Bamboo success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:44 am

ITs goign to be iin the double digits for the next few days here. Too hot for the bamboo thats under cover. I uncovered them... ALL of them survived!!!

Ill post pics after this... but the damage goes as follows....

Fargesia "green panda" - About the same as last year. Dispite the lows, and a more "typical winter". Some leaf damage, very minimal.....

Fargesia SCabrida. - Well, it looks like some of it topkilled. I didnt put enough leaves on top of it. EVerything that was under 6 inches of leaves is just as good as my Rufa. The culms look healthy still. The top leaves look done for... Concidering how not hardy it is ( as far as ive read the zone rating on these guys are grossly over exagerated). Its in a colder spot on the yard as well.

Pseudosasa Japonica - Just some yellowing leaves, other wise, it came through the winter with little damage!

Phyllostachys Aureosulcata alata - Generaly, came out about as good as my rufa. Some "blond" leaves, but these were near the top of the leaf pile........

Something ive learned, is that the bamboo is more protected, when the plastic or tarp is directly ontop on the leaf pile. The scabrida had the most airspace between the leaves and plastic.... same with the Phyllostacys... these seem to have the most damage..

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:59 am

Good for 'em, Jesse! Congratulations!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:05 am

Thanks Igor!

The rufa has been in the ground for 2 winters, this will be its 3rd summer. The others were planted last year. The phyllostachys in may, the Fargesia Scabrida in june, and the Pseudosasa in july.

I was expecting the Phyllostachys to do the best, and Pseudosasa the worst, due to planting time, and hardiness. I was half right, as you can see in the pics, the psuedosasa looks better then the Scabrida does. Concidering the winter they all did very well.

Im going to have to go back and forth covering them, and uncovering them for a few weeks. But within 2 weeks or so, theyll be on their own. I wont know the true extent of the damage untill april or may. But i think its safe to say, that all the culms made it fully, or half. Now they are more estabolished, and are slowly but surely acclimitizing to their new climate, so im expecting better results next year.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:58 am

Congrats on your protection Jesse.
Well done.

Barb

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:25 am

Good job! What has your lowest temp been this winter?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:30 am

The airport was -37C ( no windchill), luckily, im way closer to the lake which has a moderating effect 10 - 14km inland. Im mabey a mile or 2 from the shore tops. My thermometer said no colder then -32C, on the northside on my house.

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:44 pm

Nice selection, good luck with your bamboo.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:02 pm

Nice Job! Be careful with them while the grounds still frozen solid

You know what I'm talking about

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:15 pm

Jesse,
that is fantastic news!
Not at all easy to pull off. I've lost my bamboo again (note: no protection at all) so trust me, I know it is no easy feat.
I am very happy for you.

--Erik

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 6:27 pm

Thanks guys

Im gonna leave them uncovered for now, and only tarp them when the temps get colder at night, or when were expecting snow and or rain. Im going to take a bit more leaves off to. Just a bit over excited LOL.

The scabrida didnt go as well as i hoped. I wont know the damage on it for a few more weeks. As long as im not a lazy lary for the next bit, they should all grow great this year!

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:27 pm

What type of bamboo did you lose Erik?

coconutmike · Post by **coconutmike** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:50 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1fF0co-lf8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF9z6nRlq34
HEY GUYS 2 VIDEOS SHOWING PALM TREES IN MONTREAL WITH VERY LITTLE WINTER PROTECTION-IT BECOMES MORE ABOUT THE TIMING .
ENJOY
COCONUTMIKE

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:51 pm

I was thinking that too Bill

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:27 pm

Phyllostachys aurea, again. I got it cheap, and got what I paid for.
P. aureosulcata and P. nigra are reliable here so that is where I have to go.

coconutmike · Post by **coconutmike** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:32 pm

Hey Canadianplant those bamboo pics look good I am sure they will look great in a month.
good-luck

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:00 pm

keep us posted on their progress....interesting test.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 4:39 am

Jesse- Be careful uncovering them too soon. All your work will be for nothing if they sit in the sun with frozen roots!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:29 am

I know, we had 12C as a high on wednesday, and 9C on thursday. It was WAY to warm to keep them completely covered.

And of course today, -10C for a high, with 70kmph windgusts. I threw the tarps over them yesterday. The severe cold is gone, I jsut have to keep the wind off of them for the time being.

Speaking of. I guess I didnt cover my rufa well last night. It was exposed to -25C ( thats windchill, it was only -9C last night). I thought for sure there was going to be bad leaf burn. NOPE!!!. Its looking better and better everyday!

Also, I do want them somewhat exposed to colder temps. Ill take a bit of leaf damage, to hopeful ensure that the new culms are a bit more acclimitized here. ( I know it takes years, but every bit helps). Theyll be covered up when ever the temps go below -5C during the day ( or no sun), when its windy, and if it snows/rains. Sure im still somewhat chilly here, but the very cold weather is gone. They all were exposed to some decent cold before i covered them.

How come your warning against me uncovering them while the ground is frozen? I had to do it last year with no problems

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:24 am

"And of course today, -10C for a high, with 70kmph windgusts. I threw the tarps over them yesterday. The severe cold is gone, I jsut have to keep the wind off of them for the time being."

I guess that is relative... -10C, to me, sounds like pretty extreme cold!

I'm warning about the frozen ground since a cool day (say 0C or 1C) plus sun, plus frozen soil, plus already drought stressed plants, = winter burn. Early spring is the toughest time for many of our BLEs here in the north. Plants can look perfect in February (as an example the English Holly at Vineland) only to show damage as the tissue respires without access to water in the roots. The sun is getting stronger at this time of year and tissues can rapidy warm in the sun. When the roots are still frozen (or even just cold), the leaves can shrivel due to lack of water. I'm pretty sure this is what killed my Buford Holly 2 years ago. Note too that it would be worse for you due to both the deeper freeze depth and younger plants.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:42 am

LOL ya its relitive. Trust me, im not saying its warm ( our average high is -6C or -5C, it changed day to day this time of year). Its chilly out there right now... LOL The good thing is, im no WInnipeg or Regina/Saskatoon, who usualy gets this weather WAY more, and longer then I do. This is only for today, the winds die tomorrow, and it warms up a bit.

That is good advice Paul. They arent totaly uncovered. They still have half the mulch around the roots, and are covered for the time being. Im trying to slowly "wake them up". There is no way I can leave them always uncovered now. The temps are to back and fourth. I think its more of a problem for me, who has to walk in the 2 feet of snow to cover and uncover them. Im not expecting them to burst into growth ATM. They greened up a bit, but thats because they finally got a bit of light.

I retarped them, as I said. and threw some snow around the perimeter, so the wind doesnt lift up the tarps, and so some what keep them a bit warmer. They probably wont be totaly uncovered untill the first week of march, mabey mid march.

Paul did you get the PM i send a week or so ago??

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:48 pm

Some updated pics........ Not to shabby if i say so, concidering i botched the protection this year

The first 3 are my Fargesia rufa, the next one is my Phyllostachys Aureosulcata alata, and the last 2, are my Fargesia Scabrida. I didnt get a chance to get to my Pseudosasa Japonica.

Thanks for lookin

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:30 pm

Hey Jesse- Some of the foliage looks good. There is some obvious freeze-dry on some the leaves. Will be interesting to see how many of the culms are alive.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:53 pm

Eh paul

Ya, they are pretty good nonetheless. Most of the culms look pretty good on the rufa and Phyllostacys, its the scabrida im worried about.

Well know in a couple weeks !

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:15 pm

Jesse,
those look vastly better than all the bamboo (unprotected) down here. Well done. --Erik

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:52 pm

I had no idea that bamboo wasn't that hardy.
I just assumed it grew everwhere.
Yours looks like it will do fine.
Will it grow to it's maximum height in your area?
Does it get hardier as it gets taller?

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:45 am

Thanks Eric, the good thing is, most of the stuff around there will regrow from the roots. My Rufa took -35C windchil ( protected form most of it, but stupid me left it uncovered that night), and concidering it looks pretty damn good.

Bamboo can probably grow in most places with good protection. All of mine were planted last spring, so they arent fully estabolished yet. From what ive read Bamboo tends to get more hardy with age. IT usualy gets hardier with size, which may be the new growth adapting to its new enviroment (a la the aloe guy).

As for max size..................... I think that depends on how well it adapts, and or how well i protect it. Paul has the same Phyllostacys as me ( im pretty sure at least), and my zone isnt to far off from him. Mabey paul can enlighten us as to how its doing?? Im sure I can get the Fargesia Rufa to full size ( i might have set it back slightly this year), other then that, its a guessing game. This winter im going to leave a few culms of each exposed to see how it fairs all winter here ( this winter comming up)

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:39 am

Wes, Jesse- Bamboo maximum height is related to both species and climate. Most bamboos, with the exception of the mountain forms, like Fargesia, will not grow to their 'maximum' heights in Canada. Out west they can grow Fargesia to very nearly its full potential. Here we are perhaps 1 foot shorter for something like F. nitida.

However, when we come to the timbers, the west coast can grow them, we have to struggle to keep a few alive. Out there you might get P. vivax to 40 feet, whereas it would be a stretch outside the best microclimates in Ontario to get it to that size. That said, in terms of absolute maximum of, for example, P. aureosulcata, we're both rather a long way off. In the S. USA this species grows even larger than it does in its native habitat (40+ feet). I've seen plants in Ontario at ~25 feet and in B.C. I've not seen it over 20 (though it surely can grow larger).

In a similar way the cold winters here, rather than the lack of summer heat, will restrict plant height. No matter what the species, if it gets knocked back by cold every few years the height will be restricted. For myself, on the edge of zone 5 (z. 4b/5a) or Jesse a zone colder, bamboo will get knocked back every year (or almost every year in my case)... So the ultimate height will be restricted. I have P. aureosulcata that has reached almost 20', but most culms are in the 12 foot range. None of my other plants are of sufficient height to judge performance here, suffice to say that with 1 or 2 exceptions any folaige left exposed to the cold will be killed.

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:12 pm

Paul, I will have to try and post a pic of my phyllostachys bambusoides "Castillonis".
I have read it grows to 25' - 35' and I would say mine are easliy in that range.
I just though bamboo was a lot hardier than that.
You see giant timber bamboo here in the lower mainland and on the Islands.
I know the tropic to tropics nursery owner has some huge green timber bamboo with very large culms.
Banana Joe has some YouTube videos of rows of bamboo on SSI.
You should check out his videos.
They are quite interesting.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:15 am

Wes- The only mature grove of P. bambusoides that I knew of here was one of ~30feet that was growing in Niagara Falls. The owner tore it out, don't quite know why.

I've been the lower mainland, Salt Spring, Vancouver I, etc. There are indeed some impressive bamboos! What I was saying was that given ideal conditions, these plants will grow to massive proportions! I think that Ray M. from Tropic to tropic has a grove of P. nigra 'Henon'. Probably a zone 6b plant. Jim posted on the species (which is much smaller, but has jet black culms). The henon form can grow to something like 65 feet in ideal conditions (there is a grove in Vancouver, WA, which is supposed to be nearly 50' tall!).

Post a picture of your bambusoides, it's always nice to see the ones we can't grow!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:29 am

It would be nice to get my Phyllostachys to full hight, but 40 feet would be a stretch here LOL. THen again, most sources ive read state it only gets 20 - 30 feet ( of course they can grow larger). So generaly 15 - 20 feet isnt that bad ( better then death!!!)

I might be taking a road trip to Vancouver/Van Island this summer. Ill definetly be hunting down some bamboo for pics! Hopefully get to "aquire" some seeds while im down there!

Wes - Please post a pic, im still under 3 feet of snow, some greenery would be nice!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:02 am

Always a good feeling to know when something makes it through the winter.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:15 am

I got a good look at the Rufa yesterday. 70% of the top leaves are toast, but all but the top of one or 2 culms are still green

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:57 am

Jesse-

A little damage is one thing, but at least you have no delusions about your cold winters... Unlike a certain Mr. Plott:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztwnfsCPzGk

Poor guy.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:12 pm

ung..... did he say " they look pretty good"

I like his enthusiasm, and really who knows, but thats alot of money to spend year one. Similar to what you did correct? Except you at least multched them

I wonder why theres no updates

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:30 pm

Got a better chance to check the bamboo today. The 2 Fargesia, and the Phyllostachys have a minimum of 50% leaf kill. Not totaly unexpected, or real damage done there. The bottoms that were deepest under the leaves, are still pretty good, soft leaves, nice green colour on all 3, so thats even better, it will have an easier time recouperating.

The Fargesia Rufa, has some minor top kill, from my neglect in the windstorm. I only noticed two culms that had 2 inches of the tops go blonde, the rest are green. Cant see any buds yet. It should re leaf well this year!

The Fargesia SCabrida... Most of the culms are 50% dead on all the tallest culms. I cant say its totaly defoliated either, because the bottoms are nice and green, and some small short culms survived ( im pretty sure without top kill!). Im not expecting much to be left in spring, but im sure all the roots survived. Its put out a minimum of 20 culms last year, so im hoping for some nice new culms. I cant attribute the damage totaly on the plant ( its only hardy to -25c to about -15C depending on source) my protection sucked. I realized when i unburied it, that there was only an inch of leaves protecting the tallest culms. My fault, I learned a lesson.

The Phyllostachys is going to loose at least 50% of its leaves. But almost all the culms look great! Im suprised at the leaf loss, concidering its one of the hardiest. Im attributing the damage to it being not fully estabolished, and once again my protection. Not enough leaves, and I left a huge gap before I put the plastic over. So it was bamboo, leaves, a foot of airspace, chair, and plastic. **** in comic book guy voice "worse...... protection.... EVER" LOL

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