Raising Bamboo from Seed

by Gib Cooper Raising bamboo from seed is a simple proposition confirmed by my thirty years of experience. In 1980, I managed to find seeds of Sasa palmata. These were quite large and very hard skinned. They were intriguing as a first attempt since it took a year for them to germinate. This was out of the norm of my experience since other species seem to germinate quickly. Most fresh bamboo seed will begin to germinate in about 3 weeks from sowing. The system I use needs a couple of basic materials and a constant source of mild bottom heat. Materials include sterile media and a clean plastic container that can hold three inches of the moist media. A medium grade of Vermiculite is what we use. A favorite container is a plastic gallon milk jug that is shaped to a custom shape with a sheet rock knife. Holes are punched into the bottom with a nail for drainage of excess water and an "x" cut into the end near the bottom of the soil level to insert the thermostat sensor.

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The seeds with husks and small debris are sown directly on the dampened media. Then they are covered just to the point where they disappear from view. The moisture level must be constant from this point on. A handheld spray bottle is always on location to maintain the vermiculite moisture at the right level. The best way to check this is by knowing how much the flat should weigh when wet. Lift it and view the surface appearance to determine if watering is needed.

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In our house, a south-facing windowsill was responsible for germinating hundreds of seedlings. Any place with moderate light and warm air circulation is a good place to incubate the seed. Be careful in a greenhouse or outside, there may be several hazards to destroy your attempts such as rodents, birds and other creatures. Set the bottom heat on the thermostat to 70-75 degrees F. Be careful using wet paper towels in plastic bags or sealed plastic germinating chambers. In the early stage 56'&6'('76*,'.'(+,,&*$%3+( the main enemy of the seedling is fungus and water mold. Good air circulation and sterile media give the seedlings time to grow through these killers. Further on in -,,&(.#'/("%(0,'.(1'.(+0"2$%3( their growth an insect pest known as the fungus gnat may get .0,#1"+.'.(4#"),( established in the container causing further havoc. They can come from a benign source such as your houseplant pots or compost pile. When to transplant the seedlings is a common question with several answers. Generally, what you want is a developed and branched out root system with several seedling leaves on the single culmlet. It may also be when the seedling is showing the first new culmlet shoot. Roots too developed get tangled and broken in the transplanting process. Transplants can go into various pot sizes such as 2" squares or one gallon containers.

While visiting Betty and George Shor after the 2004 ABS meeting in Pasadena, I noticed a potted bamboo obviously expired after flowering. The tag said Himalayacalamus hookerianus. With their permission I harvested an envelope of seed. I had tried this the year before from seed sent to me by another grower. It failed when nothing came up so I trashed the container. This time I kept the container on the hot bench for six months. Miraculously after 2 months one seedling appeared and then after four months another. They are surviving so far with only the dreaded rodent or bird attack as hazards.

Materials list: Seedling heat mat Heat mat thermostat or probe thermostat Deep plastic flat with drainage Medium grade Vermiculite Spray bottle Labels Bamboo seed (Fresh is best) 8#'%+4*'%.,&(9#,4'%"+.'7/61(:-0$**"%3;( +,,&*$%3+(