Leaves

Bamboo leaves do not grow directly from from a branch bud. They are, in fact, blades of culm sheath that grow in branches. These blades become longer than in the sheaths of culm, assuming the form and function, photosynthetic, of normal leaves. In branches these leaf blades are attached to their sheaths by a projection of its main 'vein', in the form of a stalk. When these leaves dry out, starting at the tip, these stalks brake, and the sheaths stay more time attached to the branches. A bamboo leaf can survive as long as two years in some species.

Visible veins, crossing each other (tessellation), is a sign of cold hardiness.

Flowering

Bamboos don't have an annual flowering cycle. In fact, bamboo flowering is still a mistery to botanists. It may occur in intervals of 10, 50 or even 100 years. Normally, a plant's species identification is made through flower collecting, seed planting and results observation. That's why bamboo taxonomy (species identification) is so difficult. An entire generation may pass and do not see a particular bamboo species flowering.

Bamboo flowering is an event not only misterious, but often deadly to bamboo itself. This occurs because all the plant's attention and effort to the flowering event, burning all reserves inside rhizomes. The plant stops producing leaves, and may consume itself to death. There is cases when an entire group may die togheter. Seeds can be collected, but there is no safe method to assure that a shoot will appear. Differentiation among a same species, the cultivar varieties, are not assured through seeds. The seed of a variegated specimen (with stripes) does not assure the continuation of variegation in new shoots. Through seeds bamboos can have an anemophylous reproduction (caused by wind), and reappear near the death site.

But not all flowering bamboo dies. Ximena Londoño says that Guadua angustifolia species has always at least an individual flowering in the group. There is events of continuous flowering through months and years. There is possibles means to interrupt a group or individuals flowering, but reports and results are too inconclusive. Some cut the flowering culms, or take the rhizome out. Others say that this actions will only weaken bamboo more, and wait till it recovers alone, or, if it dies, to collect seeds.

Simultaneous occurrence of flowering in bamboo of the same species in different regions over the world is an event still studied. The most accepted theory is that plants of same clone (reproduced by parts of a same plant) may flower simultaneously in different places. Specialists discuss nowadays the ballance between genetic and climatic influence in flowering causes. They affirm that a climatic or artificially induced stress may cause bamboo to flower.

Seasons

Bamboo behavior obbeys the seasons, as all plants. Its cycle is logical, and should be used in yelds and planting planning, according the objectives one has in mind. In summer and autumn adult culms are gatherring sun energy through leaves and stocking in the rhizomes. When winter comes the plant lowers its metabolism, as a "hibernation". In spring stocked energy is used in new shoots and rhizomes. At the end of summer one can collect edible shoots. Summer is the worst season to collect culms, they are certainly more susceptible to insects and fungus. At winter the culms are dryer, and less susceptibles to pests. At the end of summer bamboos start extend its rhizomes and gather nourishment.

Fertilizer

Bamboo is famine and thirsty . It generally drains the soil out of nitrogen and water, among other elements. Nitrogen is consumed in spring and summer, when in autumn likes more Phosphor and Potassium. One may use fertilizers adequate to this diet, chemical or organic. Grass is a good nitrogen and silicon. Wood chips too. Manure is a good nourishment, but may bring competitive weed. One should pay attention on competitive weeds, they would take bamboo food.

Good fertilizing time is after shoot appearing, late summer. But you can achieve better results by continouslyf ertilizing with little quantities through the year, except in winter. Over the cold season is good to mulch the soil around the bamboo, isolating rhizomes from an excessive cold. Bamboo leaves helps retaining humidity and temperature of soil, as well recycling silicon.

New bamboo planting needs lot of water, without it could dry and die. But you can not water too much, excessive watering may do as harm as lack of it. Bamboo can be planted near water banks, where this resource is very available.

Soil

Bamboo grows in soils with different degrees of sand, pH, humidity and temperature. But bamboo likes slightly acid and loamiy (in ABS words), between 5.5 to 6.5 pH.