BAMBOO anyone?

[santoury]

Last fall a gentleman was moving out West, and I acquired what he was going to get rid of at the time - including many 20-30 year old plants. He seems to have a soft spot for rare Bamboos.
Anyways, he ended up staying an extra year, but this time he REALLY is moving, so today (and tomorrow) I am getting the "rest" of his collection - including a number of RARE bamboo species and cultivars.
If any of you are Bamboo connossieurs (SP?) then I would be happy to do some trading, as Bamboo aren't quite my cup of tea. (Phyllostachys, Indocalamus, Pleioblastus (sp?) and a couple others.)
To start off, how about a start of Phyllostachys "Black Jade"?
I'll have to look it up, but it appears to be a super dwarf Black.

For my Bamboos, I would prefer to trade for rare tropicals, rare Agaves, caudiciforms.
Thanks!

In addition, could some of you give me some pointers on how to keep subtropical / temperate Bamboos happy indoors during our northern winters? I tried it last fall and had major leaf drop, and new shoots were thin and weak.

[GARDEN GUY]

Hi
I would love to grow bamboo....hardy ones that is. Some will grow here....not too many though.
I found some info for you:

Phyllostachys:

http://www.tripplebrookfarm.com/ipla...lostachys.html

Indocalamus:

http://www.lewisbamboo.com/tessinfo.html

Pleioblastus:

http://www.hardybamboo.com/shop/prod...w=Pleioblastus

[santoury]

Thank you for the great links!

[santoury]

If you look at the Indocalamus link, it takes you right to I. tessellatus. I have one and might be convinced to make a few small divisions for the right trade

[GARDEN GUY]

Hi
Is it zone 5b hardy?
I do not have any "exotic" plants to trade but have will Gunnera Manicata seeds as soon as they ripen.

[santoury]

I thought you told me you don't want to trade due to plants arriving to you dead due to customs delays.

I did a quick google and I. tessellatus is zone 6. You might be borderline.
Gunnera, on the other hand, is not supposed to be hardy, either. How did you manage?

On the other hand, I would only want plants for these rare bamboo, not seeds. (Makes sense, I think.)

[santoury]

Just did another google to confirm: Gunnera is a zone 7 plant.
You may be growing something else unbeknowst to you - Petasites maybe.

[GARDEN GUY]

You are quite correct that Gunnera is a zone 7+ plant.
I have had one for 2 seasons now and it is 4+ feet tall with leaves 4+ feet across. The person who sent it to me has one 14+ft tall with leaves 7+ft across....she in in a zone 4 climate.
I cover it with 3ft of straw and a tarp...it does quite well.

In the below photo the pot is a 15 gallon pot. The Dog is a full grown Lab.
It IS a Gunnera Manicata.
You are also quite correct in me mentioning that plants can get stopped at customs and perish in transit. I was willing to risk that to get bamboo.
Unfortunately I do not grow exotics to trade. But thanks anyway.
Take care.

[bali]

How can one kill bamboo, used by thr railroad for dust.olden days.

[santoury]

Garden guy - Yours is in a pot ? Do you put it in a basement or something over winter?
I would trade bamboo for Gunnera *plant*
LMK. Thanks

PS - just got back with the second load of plants.

I got many bottles of chemicals / plant food, plant sprays, etc... I do NOT use any chemicals whatsoever, so keep looking for my offer on those.

[angmf2233]

I love that doggy! She is just too cute!!!!!!!!!!! Great picture.

[GARDEN GUY]

Thanks Angie.....that's my baby...!!!


Santoury....That plant is huge, as you can clearly see.....I would need a wooden crate 6ft X 6ft X 6ft tall. Oh...and I only have the one.
The pot is buried in the ground for the winter with 3ft of straw and a tarp on top.
It remains in the pot till construction on the 2nd pond is complete.
I will only have seeds in the fall to trade.
Thanks anyway.

[angmf2233]

I would like to try that plant by seed, what do ya want? This would be new for me please?

[GARDEN GUY]

You got em Hun......just remind me in the fall. They will easily grow from seed....it just takes a little bit longer to get HUGE.

Read this:

http://www.plantexplorers.com/twinin...roducts_id/649

Take care
Talk soon
Gary

[angmf2233]

Hey what for seed do ya want? I got lots here and will send ya some! And ya know what I am gonna send sweetie a chewy we get for our pups!Life is good!