I recently ordered the Moso and Water Bamboo. Has anyone here ever tried to grow any of it from seed?

Thanks,
Clint

I didn't know you could get moso seed. That's great.

Water bamboo is a dracaena. Are we talking about the same thing? We propagate it from cuttings because its much faster that way. I have grown other dracaena from seed though. You just rub the goop off of ripe fruit, dry the seed a few days, then plant them in plug flats. Well drained and often watered. They are usually slow to sprout.

-steve

No, I'm talking about the PHYLLOSTACHYS heteroclada "WATER BAMBOO". This is a Phyllostachys that has hollow roots, so it's more tollerable to wet soils.

I just got my seeds tonight and planted 12 of my 200.

Your thinking of the lucky bamb... cough, I can't come to call it bamboo. Lucky Dracaeca is more like it.

Hello! Though this does not have info about Phyllostachys, the article in this link contains valuable information. It is free. You may need to fill out a short form - originally I had to- but the PDF 'button' accessed the article fine. Please see: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/vsp/jbr/2005/00000004/00000001/art00002
and judge for yourself.
Good luck - I have some of those seeds on order too!
Heidi

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cngodles - How is your batch of 'boo coming along?
I rec my Phyllostachys heteroclada & P. pubescens seeds May 27 ... started several of each the next day, first by soaking the seeds for almost 2 days, alternatively in corn sprout water and plain tap water (the sprouted corn is for rodents we keep) ... Note, after soaking a few hours I carefully removed the husks from the seed - The reason for the long soak and de-husking was in part various recommendations for 'boo seeds, part gut feelings. It had a lot to do with excellent results I got with 4 year old Dendrocalamus strictus seeds. I was unwilling to recomend my novel approach without trying it on other bamboo species first - I had noticed a long time ago that sprout water could enhance seed germination - seems to work for the 'boo. Anyway, I planted the seeds in coir, which is a powdered coconut fiber . As of 8 June (today) the Moso's germination is well underway, 42% so far, and looks like I may get a few more out of the batch ... the heteroclada is germinating too, at 77%.
I was fortunate to snag some Qiongzhuea tumidinoda seeds as part of my order with the Phyllostachys 'boo. I noticed they no longer list them, and mine were delayed a few days by backorder. I got them 2 June - I am probably one of the very few to get them. Sadly, only a few seeds were viable, but will still be a huge bargain even if only one plant results - however there is an excellent chance I will get 3, maybe 4 plants - one 'Q.t.' and one Moso are ~ 1/2 inch tall now.
Heidi

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I planted mine May 10th. I planted several Hetroclada in little peat pots, but have not seen results. I planted 12 in 2 large dirt/sand filled pots, first sprout popped 2 days ago.

I planted 8 Moso in long sand trays. First 4 seeds came up June 02-06. I dug them up and potted. I checked the other 4, 2 of them rooted, 2 of them nothing yet. I transfered the 4 shoots to pots, and with 2 of the pots I planted the rooted seeds as well.

I took about 30 of my hetrocladia, put them on a wet paper towel, and closed them in a zip lock bag. Approximatly 2 weeks later 19 have sprouted roots. This was by far the best method in which to start the seeds.

I transfered the rooted seeds to plastic planters (1/2 dozen 1x1 by 2 deep. black plastic)

I planted a full 36 starters of moso this way. I checked on one single moso, it has sprouted roots. So they may be starting to poke through very soon.

I noticed that there were some other bamboo seeds too. I'd like to get some soon.

I have a 2" tall moso, but that's including the leaf.

Great to hear about your seeds. Keep me updated.
Edited by cngodles on Jun 8, 2006 at 11:18 PM

Also, I spend lots of time here. There are pictures of the shoots there as well.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=92

cngodless - no pictures of my bamboo to share, but that will change if I can borrow a camera. But for updates, from the seeds aquired this year, so far, those I've planted all are planted in coir:
Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda - one seedling now at 5/16", one ~ 1/8", with two more working on getting growing. Only the seeds that really looked like they would have the most potential to grow have been doing so. In regards to this species, I did not know what to expect with the seed when I ordered them, but they were actively in the process of, and on the verge of germinating upon receipt. All considered, I was lucky - why, is a longer story. Sent you a note, please see.
I only started a small batch of each of these, note my earlier post:
Phyllostachys heteroclada - 7 now poking through the soil's surface.
Phyllostachys pubescens - 8 coming along nicely, one is 1 1/2" now, and a couple more of the batch of seed the 8 are part of are germinating.
The coir (a.k.a. CocoPeat) seems great for seeds, if you can find it!

Heidi

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Edited by NutzaboutPlants on Jun 11, 2006 at 07:53 PM
Edited by NutzaboutPlants on Jun 12, 2006 at 01:14 AM

Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda -> update! Of the seeds that seemed 'iffy' in their potential to germinate, I planted them loosely in two groups, in coir, kept warm and damp - I was not going to give up on the rest just yet. 5 more seedlings are germinating! Brings the seedling total so far to 8. No idea how many will ultimately survive, time will tell. Hopefully at least one, all would be super! (cngodles, the note I mentioned previous post is a PM on this forum, pertains in part to Q. t.)
Also rec today the Dendrocalamus membranaceus seeds (with other goodies) that I ordered 5 June, have 17 in pre-soak for planting.
The rest of the 'boo babies are still coming along nicely, I hope yours are too!

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I had 3 more Hetrocladia break soil today, so I'm up to 10 total seedlings.

My Moso is at 6 total comfirmed seedlings.

I would like to order more, but I would like to get two new varieties instead of one. I live in Western Pennsylvania, so unless they can take temps of around -10 once a year, I have to make them houseplants. And from what I heard, bamboo is hard to grow as a house plant. But I'm going to try to make a few Moso into houseplants. Of course hopefully I can keep their growth short.

cngodles,
Regretably, I do not know off hand of a US based source of bamboo seeds that are more cold-hardy than offered here at the Banana Tree. The eBay route has been tempting, but seems anything coming from overseas would be at risk of being confiscated without an acompanying phytosanitary certificate, or worse, no longer be viable. Folks have managed it, but my hands are full with what I have already, even though I am greedy for more 'boo! But on a more positive note, a search yeilded a novel container thought ... and possible other helpfull info: ...
http://www.bambooweb.info/Photos.php -> Heated planter photos 1 & 2 in Spokane, WA Zone 5b/6
http://www.bambooselect.us/consumer/care/?p=8 -> Graceful Grass or Jungle Giant: Growing Bamboo Indoors
Bamboo Care - 'escape proof' Bamboo -> gives ideas on container size for plant size. Outdoor oriented, but the cotainer size is a literal size limiter for bamboo. Think bonsai ... Forewarned is fore armed!
http://www.mrbamboo.com.au/bamboo_care/escapprf/escpr.html
full pdf link-it's on the web page, but the pdf url direct is:
http://www.mrbamboo.com.au/UsedPdf/BambooCare/folwup/escapprf/ep021205.pdf

I hope some of this helps!

Heidi

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Great stuff.

I love the heated planters, what a neat idea. Probably wouldn't do it, but I'll keep it in mind.

And I've read most of this stuff about planting indoors. I guess I'll have to put a personal spin to it all. Of course they don't list my species as ones for planting indoors.

Update:

Hetroclada - 16 total.
Pubescens - 11 total.
Edited by cngodles on Jun 14, 2006 at 01:01 PM

Just about everything out there also points to older plant = tougher, more tolerant. Also if in the ground, and heavily mulched, more resistant to dry, cold, etc. I will likely be in the same 'fix' with D. membranaceus as you, with the P. hetroclada and pubescens, because of its reported cold tolerances -or rather, lack of.

My current 'boo "score" ...

P. hetrocladia, 5 surviving seedlings out of 7, from a batch of 9 seeds.

Moso, 14 surviving out of 16, batch of 18 seeds.

Q. tumidissinoda, of 4 remaining, 2 are strong, (wish they were growing faster!) one I'm not so sure, and one is Not looking happy at all, and is doubtful. As stated elsewere, I will be more than pleased if one makes it, natch, 2 would be twice as good!

D. membranaceus, 5 seedlings so far, out of a 17 seed batch. May get 1 more out of this batch, as one seed still appears 'sound', the rest show mold. This batch actually started out as a 20 seed batch, but 3 were empty husks. I know this because I have carefully removed the husks with all of the 'boo seeds I have grown this year. With the 'empties' and other indicators -'floaters' that never took up water during soak ... I was not surprised by a somewhat low germ rate, as floaters with D. strictus I had were dead seed, and inspection of sliced open floater D.s. showed them to be already consumed by fungus ... I have not made this check with the D.m. floaters, I will have to check some with the next batch I try. There is nothing to indicate any 'problem' based on the appearance of the dry seeds, and I in no way fault Banana Tree - I am well aware that plants do not always set all 'good' seed, even when it looks that way. I accept that my methods may not be the best, either. The important thing is the seedlings I have got look very, very good, and are strong, vigorous 'boo babies. To give you a better idea of the vigor, the first of the 5 seedlings was germinating while still soaking the batch - the rest quickly followed.

Floaters by the way, are not an ironclad indicator of any 'problem' with seeds - for example, the Moso's all were floaters at first, until they took up water, and germ rate has been 88% - I've not given up on the remaining 2 seeds of the Moso batch, either, as they show no sign of decay. Also note, the husks Will tend to cause the seeds to float, when they would otherwise -de-husked- tend not to float. A further note, Q.t. did not require any soaking, just cleaning ... the seed was not at all like any of the other 'boo seed I've dealt with.

Personally, I think it would be great if a lot more folks would try to push the known range of various species of bamboo. That is best accomplished, I think, with seed grown 'boo, as there are going to be genetic variations. There are bound to be losses, but survivors would possibly open up the range that 'boo grows. That includes heat tolerance as well as cold, damp, dry, windy, etc., ... But two of the most serious limits I see are the generally rare availability of bamboo seed, and people's willingness to take a chance.

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My Hetroclada count is up to 29.

My Moso Count is... 14

I've never lost any plants. I've got a moso seed on a wet paper towel in a zip lock bag that just sprouted a root.

I planted a Hetroclada outside today. It's only a couple inches tall, but I figured I'd experiment. It didn't seem to mind, 4 hours later and the leaves were more vibrant green than ever. I don't know if it can take a winter. I'm sure in the wild they have to, why not in my back yard?

I heard that Hetroclada has a good cold tolerance.

I have a question for NutzaboutPlants.
I also ordered a bunch of Q. tumidissinoda seeds and have had them planted for around 10 days. Like yours they looked like they were on the verge of germination when I got them. But now they're not doing anything.
What I was wondering is if you germinted your Q. tumidissinoda inside or outside. I'm getting temps in the shade of 95 F. and I'm wondering if this might be too hot??
Anyway any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

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karl