Multi-Species Seed Grow Log!

[bambookid524]

OK here is how this is going to go:

I am going to start this with the species I currently have now growing from seed: Fargesia Murielae, Fargesia Nitida, and Phyllostachys Heteroclada (all thanks to CJ for sending me them :) ) . I will update pictures once or twice per week, and try to give a written update just about everyday.
I will add in more species as i get the seeds. If anyone has seeds that they don't need, please let me know and i will be more then willing to send a SASE for them, or trade some of my seeds i have left over (which are viable).

Phyllostachys Heteroclada (Water Bamboo) :
These were put in a moist paper towel, in a ziplock bag, in my basement about 2-2.5 weeks ago. So far i have had GREAT germination.
Here is a pic of some seeds i pulled out of the paper towel today that are forming roots.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0015.jpg

and here is a pic of the seeds i have left (Phyllostachys Heteroclada)
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/9610916f.jpg



Fargesia Murielae (Umbrella Bamboo)
Seeds were put into paper towel and germinated same way as the Water Bamboo but they were put in on 1/5/09.
Not to many have germinated yet so i dont have pictures. I will try and get some a little bit later.

Fargesia Nitida (Blue fountain bamboo)
Same as Murielae at this point except it has had more seeds germinate than the Murielae.


I will see if there are anymore pictures i can get later, if not i will update tomorrow, or next time i notice a change.

Feel free to email me with any questions at Stevewalsh123@live.com

Also, let me know if you have any seeds to spare. I'd be glad to send you a seedling or few from the seeds you send, if they germinate successfully.


thanks,

Steve

[ocimum_nate]

Are your Fargesia murielae the Kranich selection? I have had good luck with all of the seeds you are doing except my Fargesia murielae which was Kranich. Anyhow keep up with the log I will have to check it out from time to time.

[bambookid524]

The murielae are not the Kranich selection
I too have tried those without success but look forward to trying them again sometime. I'm curious to see what the full grown plant looks like.

Do u happen to have anymore kranich seeds?

Thanks
Steve

[ocimum_nate]

I don't I just planted the rest of what I had 10 days ago and I am hoping to see something.

[bambookid524]

Ok
Good luck with them :)

[bambookid524]

OK a few of the shoots coming up from the seeds have broken the surface :)

I will try to get some pictures of them tomorrow. There are at least one of each.

[R e x]

Hey there bambookid524. Just wondering about something. Do you know if the first thing that comes out of the seed is always the root? I'm germinating some bamboo seeds at the moment and one of them has this green point about 1/3" long sticking out. I'm wondering whether the green point is the root or the sprouting point.

[bambookid524]

Usually it is the root popping through, but in some cases the plant will come through before the root. I have had the plant come through before the root several times, but usually the root comes through, and if it is green, then it is the plant. I have never had a green root come from a seed.

What species are you growing?

[bambookid524]

There isnt really much to update yet. I'm waiting for the seedling to kick into high gear.

There are a TON poking there little heads out of the ground though.
I'm waiting for them to get a little bit bigger, so that i can get a clearer picture of them.

Should have pics by the end of the week (Friday-ish)

Stay tuned. They should pick up the pace here very soon. ;)

[R e x]

I put the seed that I was talking about with the green point sticking up out of the soil. It has now grown a small leaf! Here's the weird thing: I found this seed while I was digging around my germination tray looking for germinated seeds. The green point was growing almost vertically down into the soil. If I hadn't reoriented it, I wonder what would have happened.

[bambookid524]

A lot of times plants will do that in confusion.
Were you heating it from the bottom? Plants use heat from the sun to determine the surface sometimes. But it wouldve eventually turned around and came right back up, but it wouldve taken a little longer. Ive had a confused seedling start going down, then wrap itself around the seed before coming up. I saw it when i repotted it, (I had to repot like a day after it broke the surface). It was very strange looking. I may have a picture around here somewhere...

What type of seeds are you growing?

[R e x]

I'm growing Moso and Java Black!

[bambookid524]

Wow sounds good. Do u have a log going for them? I think I remember you having a moso log.

How are the java black seeds growing? Anything worth logging? Do you have any you would be willing to trade or give?

Thanks,
Keep us posted on the java black. I am interested in how it turns out. From what I hear a lot of the black bamboos don't stay true to seeds. I'm currently growing some seeds I received labeled as bambusa lako (hard to Positivly ID seedlings yet) and I'm waiting to see how they turn out.

Steve

[R e x]

Heh, whoa.. I guess I was really tired last night. I meant lako instead of java black. Blah! I always get those two mixed up. It's the first clumping species that I've gotten my hands on. I prefer runners though.

I'm not sure if this is true, but don't a lot of clumping species start to bend over at the sides and form a broom-like shape as they get older? I don't know much about the sympodials! I'm glad your lako germinated for you though :).

[bambookid524]

I'm not sure if I totally understand your question but do you mean seedlings or mature plants?
Seedlings usually don't grow too straight and tend to zig zag sometimes.

Mature clumpers sometimes bend a little bit. It depends on the species. Some plants grow very straight up, like Bambusa Nana http://www.bambooflorida.com/bamboo/Bambusa_nana.jpg

and others tend to droop over or bend, some bending a lot (fargesia murielae) http://www.bamboogarden.com/F.murielae,-yellow.jpg

and some bending a little (dendrocalamus giganteus). http://www.jakarta.diplo.de/Vertretung/jakarta/id/bilder/galeriebilder/galeriebild__deu__spuren__bot__garten__bambus,property=BildDaten.jpg

Just about all clumpers tend to bend to some extent, as well as some runners.

Does this answer your question?



I will either be updating the grow log tonight or tomorrw.. If I can find my camera...
Probably tonight, because the seedlings are starting to take off and are about to put out leaves.

[bambookid524]

Ok I finally got a chance to take some pictures, and update this grow-log.
It wont be too big of an update but there is definitley a difference since the last pictures i posted on about the seedlings.

Fargesia Murielae (Unbrella Bamboo) :
It started off better than the Fargesia Nitida with more germination, but since transplanting the seedlings from the moist paper towel they germinated in to soil, the Nitida seems to have the higher percentage of seedlings breaking the surface so far.
So either the Nitida's are growing faster, or the Murielae are dying.
Here are some pics:

Kinda hard to see. (Sorry for blurriness. I'm not a camera expert ;))
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0030.jpg

This one shows a seedling that seems to have come out of the ground somewhat sideways:
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0026.jpg


Fargesia Nitida (Blue Fountain Bamboo):
Like I said in my update on the Murielae, it is either growing faster than the Murielae or some of the Murielae are dying.

3 seedlings coming up
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0028.jpg

Two breaking the surface from another small container.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0027.jpg



Phyllostachys Heteroclada (Water Bamboo):
So far in this grow, this one is the champ. I've had great a germination rate from it, and most have come through the soil.

This pic shows the two seedling I transplanted into a pot with one of my pepper plants (In the middle) (I was running out of room for the seedlings, because most of my small pots were being used). Both were planted at same time, and the one on the right is definitly outgrowing all of my seedling so far.
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0018.jpg

The beast seedling as I call it :) (Pepper plant is on the left because I was low on containers :/ ) lol
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0024.jpg


Some other Water Boo seedlings in a different container
http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/DSCN0025.jpg


That wasn't all of my seedlings. That was just a group I chose for the pictures. They are the ones doing the best so far.

I'm hoping the rest or at least most of the rest will come through the surface, and the ones in the pics as well as a few others should start leafing out soon. I'll be sure to give an update when the next noticeable changes occur.

Feel free to post any questions. I'd be glad to answer :)

blessings,

Steve

[CaroleMeckes]

interesting.....

[bambookid524]

Wow I totally screwed up the picture labeling. Sorry about that. I put in the wrong pictures in a few places.
I will edit that right now.

[bambookid524]

Ok the post should be ok now.

Sorry about the screw-up on it. I did the update late last night, so I either wasn't thinking straight, or my photobucket was messing up.

Either way, it is updated now, and should be fine.

Feel free to post any questions you have about this grow, or bamboo in general. I'd be glad to help.


regards,

Steve

[R e x]

"(Pepper plant is on the right because I was low on containers :/ )"

Just letting ya know -I don't think this picture is labeled correctly.

I have a question. Do you know if there's any way someone in the US can get their hands on Ph. edulis 'Bicolor'?

[bambookid524]

Thanks for the correction. Man, idk why I keep messing this up lol
Must be the superbowl ;P
I'll fix it.

And eeeeek. That's Verrryyyyy rare plant in the US from what I hear. I'm not sure. I have heard talk about people trying to bring it over and start Importing it

I'm not sure if anyone in the US has it. Probably very few people. Right now one of the mIn imports that people are trying to get in Is phyllostachys shanghai 3.

I'll ask some people and see what they say about the ph. Edulis bi color
I would love to try growing some myself as well.

[bambookid524]

Update:
Almost all seedlings have their first leaves

Phyllostachys Heteroclada:

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0066.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0068.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0051.jpg



Fargesia Nitida:

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0070-1.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0069-1.jpg




Fargesia Murielae:

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0071-1.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0053.jpg



Fargesia Murielae seems to be falling behind.

Ph. Heteroclada is definitly the fastest so far.

[bambookid524]

Today I received a few Moso seeds, and they immediatly went into a moist paper towel.

There were 11 of them.

I also put the rest if my F. Nitida seeds (21 of them) into a different paper towel.
We will see how these all do. I will take some pictures of the already growing plants tomorrow and post them ASAP.

[bambookid524]

Sorry for lack of updates in the last few days but we've had a few casualties. My cat got a hold of some. :eek:

It was just 3 Phyllostachys Heteroclada seedlings, and those are what I have most of, so it should all be good. I still have a few hundred seeds left if i need to use those.

The Nitida is going pretty slow, so i put the rest of my seeds in a paper towel and they are germinating so that I get as many as possible. I have a Murielae seedling that is doing pretty good, and a few smaller ones.

I will try and get pictures as soon as possible. I'm just very busy.

Oh and my newly aquired Phyllostachys Edulis (Moso) seeds began to poke roots out 3 days ago.
It was really weird because some of the seeds were split in half from having pressure put on them or something, so I didn't expect germination, but those were the first to germinate! It was really weird. But does anyone know if they will survive?

I will try to get pics up tonight.


Steve

[bambookid524]

Ok, I'm low on time right now, but I was able to get some pics for a quick update :)

Phyllostachys Heteroclada = Growing like a weed. Especially the ones being kept in my bathroom. (They must like the humidity from showers)

These 3 pictures are of the same 3 seedlings:

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0090.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0091.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0089.jpg


A different batch of Heteroclada seedlings: (Dendrocalamus Strictus in the background of the second image)

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0098.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0099.jpg





Fargesia Murielae:
I only have one photo-worthy plant. The rest are TINY.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0100.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0101.jpg




Fargesia Nitida:
These are going VERY slow. I plan on putting them outside because unlike the Ph. Heteroclada liking the humidity of my bathroom, these guys prefer the cold. They will probably going outside this week or next.

Well, I was only able to get a picture of one, because the other's are smaller.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0084-1.jpg


Phyllostachys Edulis (Moso)

Here are just some pictures of the seeds that have begun to root

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0088.jpg


In these pictures below, you will see what I mean about the cracked seeds germinatating, as I said in my last post

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0087.jpg

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/bambookid524/Seedlings/DSCN0085-1.jpg


Well, thats all for now. My schedule should be clearing up soon so I will be able to update more often, and hopefully I can move the plants outside into some good sunlight so that they can begin really growing good.


Steve

[stevelau1911]

From looking at your thread, you've inspired me to start my own bamboo seeds. I'm planning on growing moso seeds, but I don't know a reliable source to buy them from where I know I would get fresh seeds with good germination rates.

I'm planning on going with just soaking them in a paper towel and growing some straight in some soil and hope for germination.

[bambookid524]

I replied to your questions over at bambooweb about seed source and other questions. :)

[bambookid524]

I'm glad I inspired you! :) growing bamboo from seeds takes major patience but is very rewarding.

I replied to your questions over at bambooweb about seed source and other questions. :)

[stevelau1911]

If I'm growing moso seeds I might as well get a few more varieties in to make it more fun.

I think I might try Bambusa Lako seeds from ebay, or the Odhami, but I'm not sure how well tropical clumpers will do from seed. I'm assuming they usually reach around 2feet tall within a year with good care.

Do you have any suggestions?

[bambookid524]

I have tried B. Lako from seed and have a seedling growing now.

My suggestion would be not to grow tropicals from seed. Most of them are falsely named and are most likely Dendrocalamus Strictus. There are many forms of D. Strictus from what I'm told. It's a common plant. I have a few of those seedlings growing as well.

I don't recall any recent flowering if any at all from Oldhamii... hmmm...

I suggest not growing Tropicals from seed, but if you do, treat them just as you would your moso seeds except bring the tropicals inside if there are low temps or lots of wind.

[stevelau1911]

How big should moso seedlings be until they get fertilized? I'm guessing when they get to around 3-4 inch range right?

I want to get mine used to high fertilizer and sunlight by the summer time so that I can put them outside to let them upsize.

[bambookid524]

I think you could have them ready for high sunlight by summer. Just keep exposing them to more and more and they will become immune to it :)

About the fertilizer... Once they get about 3-4" maybe give them TINY bits, but anything big will prolbably fry the roots, which is REALLY easy on seedlings. Just take it easy with the fertilizer, and do like the sunlight.. more and more, but dont increase the rate as rapidly as the sunlight.

[stevelau1911]

I keep a humidity dome on 99% of the time still, but as the seeds are germinating and getting taller, I plan on keeping it on less and less so its no longer used to so much humidity.

I also got a heat mat on it set at 82F, but I will eventually need to get my seedlings used to not having the bottom heat as they get bigger. In about 2 months, I am hoping my seedlings will be acclimatized to surviving outside in full sun.

[bambookid524]

Are they getting any sunlight whatsoever now? Or just indoor lights?
Are they indoor or outdoor?

As long as you slowly give them more and more sun they should be fine/

[stevelau1911]

I started them out inside a regular room and then moved them by a window today because I see them starting to emerge In a week I might try a plant outside in partially shaded light to see how it reacts.

[bambookid524]

Sounds like a good plan!

Just make sure there is not too big of a temp drfference between your house and the waether.

also, I recall in a post to said you were going to check if you had vivax, or something like that. I was just wondering if you ever got around to that

Thanks

Steve

[stevelau1911]

Yes thats right. I have 3 long rhizomes of phyllostachys vivax that I can cut a bit off of to see if it sprouts. If you want some I can go ahead and cut a piece off.

Do you know how propogatable vivax is? If it will propogate I will take a piece off, wrap it up with some moss, soak it and mail it to you.

I am interested in getting 1 of each type of seedling you have.

[bambookid524]

Ok, sounds great!
The seedlings will take a little while because most are still small, but I'll take my biggest of each, and put it in a dome to speed up the growth a bit.

I will also send you an email and we can discuss further info :)