Growing Moso Seedlings

[dreamhaunter25]

I have 28 moso seeds that have sprouted, and I am wondering when the best time would be to take them out of the plastic bags they are in?

I planted them in long planters, and covered the planters with clear plastic bags. I then set them under a heat lamp. I spray them with miracle grow every 4-7 days to keep the soil surface moist and then cover them back up.

I have a few seedlings that are 3 inches tall, and other new sprouts are still coming up every couple days. When should I stop covering the planters with clear plastic? How will the seedlings react to the humidity difference? What would be the best way to help keep them alive if they do suffer from the humidity difference?

[CaroleMeckes]

I tried to grow moso from seed one spring - must have been about in 1998.
It was pretty amazing to watch the thin blades of grass emerge.

I had about 30 seedlings. I had started them outside with no protection in the early spring. I was able to keep about 4 of them growing for a few years but ended up losing them all.

Now in February of this year there will be an opportunity to visit the Moso Grove at Avery Island in southern Louisiana and an opportunity to dig a start will be available.

Carole

[Mark Meckes]

Hi,
I've never grown Moso seeds, but, it should be much the same as with planting lawn seed! :)

Q. "When should I stop covering the planters with clear plastic?"

The plastic covering would have just been to keep the soil and seeds moist to hasten germination. i would remove it after germination began, and mist spray the soil surface if it dries.

Q. "How will the seedlings react to the humidity difference?
What would be the best way to help keep them alive if they do suffer from the humidity difference?"

If humidity is too dry,(and too much sun) leaves will curl in: Spray mist the leaves.
If too humid/low light - stem rot: I've heard of sprinkling charcoal on the surface will curb stem rot.

Mark

[cngodles]

For either one of you who did grow seeds...

How long did they take to pop up out of the ground once you planted them?

Any other hints, tips, stories are welcome!

Thanks,
Clint

[CaroleMeckes]

Hi Clint,

"How long did they take to pop up out of the ground once I planted them?

I think it took a few weeks to come up. I sorry, but I did not take any pictures or keep any written records. The new growth looked just like a blade of grass at first.

Carole

[cngodles]

Finally, after months of interest, I finally have a third species of bamboo.

My Moso seeds, exactly 20 days after planting, have finally popped up a sprout. I know this is Moso for sure, because I planted these in clean sand. And for anyone who is interested in how to, I used play sand.

http://www.15656.com/media/images/forum/moso01.jpg

Now I can only hope the other 7 of them I planted in there will come up

I also have a tray packed with 36 seeds in one of those humidity domes.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

But, will they survive the cold Pennsylvania winters? I'll know in about 21 months.

Update: 20 minutes later I found that a second one was also coming up. It was only 1/16th of an inch above the sand, but it's on it's way.

05/31/2006: Seed number 3 sprouted.

When does anyone think I should transfer them to soil?

[Mark Meckes]

Very cool! I've never grown boo from seed.

Did you take any pics of the seeds?

[cngodles]

No, but I still have 30-40 of them left, so I'll take pictures of them.

The Moso seeds are very long, maybe 1 1/4" The Water Bamboo (Hetroclada) are shorter and smaller. I've only since had success with Moso. But I've only been trying for 21 days. I bought 100 Moso and 200 Hetroclada

Hopefully I'll have a high germination rate.

These will be very easy to take day to day pictures of because they are so small. I really have a hard time photographing my bamboo outside. They are long, skinny, and green. I never have much luck. There are also not many of them.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Clint,
Very good of you for starting a New Thread to keep a journal on ...
Phyllostachys pubescens - New planting from Seeds - PA USA (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1953)

It warms the cockles of my heart :) to see a bamboo newbie lead the way and show to the experts of the bamboo world that research doesn't need to be 'behind closed doors' where few can access, and that internet technology is about empowering the individual, regardless of status, who can provide valuable insight, help solve mysteries and gain a better understanding of this magical plant.
Thank you and Bravo!

Now with regards to starting seeds in sand ...
One of the main reasons for doing so is to reduce the problem associated with seedling stem rot, also called damping off.

From this article Damping-off of Seedlings (http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG1167.html) by F. L. Pfleger and S. L. Gould ...

Occurrence and Importance

Damping-off disease of seedlings is widely distributed and is a problem on a worldwide basis. It occurs in most soils, temperate and tropical climates, and in greenhouses. The disease affects seeds and seedlings of various crops. The amount of damage the disease causes to seedlings depends on the fungus, soil moisture, and temperature. Normally, however, cool wet soils favor development of the disease. Seedlings in seedbeds often are completely destroyed by damping-off, or they die after transplanting. Frequently, germinating seeds are killed by damping-off fungi before they emerge from the ground, which accounts for poor stands in many crops. Older plants are seldom killed by damping-off fungi mainly because the development of secondary stem tissue forms a protective barrier and limits fungal penetration. However, portions of the roots and stems still can be attacked, resulting in poor growth and reduced yields.

This article by tomclothier.hort.net on Damping-off diseases (http://tomclothier.hort.net/page13.html) provides much more info, including remedies used to prevent damping off.

Cheers,
Mark

[cngodles]

Thanks Mark, that's partially why I do it. There is not enough personal account information on the internet yet.

[Mark Meckes]

Same thoughts here. I'm a high school drop-out from way way back who went the self-taught route. I found very little bamboo info in libraries, and when I got on the internet in 2000, was suprised to find only basic info provided by educational institutions and bamboo orgs.
Well ... the rest is history.
But an interesting outcome ... and it's probably because I've never been connected with the ole boys schools of academia ...Many bamboo experts of their field from around the world have registered here, but very very few post and contribute to the knowledge base of the site.
I won't go into hypothetical culmjecturing as to why this is so, and maybe this will change over time, but as it stands now, ... if this site is a Moso seedling, then it's us average everyday gardeners and crafters who are in charge of cultivating and tending this 'grove'.

One thing is for sure - my bit is only a 'drop in a bucket', and this site would be little more then nothing without yours and other members contributions.

Thanks!
Mark

[TexasGrower]

I used rock wool to start all my moso seeds and every one of them sprouted. I kept them in a black planter with a clear dome. You do need to take the cover off after they have all sprouted, or they will not get use to it and die when transplant them later on.

After they sprouted, I put them in self watering pots I got at walmart with Miracle Grow potting soil. Some died because I kept them in the small pots too long. They really love the bigger pots so their roots can grow. The ones that I put in the big pots after they sprouted are growing like mad... new shoots every month.

[TAMUmpower]

How big of pots? My month old sprouts are kept individually in like 8" tall 5" diameter styrofoam cups. How long do you think till I need to move them to something bigger?

[Firemandril]

Ok in some other thread i see something about soaking? should i soak my Moso seeds? or just plant them as is? In planting the seeds, should i do a two part soil bottom soil, top sand?

[ninak]

Hi, Just to add to your Moso seed thread. I am in Galway on the west coast of Ireland and have successfully managed to germinate three out of the four moso seeds I planted a month ago. The first seedling appeared after three weeks, followed by the other two. I did absolutly nothing to them except plant them in some potting compost, water and cover with cling film. I planted them in a plastic plant pot so there would be room for what I would expect to be big roots. I then placed the pot on a south facing window sill(it was Sept so not too hot). The window sill is over a radiator so I suppose you could say they was some bottom heat. Every couple of days I opened back the cling film for a while to let some air in. This worked just fine.
As to whether I will be successful in growing this species here I do not know. I can not find much info on which species will or will not thrive here in Ireland. To be honest, the climate has got milder here in the last few years so I am hopeful.
I am also attempting to germinate 6 other bamboo's:
Bambusa textilis - Weavers bamboo
Himalayacalamus falconeri
Dendrocalamus membranaceus
Bambusa lako - Timor black bamboo
Dendrocalamus strictus
With a bit of luck some will produce seedlings. Again there is not much info on how these do in Ireland so it is experimental fun on my part. If they do succeed I had better get a few fields to create some groves as I will have a few to many Bamboo plants!
If anyone has any information or experience in growing bamboo here in Ireland please let me know. I know some Fargasia's and Phyllostachy's Nigra are widely available here, but any info on the above types would be appreciated.

[R e x]

First of all, welcome to the forums ninak! I always wonder how it is like in Ireland :). Since USDA zones don't apply, how cold does it get where you live in the winter? I'm not familiar with Ireland's climate.

Hey, it seems like you bought from exotic-plants-de. Am I right?

[ninak]

Yep. Got them from the crowd on ebay from Germany. Weather here in Ireland is pretty dismal right now,pouring rain, but it has it's moments. Where I am on the coast does not get that cold at all. I have found out that we are about a zone 9 aprox. Rarely do we see hard freezing or much snow. Thanks to the gulf stream and the north atlantic drift we do not get the colder winters which our more northerly position suggests. We do get loads of rain, which should be good for bamboo. We may not get as much sun as they would like, but we will have to wait and see. Thanks for the reply and the welcome.:)