thomas Edison, used specially processed bamboo fiber as an incandescent filament.

Some structures made from bamboo have survived thousands of years. An enclosed bamboo bridge spanning the Ming River (southwest China) was built in the 3rd century AD. Its length is 320 meters, it is a suspension bridge, the supporting structures of which are 15 bamboo cables, each 5 centimeters in diameter. It is still in good condition and undergoes preventative maintenance twice a year.

Even in 1905, China had drilling stations made entirely of bamboo. The height of these structures was 75 meters, and they were built in 220 AD - almost 1800 years ago! This is durability...

Another advantage of bamboo is that if you cut down its trunk, a new one will begin to grow in that place. Bamboo roots very branched, and new shoots are launched at a distance of up to 6 meters from the center. There are about 180 central roots per hectare of bamboo forest that support this entire plantation for decades. Bamboo roots are also very resistant to erosion, landslides and even earthquakes, due to their exceptional strength and vitality.

The structure of bamboo wood is similar to oak wood. However, its strength, according to research by French scientists, is two and a half times higher than the strength of oak wood.
In financial terms, the cost of building a bamboo house is 8 times less than building a modern concrete building of the same size. But in the event of an earthquake, the concrete building will collapse much earlier. Therefore, bamboo is widely used to build houses nowadays in southwest Asia, Africa and Latin America.

There are more than a thousand types of bamboo. Some of them grow in severe cold conditions in the mountains, at an air temperature of -24 degrees Celsius, at altitudes of about 5000 meters above sea level. Argentine and Chilean types of bamboo, on the contrary, grow in conditions of high humidity and temperatures unbearable for humans.

The main producers of bamboo in the world are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Kenya, Costa Rica and Brazil. All of them grow up to 10 million tons of bamboo per year.

The record for bamboo growth was recorded in Japan. The stem of madake bamboo grew 5 cm in an hour, increasing by 120 cm per day.

Bamboo used not only in construction. Sugar is extracted from this plant, and young shoots, roots and seeds are eaten.

There are more than a thousand species of bamboo in the world. However, some plants can tolerate both severe sub-zero temperatures and live at altitudes of about 5000 m above sea level, as well as conditions of high humidity and high temperature.

The root system of bamboo is distinguished by its strength and vitality. One hectare of bamboo grove can only have 180 central roots supporting all the plants.

The oldest bamboo structure that has survived to this day is the 320-meter-long bamboo suspension bridge at An Lan, spanning the Ming River in southwestern China. This bridge was built in the 3rd century AD.

Bamboo buildings from Vo Trong Nghia

Vo Trong Nghia is known for his work with bamboo buildings. This time, the Vietnamese architect completed the conference room project using two types of bamboo.

The facility is located near the central part of the city of Danang port and is part of the Naman Retreat Resort, which consists of hotels, health resorts, occupying more than 3 square hectares. The conference room is located in the first building; it immediately catches your eye upon entering the resort.

Bamboo miracle

This place is simply magical, especially at night when the falling light highlights the structure of the bamboo. The conference hall is designed for 300 people and is intended for holding various events, concerts, meetings and lectures. Although the layout is quite simple, the building itself is clad in bamboo, which also supports the thatched roof.

The roof rests on bamboo beams

Hall in the form of a bamboo arch

Bent bamboo beams form an adjacent corner

The height of the hall is 9.5 meters and the width is 13.5. It was decided to use bamboo in a large, open space to save money and time without sacrificing quality.

Bamboo lamps

In fact, the conference room consists of two parts:

an enclosed space with glass and concrete walls;
a room whose base stands on bamboo roofs.

Second part of the conference room

Part two in the evening

The architects of this structure explained why they used two types of bamboo:

“Luong bamboo was chosen as the support because of its strength and length, which can reach up to 8 meters. The arches were made from flexible Tam Vong bamboo. The design follows the characteristics of each type, combining them in the most effective way."

Bamboo columns

This conference room project, however, like other works by Nghia, is another example that crosses out the usual ideas about bamboo structures.

Decorative bamboo belongs to the Dracaena family. This one can reach a height of 2 m. But wild bamboo grows much higher. Bamboo naturally grows in the subtropics and tropics, as well as in the mountains. Bamboos can be tree-like or herbaceous. The thickness of the trunk varies from 2-3 to 30 cm. The stem of bamboo can branch, this makes grassy bamboo look like a tree. The plant grows very actively and under good conditions can be approximately 30 meters in height. Reed bamboo is considered poisonous. Flowers on tree-like bamboos appear once every 30 or 60 years.

Features of the structure of the plant

Decorative bamboo is called Dracaena Sandera. It has green stems and may have a straw tint. It has emerald lancet-shaped leaves that grow at the top of the stem. The stems resemble straw, as they are empty inside. Bamboo does not shed leaves. With proper care, bamboo blooms once in its life. This happens after 40 years. The flowers are small, they are collected in panicles.

In addition to green, there are many types of bamboo with various shades: striped, gray, shiny, variegated.

The plants form loose, but not very growing bushes with a large number of shoots with bright green lanceolate leaves 1.5 cm wide and up to 10 cm long. By autumn the plants acquire a yellow-green color.

The frost-resistant bamboo variety Fargesia Murieli was named after the daughter of Ernst Wilson, who collected and sent seedlings of this species to botanical gardens. It has yellowish-green, arching stems and waxy leaves. Blooms once every 100 years.

The soil should be loose and drain well, but you should not use a mixture that has a lot of peat. The mixture requires mixing 3 parts of garden soil and 1 part of medium-grained sand. In the pot you need to make drainage from broken bricks, expanded clay, clay shards, it should occupy 25% of the pot.

Temperature and lighting:

Bamboo is best grown at temperatures of +17-25 °C, but it can easily withstand heat of 30 °C.
Bamboo needs enough light, but it does not like direct sunlight, as its leaves are very delicate and can burn.
It is most optimal to grow bamboo in diffused light. Place it on the eastern or western windowsill, or on the southeast or southwest.

Reproduction, planting and transplantation

It is recommended to do this in the spring, due to the fact that young shoots grow on the stems, which are cut into. To get the cuttings to take root, you can put them in a glass of water and wait for the roots to grow, or you can plant them in soil that is suitable for growing bamboo.

Choose a spacious pot as bamboo grows very quickly, both its stems and roots.

The soil is made from a mixture of equal parts of peat and sand; the pot must have holes for drainage. It is best to combine propagation with transplantation. also required to be done in the spring. This is done once every 2 years. Newly transplanted bamboo and cuttings require very careful care. They need to be watered, wipe the leaves, loosen the soil to improve oxygen access to the rhizomes, then they will grow faster.

When you first bring the plant and plant it, it especially needs plenty of watering, since at first bamboo has small roots, it needs a lot of water to grow.

Transplanting indoor bamboo:

The roots of the plant grow very actively, so it is recommended to replant it annually. Take a larger pot than the previous one for replanting.
The pot should be deep and wide, there should be a distance of 5 cm from the stems to the edge of the pot.
Pour drainage into the bottom of the pot, then a little soil, then plant the bamboo, fill the roots with soil, compact it a little and water it generously.

You need to place the bamboo roots in water, then it will grow quickly, under these conditions it grows up to 0.8-2 m. But you need to remember that the water is changed once a week.

Bamboo feeding:

Once every 2-3 months, bamboo is fed by dissolving fertilizers in water.
Add complex to fresh water when you change it.
If the plant does not have enough fertilizer, its leaves turn yellow and fall off.
But you can’t immediately feed them, as soon as you bring the bamboo stems home, place them in water and wait for them to get used to room conditions, only then feed them.

Bamboo requires equal amounts of light and shade. Several stems of bamboo are tied with a ribbon of any color and placed in water in a glass or other container. Then they place it on the windowsill. If your bamboo is very long, then place it in a bucket of water or a vase and place it on the floor near the window.

Do not use regular tap water. Only soft and well-settled water is suitable. It is good to use melt water. Pour water into a plastic bottle and place it in the freezer for 2 days. Next, defrost it to room temperature and you can use it; this will make the water soft. The water must not stagnate, otherwise the bamboo will begin to rot.

If your bamboo is in a glass vase, then place pebbles or shells at the bottom; before placing them in the vase, you need to pour boiling water over them so that they do not contain harmful microorganisms.

It is advised to add coal to water to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying in it. The water for caring for indoor bamboo should be taken exactly the same as for it - melt or rain, and change it in the vase every week. Rare water changes can lead to the formation of mold on the flower.

When caring for bamboo that grows in the ground, it is necessary to water it regularly. In winter, water bamboo more moderately, making sure that the moisture does not stagnate in the ground. Excess moisture can cause mold to appear, so the pot should have holes and fill the bottom with broken bricks or other materials. Bamboo is also fed from time to time. Another 3 times a week and periodically wipe the leaves from dust.

For normal growth, a tray is placed under the pot and small crushed stone is poured into it.

Then pour water, but so that the crushed stone is not completely covered with water. The pot must be secured above the tray so that it does not have direct contact with water. It is necessary to prevent the soil from drying out, as in this case the bamboo leaves turn yellow and the plant dies.

The plant is fertilized from October to March - once every 3 months, and the rest of the time - every 20 days. Bamboo especially requires phosphorus and nitrogen; you can purchase special fertilizer for dracaenas. The air in the room should be humid. Bamboo loves fresh wind, but does not tolerate drafts. Bamboo can be trimmed throughout the year. Eliminate weakened stems. It is recommended to take the plant out onto the loggia or balcony in the summer.

Babmub in open ground: planting and care

Choose frost-resistant bamboo varieties. These varieties are: Kuril Sasa (Sasa kurilensis), Sasa Palmata Nebulosa, Phyllostachys Aureosulcata. The most frost-resistant bamboo variety is Fargesia Murielae. Very often the plant is planted near bodies of water, as it loves moisture very much. It should be planted from March to September so that the plant has time to take root and survive the winter. Bamboo likes soil that has an acidity pH of 6.0-6.2.

Place the bamboo pot in a container filled with water for 3-4 hours so that the roots are saturated with water.

Landing Features:

The hole should be 2 times greater in depth and width than the bamboo roots with soil.
Add humus to the soil.
Place a little of this soil at the bottom of the hole and compact it.
It is best to dig a sheet of metal or plastic around the hole in a circle to prevent the roots from growing throughout the garden.
Place the bamboo, whose roots are saturated with water, in the hole in the center, add soil, compact it a little so as not to damage the roots and there are no air pockets.
Pour 5 cm of soil on top. Water generously. Mulch the soil with a 2-5 cm layer of leaves, peat, hay.

If you plant bamboo in the fall, then add 20 cm of manure to the bottom of the planting hole, then 10 cm of garden soil, then plant the plant. Then in winter the manure will decompose, and after that you will not need to feed the bamboo for 2 years.

Care Tips:

For the first three months, water the plant very abundantly; do not allow the stems to dry out. Then water 2-3 times a week. It loves fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, that is, the proportions of fertilizer are: 4 parts nitrogen, 3 phosphorus, 2 parts potassium.
Apply in early spring. Next, fertilize the bamboo in the summer. In the fall, feed the plant: 2 parts nitrogen, 4 parts phosphorus, 4 parts potassium, then it will stop growing so actively and prepare for frost. In autumn, mulch the plant with a 10 cm layer of pine bark and leaves. Trim old stems at ground level. They do this once a year.

Stems and leaves may turn yellow if:

lack of fertilizers
excess fertilizing
water too hard for irrigation
overly chlorinated water
heavy composition of the earth
in the absence of drainage

If the bamboo stem has turned yellow, cut off the yellowed part and sprinkle the cut area with charcoal. In this case, depending on the reason, stop feeding or, conversely, urgently fertilize the plant.

Cut off the dried leaves, after 5 hours the cut areas will dry out somewhat, then sprinkle ash on them. Leave for 2 hours, then shake off the ash, spread the cut with soft wax. If the stems begin to dry out, this may happen due to bright light, move the flower to the shade.

In hot weather, spider mites and thrips may appear on the leaves - spray with Fitoverm to eliminate pests.

It is believed that growing in a house brings good luck, happiness, and prosperity. It is grown both in regular soil and in water. it doesn't require much effort.

More information can be found in the video:

Is relatively inexpensive and will add amazing beauty to your garden. The purpose of this article, we will focus on growing bamboo for ornamental and horticultural purposes, although we also cover methods of using bamboo as a hedging tool and ground cover. 5 part guide to help you get a basic understanding of what it takes to grow and care for bamboo.

Most types of bamboo grow in tropical and temperate climates and not all types of bamboo will suit your area. If you don’t know or are not sure what type of bamboo to grow, look through the types of bamboo section and select the optimal type according to your climate preferences, for growing in the garden or indoors. Under optimal conditions, bamboo has a growth potential of up to a meter per day, making it the fastest growing woody plant in the world! It is not surprising that bamboo is highly prized throughout the world, especially in Asia. It is used as a building material, food, and even has medicinal value.

Bamboo correctly selected according to environmental preferences is important for successful cultivation. Having basic knowledge about the bamboo variety will help you avoid mistakes and make the entire growing process more productive. Proper placement in the garden is very important. Bamboo has specific requirements when it comes to climate, soil composition, sunlight, wind exposure and distance. Once you have made the right choice and purchased your seedlings, you are ready to start planting. Planting bamboo is quite simple, but there are a few basic guidelines to follow, which are discussed in detail in this article.

Where to plant bamboo.

Where to plant bamboo. There are 5 main factors to consider when determining the placement of your bamboo: climate, sunlight, wind, soil, and distance.

Climate – We select the type of bamboo that grows in climatic conditions similar to ours. bamboo typically grows in tropical and warm temperate climates, but bamboo can be grown in unfavorable conditions such as deserts, and even cold mountainous areas.

Sunlight – Most types of bamboo will grow best in full sun. This is especially important for giant bamboo. Some tropical species require shade during the hottest part of the day. An issue that should not be overlooked, shade is most important during the winter months. When frost is combined with direct sunlight it accelerates water depletion from the plant, so you need to choose the best option. If it's a freezing winter, we advise you to choose an area that receives at least partial shade for part of the day.

Soil - Bamboo isn't particularly picky when it comes to soil, but there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Almost all types of bamboo prefer loam or marly soils. Compost: sand, silt, clay, with a concentration of 40%, 40% and 20% respectively. Clay generally has a high amount of nutrients and provides more drainage than silty soils. In general, bamboo prefers slightly acidic to moderately acidic soil. Heavy and impermeable soil is also undesirable due to their tendency to slow growth; stagnant water can lead to root rot. This is typically a problem in flat landscapes and can be avoided by installing a drainage system before planting. If you already have a garden and trees and shrubs grow well on it, then bamboo will grow well.

Bamboo shoots. It is advisable to create a layer of mulch around the bamboo to protect the roots and rhizomes, which are especially vulnerable in the early stages of growth. Mulch is used as a protective layer to protect the plant from the effects of an unfavorable environment, storms, wind, heat, using a layer of mulch and mulch will retain the required amount of moisture. For bamboo, organic mulch is the ideal choice. You can create your own mulch mixture by mixing 1 part dried bamboo leaves and 1 part organic compost. This will provide sufficient protection to the plants while also feeding the bamboo nutrients.

Wind - Bamboo has a fairly shallow root system and grows tall and fast. Strong winds can damage bamboo. Not only can wind uproot bamboo, but wind can also cause dehydration. Bamboo requires a lot of water and constant wind will dry it out. Surrounding trees and hedges are great for protection from the wind. In addition, you can create a temporary wind barrier.

Bamboo hedge.

Spacing - Spacing is extremely important, especially when creating a hedge. The general rule is that the distance between bamboo seedlings is 50-80 cm from each other. This will create a fairly dense hedge. If you want to save money, you can plant further apart, but you will have to wait up to two years for a full green screen of hedges.

In this section we will look at transplanting a bamboo seedling from a container to a permanent place in the garden, read this article. The process of planting bamboo is similar to most other garden plants and trees, but there are a few unique factors to consider.

Timing - Timing is the first factor to consider before starting the boarding process. In temperate climate areas such as the US Pacific Coast or Florida, it can be planted at any time during the year. For areas with heavier seasonal weather in the CIS, Ukraine, time will be of the essence. In colder regions, the goal is to give the plant enough time to establish a root system to survive cold winds and frost. Cold wind is the worst enemy of young bamboo. Low temperatures are not particularly destructive, but loss of moisture will quickly destroy the plant. Frost can destroy young bamboo. A large layer of snow and ice can damage the plant. The leaves are most susceptible to frost, but the stems of the young plant are also at risk during their first winter. Bamboo, you need to plant at least 6 weeks before winter, preferably in the spring. This period will depend on the severity of your winter, as well as the type of bamboo being grown. The bottom line is that it's always best to plant in early spring, when there's a low chance your bamboo will be exposed to a combination of freezing temperatures and direct sunlight.

Planting: Dig a hole the same depth as the container and about twice as wide. The most common mistake is digging a hole too deep and too narrow. Planting bamboo too deep or in a narrow hole will prevent the root from receiving sufficient oxygen and nutrients. For optimal growth potential, make a mixture of 1 part soil and 1 part organic compost. As a general rule, it is recommended not to use fertilizers or manure when planting; high levels of nitrogen in fertilizers can burn young shoots. Another disadvantage is that manure is a source of weeds. Manure and fertilizer will be more beneficial once the plant is well established. Keep in mind that bamboo does not grow well in soggy or heavy soils. If you need to contain the spread of rhizomes, you need to install a barrier. Please refer to the article Rhizome Barrier for more details on this step.

Fill the Hole - Take potting mix and fill the outside walls and bottom of the hole, leaving enough room for the plant itself. Place the bamboo in the hole at about the same level as it was growing in the container. Use the remainder of the compost soil mixture to fill the space around the plant. Be very careful not to damage the plant roots, which are very thin and vulnerable at this stage. It is also important to avoid air pockets around the roots.

Watering - Now that you have planted in a permanent place on the site, it's time to water. Water thoroughly; if there are any air pockets around the root, they will close. After the first watering, bamboo should be watered 2-5 times a week. Watering frequency depends on the season and your local climate.

Mulch.

Mulch serves as protection against pests and weeds, as well as retaining moisture and providing nutrients. Organic mulch is recommended for bamboo and can work wonders for fast and healthy growth. Compost and dried leaves are ideal choices. If you already have bamboo growing, it is better to use bamboo leaves. Grass is also not a bad choice. Synthetic mulches are also possible, but not recommended.

Determine Root Containment Areas - First step: Install a barrier to determine the size of the area that will contain the bamboo growth. The more space the bamboo has, the more it can grow. As a general rule, the localization area for any type of bamboo should be no less than 1 square meter, but larger species will require more space to thrive.

Buy Barrier - The most common barrier is high density polyethylene (HDPE). Barriers can be purchased through many online bamboo suppliers and specialty nurseries. Obstacles come in various sizes and thicknesses. For sufficient containment, the barrier must be at least 30 cm deep. This size may need to be increased for some bamboo varieties and as the bamboo grows.

Remove all roots - If you are trying to contain bamboo groves, you will need to remove any growing roots coming out of your intended area of the site. This is much easier said than done. The rhizomes of monopodial bamboo have the ability to grow up to 4 meters in any direction within one year.

Dig a trench - We dig a trench around the entire perimeter of the area where it will grow. We insert a barrier around the perimeter so that it protrudes slightly above the soil surface so that the roots do not grow along the top layer of soil above the barrier. It is also recommended for bamboo hedges, when you plant bamboo in a row, place a barrier at the bottom of the trench so that the roots do not spread underground, this will save a lot of time in the future when caring for your hedge.

Insert the barrier at an outward angle into the top of the trench so that the root of the code rests against the barrier and begins to grow towards the top, and you can easily remove it or direct it in the desired direction. And we will be able to control the roots from traveling underground without any problems. When installing a barrier, you need the ends to be at least 20-30 cm apart from each other, and it is advisable to use something to hold them together; if you are making a barrier from polyethylene, you can fasten it with two-sided tape to prevent roots from spreading between the seams.

When we fill the trench with soil, we compact the bottom layer more firmly and less and less towards the top. The idea is to attract the roots to the top of the fence where we can more easily control them. And do not forget that the barrier is at an angle to the upper outer side.

Maintenance - Check the bamboo barrier every year to ensure that roots have not spread beyond the barrier or damaged the barrier. In addition, it is very important when the bamboo inside the barrier is well fertilized and watered. Bamboo growing in a barrier under less adequate conditions will focus its energy on spreading its rhizomes over long distances in search of more fertile conditions.

Bamboo is a beautiful ornamental plant and is ideal for growing in containers indoors and will thrive under certain conditions. Bamboo is good grows indoors but not all species, some are more suitable for cultivation than others. See the description in the section, types of bamboo. Bamboo will give your home or office a very original look, a tropical forest indoors and this sight will not leave anyone indifferent. We have listed some general guidelines for growing bamboo indoors.

Caring for bamboo indoors.

The first thing to consider before planting bamboo in your home, office is whether you have a place where there is enough sunlight. Most types of bamboo will require at least six hours of direct sun per day. Some varieties are more shade tolerant than others, so choose your bamboo variety seriously. As a general rule, the more sunlight you can offer the plant, the better. But if you don’t have such a sunny place, you can grow it very hardy and unpretentious to lighting.

Watering bamboo can indeed be a challenging task. Bamboo can die from overwatering, and most bamboos die this way. Many people think that when bamboo loses color, the reason for this is not enough water, when in fact it is the complete opposite, on the contrary, there is a lot of water, look, even when it seems that the soil is dry, check it with your finger under the top layer, cm. 2 it will be wet. Overwatering causes the roots to rot and the bamboo to dry out. Make sure you give the plant the required amount of water and no more. Bamboo is a moisture-loving plant, but it loves humid air, and if you have dry air, you need to spray water on the leaves, the more often the better, but if your humidity is normal, it is advisable to wet the leaves at least once a week. Spray frequently to keep the bamboo healthy, it loves it.

Fertilizer:

Bamboo grown in a container or pot should receive high nitrogen fertilizers.

Transfer:

You will need to replant as it grows. The roots grow quickly and completely fill the container over time. The frequency of replanting will depend on the species, it is advisable not to allow the roots to fill the entire container. It is advisable to use a container that expands towards the top. The roots and rhizomes are strong, and then it will be difficult to remove the plant from the container for replanting.

Growing bamboo from seeds is the least attractive method of propagating bamboo for commercial use. The main reason is quite simple, it only blooms every 80 - 100 years!

On the positive side, bamboo plants, grown from seeds, have a life cycle of another 80 - 100 years.

How to grow bamboo

Seed preparation:

The collected seeds are properly cleaned and then dried in the sun for 1-2 hours. After that seeds soak in clean ordinary water for 6-12 hours to break dormancy; under no circumstances will the seeds suffocate longer than that. Drain the water 10-20 minutes before sowing.

2. Soil preparation:

Well, dark soil is mixed with ashes (like from a barbecue) and wood chips (from unpainted, untreated wood). Rice hulls are also a very good alternative for wood chips.

The mixture looks like this:

8 parts topsoil

1 part ash

1 part fine wood shavings

Then we filter the mixture through a wire mesh to filter out stones and debris from the soil.

3. Planting Bamboo Seeds

Distribute the mixture in special plastic granules (disposable cups) and leave the soil free and not compressed!

Make small holes (3 - 4 mm) where the bamboo seeds will be stored. Insert one seed into each hole.

Cover the seeds carefully with the soil mixture so that the seeds sit 4 -5 mm deep.

Keep 'em wet!

Give them water every day, early in the morning and again in the evening.

Let the seeds be in partial shade.

Compared to other bamboo propagation methods, the first seedlings grow rather slowly. Bamboo seeds begin to germinate after 15-25 days and the shoots sprout thin and fragile leaves. New seedlings grow slowly because the underground part is not initially differentiated like rhizomes.

4. Transplanting seedlings.

When the seedlings are 3 - 4 months old, and you see that the rhizome will begin to produce new shoots. At this time, transplant into pots and water once a day, preferably in the evening. It is advisable to fill the pot with rotted manure, soil and sand, a mixture in a ratio of 2:03:01. New bamboo seedlings are ready to be transplanted to their destination as soon as they reach 40-50cm.

When growing from seeds in the middle zone of the CIS, it is undesirable to plant in open ground in the first winter; weak shoots will most likely freeze or disappear due to lack of water, since the roots will still be quite small and are mainly located under the top of the earth which will most likely freeze; bamboo is evergreen The plant needs moisture all year round. In the first winter, provide the bamboo with sufficient heat and moisture in a cool room or winter greenhouse, let the plant grow and strengthen so that the root system is established; in the second or third year, frost-resistant varieties of bamboo can be transplanted into open ground or into a container in the garden. Non-frost-resistant species should be transferred indoors or in a greenhouse for the winter, and from early spring to late autumn they feel great in the fresh air - in the garden, on the balcony, on the terrace.

Bamboo (lat. Bambusa)- a genus of evergreen perennials of the Bamboo subfamily of the Poaceae or Poa family. In garden culture, plants are grown that belong not only to the genus Bamboo, but also to other genera of the Bamboo subfamily, but for simplicity, all these plants are called bamboos. And in our story we will call them that way, however, in the section on the types and varieties of bamboo, you can find out exactly what type and genus this or that cultivated plant belongs to.

Representatives of the genus Bamboo and the Bamboo subfamily grow in the tropics and subtropics of Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and America, as well as in Oceania, and herbaceous bamboos grow exclusively in the tropics. Bamboos are becoming increasingly popular in cultivation: they are grown on terraces, they are used to decorate patios, and they make wonderful hedges.

Planting and caring for bamboo (in brief)

Bloom: once every few decades.
Landing: from March to September, in the middle zone - from April to June.
Lighting: bright sunlight or light partial shade.
The soil: any with a pH of 6.0-6.2, except clayey and heavy.
Watering: at first - daily and abundantly, but when the seedlings take root and begin to grow, they are watered no more than 2-3 times a week.
Feeding: Bamboo is fed with complex mineral fertilizer in spring and autumn, but the ratio of elements in spring and autumn feeding is different. If you use organic matter, add it in small quantities every month until the beginning of autumn.
Limitation: Along the perimeter of the area with running bamboo, which can spread to areas not intended for it, sheets of plastic, iron or slate are dug into the soil to a depth of 1-1.5 m, which should rise 10-15 cm above the soil surface. Can be used to limit barrier film.
Trimming: Every spring, cut out trunks that have lost their attractiveness and thin out the thickets for sanitary purposes.
Reproduction: seeds and dividing the bush.
Pests: mealybugs and spider mites.
Diseases: rust.

Bamboo plant - description

In nature, almost all bamboos reach enormous sizes. Woody, fast-growing bamboo stems (culms), branched at the top, can grow up to 35 and even 50 m. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet. Their leaves are lanceolate and short-petioled. Multi-flowered spikelets in groups or singly located on special branches with scale-like leaves. Bisexual bamboo flowers bloom once every few decades, abundantly and en masse - almost simultaneously on all plants in the population. Ripe grains fall out of the flower scales and are carried by animals or water currents. After fruiting, the plants of the population usually die completely or only the above-ground part dies off, while the rhizomes are preserved.

bamboo plant– an excellent building material. Dried bamboo stem used to create gutters or wind pipes.

Conditions for bamboo

Due to the fact that bamboo is an evergreen plant, its decorative value for our latitudes increases many times: who would refuse to watch from the window in February exotic trunks with lush green leaves swaying against the backdrop of snowdrifts? However, most bamboos are heat-loving plants. There are only about 100 species that can withstand cold temperatures down to -20 ºC, and very few plants can overwinter at -32 ºC. By the way, the happy owners of garden bamboos claim: if the seedling survives the first winter, then subsequently it will not be afraid of twenty-degree frosts.

What conditions need to be created for bamboo in the middle zone? It grows best in a sunny or slightly shaded area, protected from dry and cold winds. An ordinary fence can serve as good protection from winter dry winds. Bamboo has no special requirements for soil; only heavy and clay soils are not suitable for it. The soil pH should be between 6.0-6.2 pH. Planting is carried out from spring, as soon as the soil warms up, until late autumn, that is, from March to September, but the ideal time is from April to June.

Planting bamboo

Bamboo is planted in the same order as other garden plants. First, dig a hole, which should be twice the volume of the seedling’s root system. Then a layer of fertile garden soil with the addition of humus is placed at the bottom of the pit and pressed down. Without removing the seedling from the container, place it in a bath of water for several hours. When air bubbles stop appearing, the bamboo along with the earthen lump is removed from the container and placed in a hole, after which the free space is filled with garden soil with humus, lightly compacting it so that there are no voids left in the soil. There is no need to compact the top 2-5 cm of soil. After planting, the seedling is watered abundantly so that all air pockets in the hole are closed.

Watering bamboo

Caring for bamboo is no more difficult than planting it. How to grow bamboo in the middle zone? At first, the seedlings are watered abundantly, and the surface of the soil is mulched with organic matter. When the bamboo begins to grow, watering is limited to 2-3 times a week: the frequency of watering and water consumption will depend on the amount of natural precipitation at this time of year. Keep in mind that bamboo, like other grains, is very moisture-loving, and when there is a lack of water, it develops a reliable and deep root system, allowing the plant to extract moisture from the depths.

Bamboo stops

There are two main varieties of bamboo grown in cultivation: running and bushy. Bushy bamboo grows in close groups and does not spread throughout the garden, but the roots of running bamboo spread superficially, at a depth of 5 to 20 cm, or even on top of the ground, capturing areas intended for other purposes, and you will have to cut them off, and more than once once a season. Cut off rhizomes should be removed from the soil, as they can develop on their own. But it is much safer to dig pieces of slate or metal around the perimeter of the area with running bamboo to a depth of 1-1.5 m so that they protrude 5-10 cm above the ground. You can also use a barrier film or root barrier as a limiter . This is a flexible but rigid plastic tape with a thickness of 6 mm and a height (width) of 50 to 100 cm. It, too, like pieces of slate, is dug into the ground along the perimeter of the area with bamboo, but not strictly vertically, but at an angle: the upper edge, protruding above the ground should be further from the area with bamboo than the lower one, located in the ground. Connect the edges of sheets of slate, iron or film not end-to-end, but overlapping, otherwise the bamboo roots will break through the limiter.

Bamboo trimming

Once a year, in the spring, cut out old, unattractive or frozen bamboo trunks. For sanitary purposes, you can thin out the thickets so that the sun's rays fall deeper into the planting. Keep in mind that if you cut a bamboo culm above a node, it may grow back.

Feeding bamboo

Garden bamboo is fed in the spring with nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertilizers in a ratio of 4:3:2. The ratio between the elements of autumn feeding is different: 2 parts nitrogen, and 4 parts each phosphorus and potassium. After applying fertilizer, the old stems are cut off at surface level, and the area is mulched for the winter with a 10 cm thick layer of leaves or pine bark.

If you use organic matter as fertilizer, then fertilizing is carried out monthly throughout the season and stops at the beginning of autumn.

Wintering bamboo

In the first winter, bamboo roots may freeze if the temperature drops to -17 ºC, and at -20 ºC they may die. bamboo trunk: the part of it that is above the snow level will freeze. If you are afraid that the winter will be frosty or snowless, then bend the trunks of the plant, lay them on top of the mulch layer and cover with spruce branches, which will not allow the bamboo to freeze. And remember: if young bamboo successfully overwinters, next year it will not be afraid of frosts of -20 ºC.

Bamboo propagation

Seed propagation of bamboo

Bamboo seeds are soaked for 12 hours in clean water before sowing. While they are swelling, prepare a nutrient mixture of 8 parts topsoil, 1 part fine wood shavings and one part wood ash. Sift the mixture through a sieve, moisten and fill the cells in the cassette with it without compacting. Make a small hole 4-5 mm deep in each cell and place one bamboo seed in each (the seeds are removed from the water and blotted with a cloth 20 minutes before sowing) and seal the crops.

The crops are placed in partial shade, and until shoots appear, the soil is kept moist, for which you will need to spray it twice a day. Bamboo seeds germinate very slowly, and seedlings can be expected only after two, three or three and a half weeks. When the seedlings are 3-4 months old and they begin to form shoots, they are planted in separate containers filled with high-moor peat. From now on, bamboo is watered once a day, and it is better to do it in the evening. Seedlings are transplanted into open ground when they reach a height of 40-50 cm. However, it is advisable that young plants survive their first winter indoors, since in open ground they can freeze or die from lack of moisture. You can move them for the winter to a greenhouse or other unheated room, but protected from frost and drafts, and when the soil warms up, you can plant them in the garden.

Vegetative propagation of bamboo

Dig up a few stems that have reached three years of age in the spring and transplant them into partial shade. In order for the seedlings to take root, they are watered abundantly every day, after shortening the shoots by a third of their length.

Diseases and pests of bamboo

Bamboo is quite resistant to both diseases and pests, but some plant species can fall prey to mealybugs or spider mites. Bamboo is treated with insecticides against scale insects, and with acaricides against ticks.

Sometimes bamboo becomes infected with rust, from which the plant can be cured with fungicidal drugs.

Bamboo turns yellow

If bamboo leaves They begin to turn yellow in the fall, this is a natural process: in plants of the genus Fargesia, from 10 to 30% of the foliage turns yellow and falls off, and in plants of the genus Phyllostachys - up to 15%. Bamboo sheds some of its leaves to conserve energy for the winter months. When winter comes, the wind will blow away all the yellowed leaves, and the bamboo will look fresh and green again.

If the plant begins to turn yellow in spring or summer, this is a problem that can have two causes: flooding or chlorosis. If the plant receives more moisture than it needs, its roots may become rotten, and if you plant bamboo in heavy or clay soil, be sure to lay a layer of drainage material (gravel or sand) at the bottom of the hole.

As for chlorosis, it usually occurs due to a deficiency of nutrients, in particular nitrogen, magnesium or iron. Sometimes the cause of chlorosis is soil salinity. Correct your care mistakes and new bamboo leaves will grow green.

Garden bamboos can be roughly divided into low herbaceous plants and straight-trunked types with a rigid stem. When choosing a plant type for a garden, such a characteristic as frost resistance is very important, because bamboos are plants from the tropics and subtropics. The most frost-resistant of the Bamboo subfamily are plants of the Saza genus. Fargesia (or synarundinaria) are also distinguished by their hardiness and cold resistance. Bamboos of the genus Pleioblastus are attractive due to their high decorative value, and in more southern regions phyllostachys bamboos do well. Of the plants of the genus Bamboo, the most popular species in gardening is common bamboo. By the way, indoor bamboo, or decorative bamboo, has nothing to do with bamboos: Sandler's dracaena is hidden under these names.

Sasa

- a genus of the Bamboo subfamily, which includes about 70 plant species from Central and East Asia. Plants of the Saza genus form dense thickets on the edges or under the canopy of tall trees. On stems 30 to 250 cm high there are broad oval leaves, bright green in spring and summer, and drying out at the edges in autumn, creating a variegated effect. The most popular cultivated plants of this genus are:

Sasa Kuril- bamboo with a height of 25 to 250 cm with stems about 6 mm thick and ovate-pointed leaves up to 13 cm long and up to 2.5 cm wide. This bamboo blooms only once, after which it dies. The Kuril saz develops slowly; only its low-growing forms, which are used for Japanese gardens or as a ground cover plant, take root well in the middle zone. The Shimofuri variety with yellow streaks on green leaves is popular.

In addition to Kuril saz, in cultivation you can sometimes find saz Vicha, spikelet, golden, paniculate, palmate (Nebulosa variety with palm leaves), reticulated and branched.

Fargesia

- mountain Chinese bamboo, discovered in the 80s of the 19th century by French missionaries. Today there are about 40 species of these evergreen plants with a height of 50 cm, forming loose bushes with many shoots, covered with bright green graceful lanceolate leaves up to 10 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide, which acquire a yellow-green color by autumn. The most common cultivated plants of this genus are:

shiny fargesia (Fargesia nitida = Sinarundinaria nitida)- a type of winter-hardy bamboo with bright, glossy, dark red-brown, almost black stems from 50 cm to 2 m high. The leaves of Fargesia brilliantis are narrow-lanceolate, up to 12 cm long. The Eisenach variety with dark green small leaves, a tall variety, is popular McClue, a New Collection variety with violet-cherry stems, Great Wall - a variety with dark green leaves for tall hedges and Nymphenburg - a variety with narrow leaves on arched branches;
Fargesia Murielae (Fargesia murielae = Sinarundinaria Murielae)- a type of frost-resistant bamboos native to Central China. The stems of plants of this species are yellow-green, smoothly curving, with a waxy coating. The leaves are long-pointed, pointed, bristly. Fargesia Murieli blooms once every century and dies after flowering. The last time flowering began was in the late 70s of the last century and lasted 20 years! Currently popular varieties of Fargesia Murieli are: Simba (a new Danish compact variety), Jumbo (a bushy bamboo with delicate green leaves) and Bimbo (the smallest variety with yellow-green leaves).

In addition to those described, Fargesia angialis and Jiuzhaigou are also grown in culture.

Phyllostachys

– this genus of the Bamboo subfamily includes 36 species of plants with cylindrical flattened or grooved stems of green, yellow, black or bluish color with relatively short internodes, creeping rhizomes and green leaves. These bamboos reach a height of 3.5-5.5 m. The most famous cultivated species of the genus are:

golden-grooved phyllostachys (Phyllostachys aureosulcata), growing up to 10 m in height with a stem diameter of 2 to 5 cm. This plant has dark purple, very convex nodes and golden yellow grooves. The most commonly grown varieties are Spectabilis (an unusually beautiful plant with zigzag canes, awarded an RHS prize) and Areocaulis, also an award-winning variety with golden stems;
black phyllostachys (Phyllostachys nigra)- a plant up to 7 m high, the stems of which become almost black in color from the second year of life. The leaves of the plant are small and dark green in color. Most often, the species is cultivated in its homeland - Japan and China. The most popular varieties are Boryana - a plant up to 4.5 m high, the stems of which become spotted in the sun, and Hemonis - a plant up to 9 m high with green stems;
edible phyllostachys, or moso (Phyllostachys edulis = Bambusa moso) from southeastern China. This is the largest species of the genus, whose strongly ridged stems with smooth nodes reach a height of 20 m. The tortoiseshell form of this species with an alternating oblique arrangement of nodes, which can be found in Sukhumi, Batumi and Sochi, is interesting for its ugliness.

Phyllostachys sweet, Simpson's, pubescent, Meyer's, soft, flexible, green-blue, reticulated (aka bamboo) and golden are also grown in the gardens.

Pleioblastus

- a genus of long-rhizome, low-growing bamboos, which includes 20 species native to Japan and China. Some of these plants are frost-resistant, which allows them to be grown as a garden crop in the middle zone. Bamboo of this genus is shade-tolerant, but variegated varieties are best grown in sunny areas. The best plants for gardens are:

Simon's pleioblastus (Pleioblastus simonii)- this species reaches a height of 8 m in nature. It has straight, highly branched stems with internodes up to 45 cm long, convex nodes and lanceolate leaves from 8 to 30 cm long. Unfortunately, in the middle zone Simone's pleioblastus does not grow above 50-60 cm, however, it is decorative due to its dense bushes with well-leafed shoots. The variegated form of Variegata has bright green leaves decorated with cream stripes of varying thickness;
variegated pleioblastus (Pleioblastus variegatus) It is found in culture in the Caucasus: in Batumi, Sukhumi and Sochi. It reaches a height of 30 to 90 cm, it has thin, geniculate stems with short internodes and slightly pubescent green leaves with a white stripe, highly decorative. In frosty winters, this species sometimes loses its foliage, but recovers very quickly in the spring. Pleioblastus variegated develops quickly, forming wide bushes.

Narrow-leaved, low, dwarf, cereal, green-striped, double-rowed, Ginza, Shin and Fortune pleioblastuses grow well in culture, but they are not yet common.

Among other representatives of the Bamboo subfamily, some species of Indocalamus and Shibata are cultivated in the southern regions. As for the genus Bamboo, in garden culture it is represented by the species common bamboo.

Common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris)

is a herbaceous deciduous plant with woody, densely leafy, bright yellow, rigid stems with green stripes and thick walls. Bamboo stems reach a height of 10-20 m, the thickness of the stems is from 4 to 10 cm, and the length of the knees is from 20 to 45 cm. The leaves are bright green, spear-shaped, and pubescent. Common bamboo rarely blooms and does not produce seeds, so the plant is usually propagated by dividing bushes, layering, shoots and rhizomes. The species has three varieties: green-trunked, golden (yellow-trunked) and variegated (a three-meter plant with knees about 10 cm long). The most famous varieties of this species include:

striata– not as large as the main species, a plant with bright yellow constrictions between the knees and long dark green and light green spots located randomly on the trunks;
Vamin– a medium-sized plant with thickened and flattened lower constrictions, giving the bamboo an unusual appearance;
wittata– a common cultivated variety up to 12 m high with numerous barcode-like stripes on the trunk;
maculata- a variety with green trunks covered with black speckles and streaks. With age, the trunks of the plant turn black completely;
Vamin striata– the plant reaches a height of no more than 5 m. It has a light green trunk with dark green stripes and enlarged lower bridges;
aureovariegata– this popular variety has thin golden stems with green stripes;
kimmei- a variety with yellow trunks with green stripes.

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