Kamis, 24 November 2011

Growing Bamboo From Cuttings

Growing Bamboo From Cuttings

Factory fastest growing on earth, bamboo is a member of the family Poaceae. In addition to the bright hues of the garden, it has become popular all over the world to do with wisdom, strength and longevity. This is because the popularity of which in addition to growing in the garden, people also want to know about how to grow bamboo indoors. In addition to being the most favorite gardening, bamboo is the value for various purposes. From being used as building material, bamboo is widely used to make furniture and craftwork. There are a number of ways in which the bamboo plant can grow. One of the most preferred way is the bamboo that grow from cuttings.



Growing Bamboo Plants

Bamboo plants can be grown using a part of a mature plant itself. While some propagate very quickly, others may take a year or two. The various methods used for growing bamboo plants are layering, cutting, and also by seeds. However, using seeds to grow bamboo is very rare as some species do not seed at all, whereas most have such long flowering cycles that it becomes extremely difficult to procure seeds for growing new plants from them.

Growing Bamboo From Cuttings

Selecting the Cutting: Whatever the mode of propagation, it is important to select a healthy material of the right age and in the correct stage of development. It should be free from any disease and pests. Take cuttings from the middle portion of tall trunks that are not more than three years old. Ensure that each cutting has two complete internodes and a half internode. The internodes should be undamaged.

Preparing the Land: Bamboo growing regions have warm, tropical climate where the temperatures do not fall below 15 degrees Celsius. However, people have been growing bamboo in cold regions as well. In such places, caring for bamboo plants include mulching and erecting a physical barrier that would protect the plants from the cold, dry winds of the winter season. These plants grow in almost any soil that is not rocky. However, light and sandy loam soil is suitable for growing bamboo. The soil should be well-drained, as too much water will prevent the rhizomes from growing. It is important to remove all weeds from the area in which the bamboos will be grown. The soil should also be tilled up to a depth of 1.5 feet.

Planting the Cutting: The best time for planting the cuttings is just before the rainy season, which is also known as the growing season. This is the time around spring or early summers. The cuttings should be planted as soon as they are cut as bamboo plants are sensitive to shock. Any delay in planting the cuttings may lead to poor growth or complete failure of the cutting to grow into a new plant. Plant the bamboo cuttings vertically with the half internode above the ground. Put a layer of moist clay over the top cut end. Do not cover the hole. This layer acts as a disinfectant for the newly cut part.

Pour some water (about two cups) to the top of the cutting. This practice should be continued till the cutting develops roots and fresh green shoots grow in the nodes. While planting the cuttings, ensure that there is enough space between them. For most cuttings a space of 7 to 9 yards works well. However, for bamboo shoots that are grown to produce shoots, require more sunlight than those that are being grown for timber.

Growing the Cutting: Bamboo is a hardy plant that does not require too much care. However, till the plant is established it is important to ensure that the area where they are being grown is clear of weeds. Adding fertilizers will also ensure a good growth. In case your area is a windy one, you could erect some barrier that would protect the plants from tilting in strong winds.

Bamboo is a versatile plant that can be grown on land as well as in water containers. From knowing about how to grow bamboo on land, people are on the constant lookout for instructions on growing bamboo in water. Of the various methods, growing bamboo from cuttings is widely practiced as it is very easy and more convenient than other known methods.