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.

Installing free standing bamboo posts in or above the ground

I have been working with bamboo for around 20 years. I've built numerous structures for Quindembo Bamboo Nursery on the Big Island of Hawaii. Their nursery used to be located in a drier part of the island but now they have moved north where it rains more often.

Before when I set posts I coated them with a waterproof substance such as Henry's roofing tar and set them in the ground. This technique has proven to be effective lasting 20 years and counting but now that the nursery is in a rainy climate, the ground is soft soil and perpetually moist and I'm dubious about setting bamboo in this, even with a waterproof membrane.

I just finished building a cool little outdoor bathroom where i used polycarbonate roofing as wall panels sandwiched in between bamboo halves and capped with bamboo. This worked out well but it was on a deck. I fastened the bamboo to the deck by making wooden inserts and screwing them to the deck first then placing the posts on top.

This next project I have is a couple of small fences and I'm hoping to make it more affordable. People think that bamboo is going to be cheap but it's actually quite labor intensive with everything being custom fitted as well as the harvesting, trimming and finishing. Anyway, I was thinking of driving steel fence stakes into the ground and filling the culms with mortar mix and acrylic additive and setting them over the steel stakes so that the bamboo is off the ground six inches or so.

Do you have any ideas about setting free standing posts in or above the ground that's quick and easy? Are you laughing?

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⭐ Best Answer:

You can try used plastic bottles instead. Make sure to leave them at least 3 to 4 inches above the ground. Place some mortar inside the bottle so that it will hold the pole upright. Cut the top of the pole as close as possible to the node so it cannot collect rain water (or it may rot). If you like to do some additional work, try to burn/stain the outside of the poles with a butane torch, it won't change the structural properties.

How to Join a Bamboo Pyramid?

I am using guadua as the corner posts for a pyramid. Any suggestions as to how to join these at the top would be greatly appreciated. The lengths of the posts will be 8.5m, the pyramid base 9m x 9m. The height at the apex 6.5m. We need to get the joint exactly right to ensure the energetics of the structure are correct. Suggestions as to how to raise the posts are also appreciated.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Here is my advice:

Cut two pole ends in the right angle so that they have a flat surface where they touch. Cut it about 10 cm above a node in the pole to prevent it from splitting. Find a piece of bamboo that is just oversize to fit inside the bamboo poles. Scrape off the outside layer just until you can slide it in but with a tight fit. Insert them into both ends and cut them just above the node flush with the surface you cut at the large pole end. Take a piece of strong wood large enough to cover the (oval) pole ends about 2-3 cm thick. Trim of the excess wood sticking out. Place THICK dowels in the wood sticking out on BOTH ends. Mark the holes on the bamboo pole ends and drill them to the size of the dowels. Don't drill too deep! Put a bucket load of (waterproof) glue on both ends of the wood, on the dowels, and the pole ends. (If you don't find any glue in your underpants a week later, you did not apply enough glue.) Press both ends together and keep the PRESSED together until the glue is DRY. As in fully cured.

Provide a proper foundation for the poles that protects it from ground moisture. Either a concrete foot or a steel pipe in a bedding of gravel might do the trick. Don’t be cheap on the foundation. Unless you want big hospital bills from collapsing roofs etc. For this size, depending on weight of cladding, expected wind loads and snowfall I would say you need AT LEAST 1 m³ for every pole.

Good luck!

Bamboo Architecture Unboxed

By Stamm, Jorg, Vahanvati, Munir

What is the Durability of a Bamboo House?

I am facing a situation as I need to look for material to build some house(s) in Belize. My spouse asked a critical question: what is the durability of a bamboo house and how many years can you expect a bamboo home to last?

Also, what is a way to make a bamboo home to be hurricane 'resistant'? Proper joints and reinforcements or more bamboo elements put together in a technically mosaic?

Also, if you have a building team using a prefabricated house from bamboo it will take 2-3 days to assemble it again and another 1-2 months to finish. What is the time frame and level of effort needed to build a bamboo home using a same nice design but not a prefab kit and all the pieces cut on site?

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⭐ Best Answer:

A professionally build bamboo house with preserved bamboo poles will last a lifetime. Many bamboo homes can be found in South America and Asia that are over 100 years old.

Proper treatment of the bamboo is crucial along with specific building techniques and maintenance. It is for example most important to avoid direct contact with soil, sun or rain to ensure the durability of bamboo.

Well trained and skilled workers can build a standard bamboo house from scratch in 2-3 months, all depends on the design of course.

Shaping Bamboo as it Grows

Have you ever heard of, or experimented with “molding” guadua bamboo as it grows, to end up with a finished pole that has the exact shape you need?

I am researching these interesting helix shapes as Zome structures, and I realized that bamboo structural poles formed into the complicated spiral shapes needed would be perfect. Here is the link to info about it: Helix Zome.

All the necessary spiral poles would be exact copies of each other, so some sort of shape-retainer of the bamboo while it is growing would make for a super strong and very beautiful zome structure. If you have ever heard of anyone bending guadua bamboo as it grows, I would love to hear about it.

BTW you have got one excellent website! Thank you very much for all of your work on it. The amount and quality of content is superb.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Shaping or bending bamboo as it grows is definitely possible although “exact” copies of a certain shape would be very difficult in my opinion. Brian Erickson in Costa Rica grows twisted bamboo stems to built exclusive bamboo furniture. The video below gives an idea of how he does this.

The attached picture demonstrates another example of a “twisted Guadua bamboo forest” in Colombia. Again it is important to note that this isn't the natural growing behavior of Guadua angustifolia. It is artificially grown in these shapes and turns, usually by guiding the young bamboo shoots through car tires or suspending ropes.

Twisted Guadua bamboo forest

The picture examples you provided however seem to use bamboo slats, which is the most common way in dome structures. Bamboo slats are very flexible and therefore easier to work with.

Is Beema Bamboo a Solid Bamboo?

I'm wondering about how true the claims of total solidity of some species or varieties of bamboo actually are. e.g. Bambusa balcooa var 'Beema'. Is it a case of mostly solid starting from the base up or total solidity? Or is it just an occasional occurrence even in monoclonal cultivars?

I know this site refers to Guadua angustifolia but it is also one of the best bamboo resources I've found online in terms of plain presentation of facts rather than the standard sales pitch so I figured where better to ask.

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⭐ Best Answer:

100% solid bamboo (the entire culm) doesn't exist as far as I know, except maybe for some small diameter bamboo in the genus Chusquea.

In the genus Guadua there also exist a near solid species called Guadua amplexifolia (see photo), which starts nearly solid at the base, however a small cavity the size of a pencil is still present. Towards the middle and top of the culm the bamboo becomes hollow again, although the wall thickness remains fairly thick.

Guadua amplexifolia

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.

Submerging Bamboo in Sea Water

I've read that submerging bamboo in sea water is another traditional treatment of bamboo. How long-lasting will the bamboo be using this treatment?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Let the poles or the splits dry thoroughly under the sun. Then soak them in the sea for 2 months. The dry poles and splits easily absorb all the salt of the sea. This sea-water treatment gives the bamboos at least 50 years of protection from termites, borers and fungi. It’s widely used in Asia and also used for wood treatment. Very safe and natural, very effective and cheap and truly long-lasting. Good luck.

What is the Best Bamboo for Making Charcoal

I've been reading a lot on bamboo these last few days and am interested in growing bamboo to make charcoal. What is the best bamboo species for this? Would I also be able to make furniture with that same bamboo?

I would appreciate any answer that you could provide.

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⭐ Best Answer:

Bamboo charcoal can be made from any woody bamboo species as it is often produced from waste materials (branches, roots, imperfect culms). Personally I think it is better to chose the bamboo species according to your furniture needs and make charcoal as a by-product because furniture will give a higher financial return than charcoal (especially for smaller plantation projects). Attached also a video where you can see the production process of bamboo charcoal and bamboo gasification.

Click the following link for: instructions about making bamboo charcoal and kilns.

Growing Edible Bamboo in Cold Areas

I live in Central Victoria Australia and want to start growing edible bamboo. Can you please supply me with a list, if any at all, of edible bamboos which will be happy in frosts of down to -7°C? Actually this temperature is rare here but we got it once. Normally -5°C is the coldest.

There certainly are bamboos which grow here. I have a list of 4 which I did believe were edible but none of them appear on your edible list:

• Phyllostachys Boryana

• Phyllostachys Nigra Boryana

• Bambusa Textilis

• Bambusa Multiplex Fernleaf

Are you please able to confirm with me; are any of the above 4 bamboo species edible and to what degree? If you can suggest a list of other bamboo types which are edible and can grow here, that would also be much appreciated. Many thanks for your help.

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I found one source saying Bambusa textilis has edible shoots of average quality (not sure if it was reliable information though). For the other species I haven't found any indication that they are edible.

By any means Bambusa bamboos are tropical clumping bamboos whereas the genus Phyllostachys consists of temperate running bamboos. Therefore, I think the latter would be the most recommended for your particular climate conditions.

The Bamboo Shoot Chronicles: Research and Recipes

By Tariga, Dr. Jonathan Necor, Tariga, Jonathan

Is Moso Bamboo Edible?

Is Moso Bamboo edible and does it contain cyanide at all? If a bamboo shoot which contains cyanide is eaten by an animal, say, a buffalo, would the animal die?

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⭐ Best Answer:

Yes, Moso Bamboo is definitely edible.

Moso bamboo is known by the scientific names 'Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens' and 'Phyllostachys edulis.' "Edulis" translates as "edible," which makes sense, given that Moso bamboo shoots are imported to the United States from China and "are likely the ones you are eating at your local Chinese restaurant," according to Bamboo Valley, a U.S. Bamboo grower.

The poisonous one that you are referring is "Cathariostachys madagascariensis" This bamboo species found in Madagascar. These bamboos contain cyanide in growing shoots.

So not only your animals, even you can eat Moso Bamboo (* particularly its bamboo shoot).

Is Gigantochloa atter Stronger than Gigantochloa apus?

Is there a difference in the level of sturdiness or hardness between Gigantochloa atter and Gigantochloa apus?

I am currently doing a project and need to decide on the specific bamboo species to be used. The project is investigating on which type of bamboo is a strong and sturdy bamboo that can withstand impacts during vehicle crashes.

I searched on the web and found that Gigantochloa atter and Gigantochloa apus are two commonly used bamboo species for construction purposes as they are strong. Is it possible to determine which of them is stronger than the other?

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⭐ Best Answer:

I did some quick research online and found the following data in regards to the physical and mechanical properties of Gigantochloa apus and Gigantochloa atter:

The strength properties of Gigantochloa atter were tested in green (Moisture content 72.3%) and in air dry (M.C 14.4%) condition.

• Average MOR varied from 87.9 to 108.1 N/mm2 from base to top in green and 117.7 to 127.7 N/mm2 in air dry.

• Compression strength parellel to grain 24.77 to 27.97 N/mm2 in green, 32.87 to 30.98 N/mm2 in air dry.

• Average tensile strength was 299.8 to 273.0 N/mm2 from base to top in green and 33.15 to 24.70 N/mm2 in air dry.

• Average shear strength was 5.8 to 10.8 N/mm2 in green and 9.5 to 10.8 N/mm2 in air dry.

The strength properties of Gigantochloa apus were tested in green (Moisture content 54.3%) and in air dry (M.C 15.1%) condition.

• Average MOR 102.0 in green and 87.5 N/mm2 in air dry, maximum crushing stress varies from 21.73 to 26.50 in green and 27.29 to 48.64 kN/mm2 in air dry.

• Average tensile strength was 294.1 in green and 298.9 kN/mm2 in air dry.

• Average shear strength in green varied from 5.99 to 7.68 whereas in air dry it was 7.47 to 7.65 kN/mm2.

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.

Curing Bamboo Posts for Vineyards

I have read your article about poles and the durability of bamboo but do you think it would be feasible to treat bamboo for use as posts in vineyards? I live in the Margaret river wine growing region of western Australia where thousands of CCA treated pine posts are used.

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⭐ Best Answer:

If treated with a fixating chemical mix such as CCA or CCB, yes. In Costa Rica banana plantations have traditionally been growing bamboo as well, in order to use the bamboo poles as plants support sticks for the banana plants. These bamboo props aren't treated and are replaced every 2 years. Untreated bamboo support sticks are also used in various vegetable crops.

Is there a minimum life span required for vineyard posts? If not, untreated poles might be the cheapest solution, especially if you grow them yourself.