Sun

Bamboo species likes different grades of sunlight and temperature. But all bamboo like protection on the hottest part of day. Tropical bamboos often like sunny and hot days, while temperate bamboos prefer colder climate.

Planting

To stablish a sucessfull planting we should first choose right species, the right season and right location (and sometimes right objectives). It's always good remember that temperate bamboos like more cold, while tropical bamboos adapt better in warmer climates, but there is exceptions to both cases. Having an open site near a water course help bamboo to spread fast. Bamboos retain water in soil, planted on a steep or river bank make soil strong against erososions and earthquake damages . Best time to plant is after winter, with new shoots sprouting, because they will have time untill next winterto store energy and nourishment. A bamboo forest or turf takes from 10 to 15 years to reach maturity, having big and strong culms.

To achieve an aesthectic effect on a garden design we should choose the species with desired height and delightfull color. A bamboo garden produce shadow, give some wind and rain protection, and makes pleasant sounds as long there is a breeze. "Bamboos" book, previously named, is directed for bamboo use in gardening.

In order to collect good construction bamboo poles we should choose strong species from medium to giant size. Species in genus Phyllostachys are largely used in Asia, Europe and America. Phyllostachys aurea, known as "golden bamboo", strong and pest resisting, occurs in Brasil in great number. Some specialists affirm that P. aurea could not grow in Brasil as big as in other colder countries, but nothing is certain yet. Phyllostachys pubescens , known as Moso, is the one used to make bamboo flooring (Plyboo), and also general construction. This bamboo is very rigid, having medium to large size. Phyllostachys bambusoides is another species very used in the world. In Brasil we often see Dendrocalamus asper plantations, a tropical giant bamboo. This genus, Dendrocalamus, possess greatest bamboos species. The asper is resisting and absorbs compression very well, being very usefull to general construction, altough it demands care with insects. Guadua genus seems to be best construction bamboo. It generally has thick walls and great resisting, and is the material of centenary houses in Colombia. There is native Guadua species in Brasil as tagoara, but angustifolia adaptas well in our climate, and shouldn't be forgotten.

In order to obtain bamboo edible shoots we could use Bambusa vulgaris, but some say that is a bit bitter. Bambusa arundinacea has edible shoots, and also produces edible seeds. Dendrocalamus asper is a favourite in Thailand, being very sweet.

Technics

There is some technics in bamboo planting. They depends on available resources, transport and technology. Moast used form is vegetative propagation. Could be by culm, rhizome or branch separation. This propagation methods depends on existence of live (dormant) buds. They are found on young bamboos, of less than 2 years.

rhizome separation:
one should choose a year old (maximum) rhizome.
Pachymorph has to be cut on the neck, where it's connected to the older rhizome, and over the first node of its young culm. Then plant vertically, with the cutten culm outside earth, or horizontally, both cases a few centimeters under the surface (30-50 cm / 12-20 in).
Leptomorph without culm has to be cut with at least three nodes with some dormant buds. Then plant horizontally from 30 to 50 cm deep.
In case of leptomorph rhizome with culm it has to be cut with at least three nodes with some dormant buds and over the fist node of the culm. Then plant rhizome horizontally from 30 to 50 cm deep, with the cutten culm upwards.