Drought Tolerant Bamboo Species

Last year I started a forest restoration project in the Andes of southern Ecuador. Recently, this idea came to my mind to try to include bamboo into the project as it is very productive, improves the soil, increases structural diversity and attracts wildlife.

However, with only about 800 mm of precipitation and a more or less 6 months dry season, the region is pretty dry... and we are between 1.500 and 2.000 m above sea level. Additionally, I would allow only native bamboo species to be planted... at least a neotropical species!

Does anyone know a suitable species for these conditions? It doesn't have to be very productive under these conditions - the most important thing is that it survives by itself...

Thanks a lot for any help!

Growing Guadua Bamboo in Spain

Hello, I am Valentina Rujeles, a student of a Master's degree in sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. At this moment I am doing my final thesis of the master and I am doing it on Guadua, a kind of bamboo. While researching and getting to know other people who grow bamboo I came across you and what a wonderful thing you do.

My TFM is on the CO2 sequestration of guadua and the possibility of planting it in Catalonia but I have not found much information that you could perhaps provide me with as there is little literature on the same. The first thing is - up to what absolute minimum or maximum temperature does Guadua stop growing and at what temperature does it die? Also what extreme climates (not tropical or subtropical) can it be planted. I am studying the hypothesis of planting it in the Llobregat delta. Thank you very much.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Hello Valentina, it is reported that Guadua dies when exposed to -2°C for 5 consecutive days. Guadua also needs a humid environment, preferable all year long. I do not know of any successful Guadua plantations in Europe up to this day. You can find more information in this article about the climate requirements for Guadua Bamboo.

Growing Bamboo in Europe

I am considering growing Bamboo in Ireland. Does anyone have any experience of growing Bamboo in a temperate climate that is approx 15 to 25 degrees celsius in summer and relatively mild winters of 5 to 12 degrees. There may be short colder spells where night temperatures up to 0/-2.

A farmer did a trial here in 2014 with the support of a university which I will to get some information on. My plot is small 2 acres and would only be a small scale trial. If it is possible my main questions are what variety is most suitable and would the invasiveness of Bamboo cause me major problems.

Any advice appreciated.

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⭐ Best Answer:

In Central European countries the most cultivated bamboos are found in the genera Phyllostachys and Fargesia. Both genera are temperate bamboos but Phyllostachys species are invasive runners whereas Fargesia species are non-invasive clumpers.

The species choice depends on the end use of the bamboo. For example, are you aiming to produce timber or ornamental plants? Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) has successfully been introduced in several Eastern European countries, and has many uses. Fargesias are often sold as screening / hedge bamboo.

Phyllostachys can become invasive, so rhizome barriers may have to be put in place to prevent issues with the neighbors.

The Gardener's Guide to Growing Temperate Bamboos

By Bell, Michael

Harvesting Bamboo for Biomass

For biomass purpose, when can the bamboo be harvested according to the biomass content and can an entire area be harvested and how long do I have to wait to harvest it again? Do you have the data age-biomass content and moisture content?

Does Dendrocalamus asper Grow Well in Florida?

I've read D. asper does well in Florida. I'm looking for something to completely overwhelm (thick and tall) a lot I have in Lake Placid Florida (zone 9b). Something invasive and aggressive that does not easily die. My soil is sandy and often moist. Something so dense it would be hard to penetrate. Anything that grows well and fast from seeds? If not Dendrocalamus asper, how about Bambusa vulgaris?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Bambusa vulgaris would be the better choice, much faster spread. I take it you have neighbor issues? You are in luck that I have the starts you will need as well. I am in Fort Pierce Florida. No charge, but you will need a saw.

Growing Bamboo for Biomass in Greece

Hello, I am Panagiotis from Greece and I am interested in growing bamboo in my country. I want to use it for biomass so I need a type of bamboo that produces a lot of mass. I was thinking of something that I can plant at 1 x 1 m apart so I can plant a lot of them. Are there any suggestions to what bamboo species I could use?

Comparing Biomass of Beema with Guadua Bamboo

Do you know how Guadua compares to "Beema" (Bambusa balcooa) in India propagated by Growmore? Beema bamboo is very thick with a small hole so I'm trying to find reliable 3rd party info on the biomass of a culm when we start harvesting, presumably at the end of year 4.

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⭐ Featured Answer:

Beema Bamboo is the solid bamboo compared to other types. “Beema” is a special breed variety by Dr. N. Barathi of Growmore Biotech Ltd., which has a potential to grow very fast and yields very high biomass due to the fact that the wall thickness of “Beema” Bamboo is 3 times more than other bamboo. The carbon content of “Beema” Bamboo is between 46 to 48%. The dry matter production of “Beema” Bamboo under optimum condition reaches 40 to 50 tons per acre or 100 to 125 tons per hectare. The total carbon accumulation every year, after 5 years of growth is from 18 tons to 23 tons per acre, which is equivalent to 69 tons to 80 tons per acre respectively.

Due to this fact, “Beema” Bamboo acts as a “Carbon Sink”. When “Beema” Bamboo is grown individually in the gardens and parks, it sequesters 400 to 500 kg of carbon dioxide every year, thereby reduces the Carbon dioxide in the surrounding places. “Beema” Bamboo generates 70 to 80 CER per acre / year, which is equivalent to 175 to 200 CER per hectare every year.

Carbon sequestration also can be obtained by generating electricity from the renewable biomass of bamboo. One acre of Bamboo produces sufficient biomass to produce 45 MW of electricity through gasification method. Apart from providing 45 CER as Carbon credit directly from the power generation, the process of Pyrolysis generates 7 ½ tons of carbon as bio-char. When the bio-char is supplied to the soil it is eligible for 28 CER as Carbon Credit. The application of bio-char to the soil enhances the crop productivity, improves soil tilt, fertility, water retention. The bio-char in the soil reduces the fertilizer quantity required as well as improves the soil quality of adverse soil resulting in growth of dense vegetation which additionally reduces the soil erosion.

Application of bio-char as soil amendment creates virtually a permanent carbon sink for over 1000 to 2000 years.

Why are my Bamboo Leaves Turning Yellow?

I live in Hawaii and want to know if yellowish leaves on my bamboo plant are normal or if it's lacking something?

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⭐ Best Answer:

When bamboo leaves start to turn yellow it can be caused by several things. The most plausible cause is usually a lack of water or nutrient deficiency. Another reason for bamboo leaves to turn yellow is when bamboo starts to flower, or when it is suffering from any pest.

To fix the problem you may want to irrigate the bamboo clump during dry season or add nitrogen in the form of granular or liquid urea. Fertilizer may also be required depending on your soil fertility level. Of course, it is best to take soil samples and have it analyzed in a local lab to give you more accurate advice.

Biomass Production of Dendrocalamus asper vs Guadua angustifolia

I'm curious to know which bamboo produces more biomass in a per hectare basis: Dendrocalamus asper or Guadua angustifolia?

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⭐ Best Answer:

To be honest, I can't compare because I only have scientific studies for Guadua angustifolia. A Guadua plantation with a planting density of 5m x 5m (400 plants) can produce 862 tons biomass per hectare in 7 years (from the time of planting until year 7). In other words, an average biomass production of 123 ton per hectare per year.

Theoretically Dendrocalamus asper (being a very dense clumping bamboo) could produce even more biomass per hectare when the planting density is very high. But in practical terms, it would be impossible to manage a Dendrocalamus plantation if all bamboos are planted so close together. Guadua is an "open clumper" so there is always space between the stems which makes it much easier to sustainably harvest the stems and manage the plantation.

A lot of different variables have to be considered when talking about biomass production, but since Guadua angustifolia is a giant tropical bamboo, I think it would be safe to say that it is one of the largest biomass producing species in the world (both among bamboo species or any other high yielding crop).

Bamboo Irrigation and Intercropping

We are planning to plant about an acre of Guadua bamboo seedlings on our land on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua . We will need to irrigate through the dry season for the first and possibly the second year. I am currently evaluating my options for irrigation and would appreciate any feedback.

The Bund and Trench method of planting would be the cheapest way to irrigate.

A drip system is fairly easy to set up, easy to operate and is the most water efficient.

Sprinklers would give me good coverage but cost a little more. They would also be as easy to operate as drip but require more water pressure.

I'm considering planting crops between the seedlings for the first couple of years and that would certainly affect my watering needs.

With our seedlings 5 to 7 meters apart how much space could I actually use for vegetables and how long before the bamboo would require that space?

Would the proper use of sprinklers for the first two dry seasons help my bamboo spread faster?

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⭐ Best Answer:

In terms of rainfall affecting the growth of Guadua Bamboo please see this article about the optimal climate conditions for bamboo farms under the chapter: precipitation.

Intercropping can easily be performed during the first 2-3 years of the newly planted bamboo plantation (at 5m x 7m spacing), of course each year you'll have less and less space. 5 years after planting the Guadua plants should have formed a dense canopy.

Bamboo Plantation Maintenance

Once you've planted bamboo, what kind of maintenance is necessary after each year? I heard that you're supposed to cut off the lateral growth of the bamboo and only leave the center columns. You're also supposed to eliminate the weaker center columns.

Would you confirm this? Any other suggestions or things to consider? Once the plant is bigger, does it require plain sunlight or is partly shade also acceptable?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Maintenance depends on the age of development. In the first year the most important aspect is to keep the clumps absolutely free of weeds. In later years you can eliminate dead/dried culms and trim the lower branches. Trimming branches is not absolutely necessary but since they can have very nasty thorns (Guadua for example) it's best to cut off those branches for easy access to the plantation.

Every bamboo species is different some species require full sun, while other like partial sunlight or shade. It is best to always specify which bamboo species you are referring too.

Guadua Bamboo Planting Layout

I am planning my mini Guadua farm on a half acre and some things I need to know are: If you start with 25gal pots of Guadua, how much distance should you space them apart?

What is the estimated diameter of the clump after 5 years, and is there an average number of culms that come up each year or am I right to expect that the number of culms will increase each year?

I'm Trying to make a rough estimate on the diameter, length and number of culms I can harvest after 4 years.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Guadua can be planted at 3x3 meters up to 10x10 meters depending on the objective of the plantation. For riverbank and soil erosion it is recommended to plant closer together at 3x3 m, for biomass purposes 5x5, and for the production of large diameter stems 10X10 m would be the most appropriate (theoretically). However, spacing Guadua angustifolia that far apart wouldn't be economically feasible. Therefore, the optimal spacing for a commercial Guadua bamboo plantation is 6x7 m, which forms the perfect balance between producing large diameter poles and the shortest possible time to produce reasonable revenue from such a plantation.

To plant the bamboo seedlings, clear the area around the seedling from all possible weeds and vegetation in a radius of 50 cm and dig a hole of about 40 cm wide and 30 cm deep. Since the rhizomes grow just under the surface, it is best not to plant them too deep. The area around the plant should be kept free of weeds at all times!

You should also turn the soil a little so the ground is loose and the rhizomes can spread easier. Mix some dry manure with soil and put it in the hole before planting the Guadua seedling to stimulate its growth. Not too much though or it could burn the roots! It's best to plant any bamboo at the start of rainy season, or at least irrigate them daily for the first year.

After 5 years you can expect culms of 4" in diameter. How many, depends on climate, and soil conditions. Guadua is not a traditional clumper but an "open clumper" so it can spread quite a bit. But remember, mature Guadua culms of average 4"-5" in diameter can only be harvested approximately 9 YEARS after planting, not 4 or 5 years after planting, that's the year when they appear not the year they can be cut.

Planting Bamboo in The Philippines

We are planning to have a bamboo plantation to support our growing industry here in Cotabato Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines, my question is, what is the ideal spacing for bamboo plantation that would pose as a problem in harvesting in the future?

Presently, we have a hard time "pulling down" a bamboo pole even in a single clump... is ten by ten meters spacing profitable enough? What is the ideal spacing for riverbank plantation?

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⭐ Best Answer:

The spacing depends on the type of bamboo you plan on planting. If you were planning to plant the giant “Mindanao” ( Dendrocalamus asper - clumping type ), 10 meters spacing is ideal.

My plantation in Benguet Province, Luzon Island has a spacing of between 5 and 7 meters depending on the terrain, which is mountainous. It is also estuarial (surrounded by rivers, streams and creeks). But I make it a point not to plant too close to the river, due to typhoons.

On relatively flat terrain, a 5-meter spacing is too close. You would have to “cut your way through”! 7 meters is the minimum. 10 meters is better, as there is less competition for nutrients in the soil. Also, a mature grove could grow up to 5 meters in diameter.

As for profitable... personally, I treat the bamboo groves as if they were my children... the money will come... one day... I hope. I try not to think about this too much. What is important is that my children are happy and healthy.

Big, tall trees are also worth keeping... just plant the bamboo some distance away from them. When a typhoon hits, the bamboo poles at least have something to lean on. Other varieties worth planting are La'ak and Bayog.

Growing Guadua Bamboo together with Fruit Trees

Does anyone have experience mixing Guadua bamboo with fruit trees? Does bamboo harm fruit trees in any way via the (rotting) leafs? I know that there might be impact as to the shade the bamboo gives.

Does anyone have experience regarding the planting distance that has to be considered when planting bamboo near a fruit tree?

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⭐ Best Answer:

When planting Guadua bamboo together with fruit trees, I would recommend to maintain a 10 meters spacing between them. A Guadua clump might occupy all that 10 m space in 15 years or so.

Bamboo leaves are very rich in nutrients and are therefore an excellent organic fertilizer. Fallen bamboo leaves are also a good "mulch" since they prevent weeds from growing near the clump.

Growing Guadua Bamboo at Sea Level

I'm an extremely green bamboo enthusiast. My dream is as follows.... Buy a nice piece of land in Latin America, close enough to the ocean so that I can see the waves and surf everyday. Grow GUADUA BAMBOO so that I can slowly build my dream house on said land.

However my preliminary research (and this website) tells me Guadua angustifolia grows best between 900m and 1600m. Does this mean its a bad idea to grow it at sea level? For construction purposes? Hope not! Any help is highly valued...

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⭐ Best Answer:

Altitude is directly related to temperature, and it is the average temperature that is the most important factor in regard to growing Guadua angustifolia plants.

Growing Guadua bamboo at sea level may very well result in faster growing culms (compared to higher altitude / lower temperatures). Culms may be a little smaller in size and fibers may be a little less strong but not to the extend that they cannot be used for construction. So, in conclusion, YES you can certainly grow Guadua angustifolia at sea level in Central America.

Best Country to Grow Bamboo in Central America

I currently have invested in El Salvador in softwoods, but want to diversify into bamboo plantations, so what's the best place/country to invest, grow and process Guadua bamboo; Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua or Costa Rica?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Essentially Guadua angustifolia can grow in all of Central America, but it is key to:

1. Have high quality planting materials available.

2. Find the best site location in terms of soil and climate conditions.

3. Have a professional team with experience in bamboo cultivation.

4. Have access to a wide network of clients for the sales of your crop or value added product.

Growing Bamboo on Denuded Poor Quality Land

I have read that bamboo can be grown on denuded land of poor quality. Surely this would affect the quality of the crop for sale (furniture or flooring). What is the optimum type of soil? I also wonder why bamboo has not taken off in the rest of the Caribbean? Any ideas?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Bamboo can grow on almost any type of soil but that doesn't mean it will grow vigorously. Generally speaking loamy and sandy loam soils are best in terms of soil texture as the rhizomes can spread well opposed to clay soils. 

Growing bamboo commercially, requires resources, experience and skill. Furthermore, you will need a business strategy to sell all of the bamboo once it is ready for harvest. This is usually a problem as there are not many local manufacturers that use bamboo in value added products.

How Much Water is Needed to Grow Bamboo?

I live in Hawaii on one of the drier islands and wondered what amount of water would be needed per acre to grow Guadua bamboo and typically speaking other species such as Gigantochloa atter, Phyllostachys pubescens, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus giganteus and Bambusa oldhamii?

We are planning to start a bamboo plantation and would appreciate any helpful advise, comments, and or information offered. Our project total space is 100 acres. For example, how much water would be needed to irrigate 1 acre of Bambusa oldhamii planted at 12'x12' spacing or 302 plants per acre per year?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Guadua bamboo requires an annual precipitation of about 2000-2500 mm. I do not have exact precipitation values for the other species mentioned. As a general rule though, the most important fact about watering bamboo is not so much the volume but that it happens frequently throughout the year because unlike regular trees, bamboo doesn't like a marked dry season.

Can Bamboo Plantations Produce Quality Timber?

I am a Kenyan and I have just come across a farm selling bamboo seedlings that produce solid bamboo trees. I have searched for more information and it has led me to your website which has inspired me more. In the next 1 or 2 months I plan to plant 150 seedlings of bamboo. I plan to produce poles for fencing and building purposes.

The bamboo concept is new in Kenya and I believe it will bring a lot of change in this country if it is embraced. According to the research I have done, I have learnt that bamboo can give me good returns.

I am however skeptical about the ability of bamboos to produce quality poles and timber. Kindly advise me on the ability of bamboos to produce quality poles. How many shoots can form a clump if planted in an ideal climate?

I will appreciate your input as I begin the journey of transforming our country. Kindly give me more information of how bamboo trees are used in your country.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Bamboo has the same uses as timber, it can be chipped and made into paper and boards. The fibres can be used and if one goes to woolworths one can see the socks, towels and other garments made from bamboo. It produces more cotton per hectare than regular cotton using less pesticides and weedicides, it uses less water than forestry and writings in china say that where it is planted the streams start flowing again!

A lot of scaffolding going up many storeys in the East are from bamboo. Houses can also be made from bamboo and furniture. Once planted bamboo can supply a yearly income since after 5 years culms or stems can be harvested yearly. I have planted a hectare to prove to myself that the yield is higher than I can achieve using forestry having heard that it can produce 200 ton annually.

Where to Buy Guadua Angustifolia Seeds?

Can you tell me where I can buy Guadua angustifolia seeds? I have searched the internet but have found nothing for this bamboo in seed form. I hope to grow more varieties of bamboo in the future and your site will be a big help, hope to hear from you soon.

Comments

Stéphane Schröder

Unfortunately most bamboo seeds and especially Guadua seeds are very difficult to obtain, because Guadua angustifolia usually flowers once every 60-120 years. For this reason, generally speaking, bamboo is not propagated trough seeds (unless you are very lucky to get some). 

An additional problem with bamboo seeds is that they are not all equally vigorous and a large percentage might not germinate at all. Also, the shelf life of bamboo seeds is about 3 months after which they rapidly start to lose germination power. 

By any means, Guadua angustifolia is a tropical bamboo species which does not grow in Europe. Freezing temperatures will probably kill the plant during the winter.

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Carole Hawke

I took your advise and searched the net for giant clumping bamboo seeds, there are many sites available for buying seeds but I remembered that you said bamboo seeds start to lose germination ability once the seed is 3 months old. 

Most sites have seeds for sale that are 3-5 months old, so by the time I get them my success rate of germination is significantly reduced or do all bamboo seeds need to be less than 3 months old, are some seeds more hardy than others?

I am still looking for my guadua seeds, alas no luck as yet.

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Stéphane Schröder

Bamboo seeds should preferably be planted immediately after harvesting, although there are experimental techniques to extend the shelf life of bamboo seeds by storing them under low temperatures. 

Because seed setting is such a unique event and good information is scares, I highly doubt whether most of these seed suppliers are reliable (especially the ones who have the same species on sale for years). Usually bamboo seeds on sale are quite cheap so you're not gonna lose an arm and a leg over it. For the average hobbyist it might be an exciting way to experiment, but professional growers however, require certified, high quality and vigorous bamboo planting materials.

Buying bamboo plants from a nursery requires a higher investment but the returns will also be far greater, because even when seeds germinate, a high percentage of them might die in the early stages of development.

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Robert

Hello, same here. I've been looking around for Guadua seeds online with negative results. I am located in South Florida. I would like to start planting bamboo and I was told Guadua bamboo is what I should plant for the most profit. Considering that I can not find the Guadua seeds anywhere, what type of bamboo would you recommend? I have 2 to 3 acres to work with.

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Stéphane Schröder

Moso might be a good alternative as it is the most popular timber bamboo used in China. Keep in mind though that the USDA prohibits the import of all live bamboo planting materials (plants and seeds). 

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Dax Fernandes

The seeds to be obtained is hard but what about the saplings, are they easily available? And also could you let me know a few places where I can get this bamboo variety as I require it.

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Daniel R

Hello. If bamboo seeds are not a good method to start Guadua Angustifolia plants, how can you start these plants? Do you purchase roots, divide them and plant them?

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Matt

Hello. I live in Costa RIca. The Guadua variety is a rhizome spreading bamboo, and NOT a clumping bamboo. It has vicious thorns. It gets 95 ft tall, and spreads out over time. My twenty year old stands are now 15 to 20 meters wide (50-60 ft.) from where originally planted. We have a rainy season from May to December, and then a very dry summer from December to March. This allows this super large grass variety to rapidly grow during Oct-Dec, as it can grow 8" PER DAY here... then it goes into another stage of growth. I would NOT plant this in FL unless I had permission from the Agricultural Department. And for very good reason. It requires maintenance, or you will regret planting it. It has a secret as well to successful propagation.

To successfully propagate, you must take the freshly cut culm, and cut sections containing 2-3 nodes... these will have growth "buds" on them. You must cut a hole in the bamboo between the nodes, on the top side of the bamboo. Then you must fill the bamboo half full with water, and plant in the ground shallow like, with the top holes exposed... This will soften the growth bud and provide the needed water for it to sprout. 

Do not plant near fences. Be very careful of the thorns, and maintain the area below the bamboo by cutting these thorny branches. Create a space to walk through the area, and open up the area by selectively harvesting. It is a super material, but requires commitment long term. You will not easily get rid of it!!

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Abror

I live in 4 season country in summer it gets hot up to maximum 40 celsius average 32-35 celsius and in winter down to -2 -5. Do you think I can grow guadua bamboo? If not what type of bamboo do you recommend?

I was looking to grow 10 of these is there any way I can get guadua bamboo maybe cuttings or anything.