i'd be curious to hear what ppl in the pacific north west have to recommend for a bamboo that would grow fast, keep it's leaves and make a nice screen? i have a very large, open - uncovered patio which points south. we do get sun all summer all day, to the point of very hot, and get cool in the night and winter because we sit at the base of a mountain.
we get lots of rain as we are on the wet coast.
currently i've been gifted with some bamboo - i think it's the (running) arrow bamboo - i've noticed it also grows all around on our grounds but most of it is in bad shape - mites, scorched leaves...
i have it in a very large pot with soil full of organic matter and good drainage.
my greatest concern so far when it was warm was leaf curl...i'm hoping this is only due to the fact that it was freshly transplanted.
does anyone have any good spieces for growing in these conditions?
any tips for the arrow?
thanks!
we get lots of rain as we are on the wet coast.
currently i've been gifted with some bamboo - i think it's the (running) arrow bamboo - i've noticed it also grows all around on our grounds but most of it is in bad shape - mites, scorched leaves...
i have it in a very large pot with soil full of organic matter and good drainage.
my greatest concern so far when it was warm was leaf curl...i'm hoping this is only due to the fact that it was freshly transplanted.
does anyone have any good spieces for growing in these conditions?
any tips for the arrow?
thanks!
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Re: best bamboo for pacificNW screen?
Thu, November 22, 2007 - 11:50 PMMy simplest recommendation is usually Phyllostachys bissetti- it grows fast, and it makes a nice screen, getting abut 15feet (4m) tall quickly. It is relatively cold resistant, and it loves heat too. Almost every bamboo is evergreen, by the way. The only leaf curl I've ever seen is because of spiders curling the leaf to lay eggs, and if you've got bamboo mites, you pretty much have got them unless you are ready to take drastic measures. Scorched (and curled, I guess) leaves are usually a sign of drought, not enough water in the PNW summers. My advice for a screen is to plant it in the ground with lots of organic material on top and water it like a lawn. Hard to go wrong that way.
Check out the American Bamboo Society website- their species list is super useful. -
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Re: best bamboo for pacificNW screen?
Sun, November 25, 2007 - 7:57 PMthank you jason!
i'll check it out.
the mites are all around here it seems.
i've removed them without harsh chemicals.
some dish soap and careful wiping.
i'm aware this might not help in the long run as the mites
blow in on the wind from surrounding plants.
i'll be looking for the least harmful anti mite remedy possible.
i've planted the bamboo in a very very large ceramic pot.
today i've noticed it is sprouting new shoots from pretty much all the joints
where i've peeled back the old mouldy sheath like coverings (don't know exact term for these)
it has taken root and i guess it likes it.
we'll see how it does in the summer but i think i'll get another variety too, just in case.
we really need that screen up soon.
thanks again! -
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Re: best bamboo for pacificNW screen?
Sun, December 2, 2007 - 7:12 PMactually, bamboo mites are specific to bamboo- they only live on boo, and other kinds of mites don' really infect bamboo. if there isn't any more bamboo immediately around, and you somehow can get rid of the mites, you are set. the best non-toxic (?) remedy i have used is habanero pepper spray- we used to get five gallon barrels of commercial grade stuff. it is a waxy liquid that is sprayed, and you could find a similar stuff at a nursery. Make sure to get it on the underside of leaves- that's where they hang out, look for "webs".
those moldy things are culm sheaths- roots are a good sign! -
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Re: best bamboo for pacificNW screen?
Mon, December 3, 2007 - 8:33 AMmites - yes, they are all around, as in all around the bamboo that grows on the grounds under our patio.
so naturally our bamboo will have them too.
i have removed all of them from the underleaf with some soap solution when i first got the plant because it was very infested and it helped, but the habanero spray sounds like it will be much more effective to keep everything off.
i'll be sure to wear goggles, so i don't pepper spray myself ;-P
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