Monday, 15 June 2015

Planting And Growing A Temple Bamboo

By Elaine Guthrie


Bamboos are common in Asian inspired gardens. It is ideally used as a hedge or a wall to promote privacy creating a tranquil feel to the sanctuary. Maintaining such evergreen in the garden can be tasking. One should patiently monitor its growth to avoid uncontrolled spread. A temple bamboo for example can spread 5 feet from its original area if not managed accordingly within 3 to 5 years.

Barriers can help control these runners. Install a 3-inch high concrete or plastic barrier to limit its spread. Digging 2-feet trenches around it is also advisable to secure new shoots would overlap the enclosure.

Contain it in pots for more mobility. Visit your local garden supplier for suggestions. It would be useful to know the root ball size. Evidently you need ample space to grow these beauties. Runners for example demands pots that are 3 to 4 feet deep. Anything smaller will deter it from achieving full growth.

The use of terracotta pot is highly ideal for these ornamental beauties. Its ability to retain moisture and drain excess water enables bamboo roots to breathe even in hot weather. However avoid placing these pots in direct sunlight especially during summer. Water tends to evaporate faster thus it can be detrimental to the evergreen. Monitor it for cracks. This is an indication that you need to repot it. Ideally do this during fall or winter to avoid destroying its root system.

Constant watering is needed for these perennials especially during hot seasons. However do not soak it in a puddle to avoid the canes from rotting. Planting it in loamy soil is ideal however you might need to mix mulch for water retention. Do not dispose of its dry leaves. Place it on top of the plants and let it decompose. This is also good in retaining moisture and nourishing the plant.

Use fertilizers if you want to speed growth and get better foliage. Organic fertilizer or manure is best used for these perennials. Apply a generous amount during shooting season to ensure that nutrients are distributed evenly. Note that such perennials feed on nitrogen thus asking an expert may help determine the proper dosage in using chemical fertilizers.

Prune these hardy plants during fall or late summer. Such practice will produce healthier shoots. Use sharp saws or pruners to avoid rot stubs. Horizontally cut above the cane node to achieve a clean cut. Note that once it is removed a culm it will never grow back. However expect new shoots to appear on the sides.

Quarantine the whole plant once white spots on its leaves become eminent. This is an indication of mite invasion. Although it will not obstruct the plants growth, these mites can still ruin the look of your plant. Spraying it with pesticide is helpful. However you may want to bath its canes with hot water and organic soap first before using a chemical base product. This is also effective in eliminating the unwanted guest. If symptoms persist, completely eradicate the whole plant. Prevention is still better than cure. Surely you would rather lose one plant than an entire garden.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment