Hard Goods

Rhizome Barrier
The running bamboos are spreaders. These species need room to grow. Don't plant them in tiny spaces unless in a pot or a rhizome barrier is installed around the perimeter of the desired space. For the timber size running bamboos a 25' X 25' space is desirable to allow for free growth over the years.
A good rhizome barrier can be made by trenching a perimeter around where the plant is to be contained and then placing on edge our barrier made from 30" high, 40 mil plastic. Seal the seam with pop-rivets, underground pipe wrap tape or our plastic clamp assembly as shown. Another method is by filling the trench with concrete. If the trenching seems excessive rent a Ditch Witch type trencher to do the job
If the climate is dry in the summer, an effective barrier can be accomplished through drip irrigation and watering only the center of the plant.
Our black plastic rhizome barrier is 30" high and made of 40 and 60 mil polyethylene. Minimum order is 20 feet. Maximum length per box is 200 feet. We can cut any length in between.

Click on the drawings to read an article about installing rhizome barrier in a small area.

Plastic Rhizome Barrier Clamp Assembly
Order one clamp assembly per seam. Ideally, only one seam is necessary. The clamp comes with stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts. Each installation may have different characteristics. Order clamps as needed.

FERTILIZER
Keeping your bamboo healthy, lush and green is the result of good soil, even watering and feeding. Like a lawn, bamboo is a grass and a heavy feeder in spring and summer. The temperate bamboo, those hardy to single digit temperatures, send up new shoots in the spring to summer. Rhizome and root growth occur during this period. The general rule is to feed the bamboo during this period and back off from feeding during the fall and winter.
The simplest way to fertilize your bamboo groves and starter plants out doors is by the use of Triple 13 or 15 bagged fertilizer found at your local feed store or farm supply. Many stores carry a simple lawn fertilizer that works fine. Make sure the fertilizer you are planning to purchase does not contain herbicides. Read the label carefully. Apply carefully. Over fertilizing with a high nitrogen type fertilizer like Urea can actually burn the bamboo and cause the leaves to drop off!
Bagged manures are fine to use as a top dressing around the bamboo plant. Use it after the bamboo has time to recover from planting - about one month. However, a mistake that has resulted in dead plants by several people is to use the cow manure as a soil amendment in the hole the bamboo is planted. This is strictly prohibited! Bagged manures are HOT and the high nitrates can BURN sensitive roots by contact.
The tropical and sub-tropical bamboos grow all year round with warm temperatures. They may slow down in areas where it is cooler in the winter. If it is warm in the winter feed them regularly. Don't feed in the fall if you might expect killing frost in the winter.
Interior bamboos behave the same. They will grow all year round with good light and warmth. They will slow down in the higher latitudes as the day length shortens and pick up again with the longer days of summer. Go easy with winter water and feeding if you are up north.

Dyna-gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6
Foliage-Pro is the answer for your potted bamboo in the house. Just as you must have a balanced diet to be healthy, so must your plants. If any of the essential water soluble plant minerals are in short supply all of a plant¹s metabolic processes will suffer accordingly.
If you are feeding your bamboo through a liquid system outdoors, by all means use Foliage-Pro!
We use the liquid Foliage-Pro and Pro-Tekt on our interior bamboo with excellent results. Use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mixed in a gallon of water with every watering.

Dyna-gro Pro-TeKt
Bamboo needs silica! To insure a healthy supply of the nutrients needed for strong cellular growth and disease resistance. Pro-Tekt is 7.8% silicon. This is the easiest way to supply silica to your bamboo plants planted in commercial potting mixes indoors.
Mix ratio is 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water.
Always read the label carefully before mixing and applying.

Home Grown:
Small orders for bamboo poles are welcome. You must specify in detail what diameter, length and whether they are needed green or cured. Available diameters are from 1/2" to 1". These we ship in up to 6' lengths by UPS. The minimum order is $75 includes packing and shipping. Currently available is 1/2" Moso Bamboo and the price here.

Bamboo Tools
We offer the best tools designed and made in Japan for working with bamboo. These tools should be used carefully. Bamboo is easy to work with after a little practice. Start out with small pieces until comfortable with the process. Always wear safety glasses and gloves when cutting or splitting bamboo. 

Transplanting Supplies

Sometimes you have to dig large bamboo plants to move to a new location. The best way to transport them is in a rootball wrapped in burlap and cinched in a wire basket. We carry treated burlap and Daisy baskets suitable for rootballs 24" to 30" in diameter. The nice things about bamboo is you only make the depth of the "ball" about 10". So instead of a ball you have more like a cylinder shape.

Bamboo Services
Power Point Presentations:
BAMBOO: THE IMPORTANCE IN THE ECOLOGY AND NATIVE SPECIES CONSERVATION (in English or Spanish)
GETTING TO KNOW THE BAMBOOS (English)
BAMBOO MAYA(English)
BOTA (in English and Spanish)

Note: I am available to schedule a presentation to your group. Your cost is travel, lodging and meals. Honorarium is $300 per diem.

Finding information and people around the world working with bamboo can be a time consuming task. Thirty-five years of experience in business, horticulture education, greenhouse construction and management contribute heavily to my pragmatic and knowledgeable approach to bamboo growing, marketing and products. As more people appreciate bamboo and the thousand uses for this plant, there is more need than ever for valid contacts, information and research.

My business services range from plant locating to bamboo product sourcing. As a bamboo consultant, I am ready to work with my clients to prepare important data needed in business plans.

My life long goal is to see the American bamboo industry develop into a mature commodity with financial rewards to the people driving bamboo's popularity as a food and fiber resource. Starting in this millenium I created and direct the bamboo conservation program, "Bamboo of the Americas" or BOTA.