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P japonica flowering?
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Posted by Lynne z7 CapeCod (My Page) on Wed, Oct 12, 05 at 18:35
| Hi everyone, I noticed my two year old division of japonica is developing flowers on most of it's culms. This year it put up a ton, at least two dozen, culms which really suprised me and they are all effected. I also checked out a friends plantings from the same parent plant and yup, flowers. Anyone else seeing this? I'm assuming the worst of course, death of the plant.
btw I am on the east coast of Massachusetts if that makes a difference.
Lynne |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: P japonica flowering?
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| Mine has been blooming since I purchased it a few years ago. I divided it this past Summer, and each division has been going to seed. No ill effects on the bamboo itself, not yet anyway. Also, I noticed today, my SCHIZOSTACHYUM brachycladum is also seeding, and apparently has been for a while. No ill effects either. Kt |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by Lynne z7 CapeCod (My Page) on
Wed, Oct 12, 05 at 21:24
| Thanks Kentuck, I hope mine does as well. Did you get any viable seeds from the japonica? Lynne |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by kudzu9 Zone 8b, WA (My Page) on
Thu, Oct 13, 05 at 4:31
Kentuck-
How are you getting your S. brachycladum to survive in your zone? It's only listed as hardy to 35 degrees F. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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| Lynne, yes, I have gotten a few dozen seeds over the past few years. There have probably been many more seeds on the plant, but I don't check it regularly. I have also gotten a few to sprout, but to date, I only kept one alive to reach large size, the others died due to neglect on my part. The other seeds I have given away. I posted a picture in the gallery a while back of two of the viable seeds with a bunch of empty hulls. I don't know if it is still there. Kudzu, I think it is actually more cold hardy than listed. Mine has survived one cold night down to 30F with very little leaf burn, when I forgot to protect it, but the real reason I can grow it here, as I mentioned earlier in another post, is that I still have it in a pot. I move it in and out of a greenhouse all Winter, as the temps go up and down. I do this with several of my not-so-cold hardy bamboos. Kt |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by Lynne z7 CapeCod (My Page) on
Thu, Oct 13, 05 at 20:54
Thank you Kentuck, I'm going to hope for the best. Plus I've never sown bamboo seeds so maybe there will be an adventure as well.
Lynne |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by kudzu9 Zone 8b, WA (My Page) on
Thu, Oct 13, 05 at 22:55
Kentuck-
Have you harvested any of your S. brachycladum seeds...and, if so, could you spare a couple? I'm getting settled in my new place and am growing some tender plants indoors with the expectation of having a greenhouse next summer. I've got a couple of things I could share in return. Please send me an email if you're interested. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by Cady 6b/Sunset34 MA (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 14, 05 at 9:39
| I recall (I think) reading that P. japonica frequently flowers, but that most stands recover. Many species of leptomorphs (the running 'boos) seem to be capable of surviving after flowering and setting seed, though I've heard that some take many years to do that, particularly the larger types. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by Lynne z7 CapeCod (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 14, 05 at 18:11
| Hi Cady, I remember you from the old bamboo people site. I also remember something about frequent flowering but couldn't remember the type. Mine is a small plant although it did triple in size this year which is what surprised me about the flowering. That is also why when I planted a privacy hedge I used two different boo's, P.aureosulcata and P.bissetti. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by Cady 6b/Sunset34 MA (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 14, 05 at 20:38
| Hi Lynne. I've been on GardenWeb for years. The bamboo sites come and go, but this has been the most stable place to talk about 'boo so far. Let us know how your japonica turns out after flowering. I do think that's the one they say recovers easily, so it will be good to hear from someone who's observing a flowering period for the species. I have a Fargesia nitida that was planted in 1997 and took years to grow into anything worth looking at. The past few years it has taken off, and I am waiting for the flowering to begin. It's from the old generation so I know it's just a matter of time. I planted some very robust Phyllostachys (P. decora, P. rubromarginata, P. bissetii) around it to fill in when the fargesia fades. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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| Kudzu, I can't get through to your email address, confirm. Kt |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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- Posted by kudzu9 Zone 8b, WA (My Page) on
Sun, Oct 16, 05 at 14:05
Kentuck-
It did get through,,,I'll respond to you shortly. Thanks. |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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Kentuck
The two plants that grew from the dozen or so P. j. seeds you gave me last year are still doing OK. I had them growing in a community pot and just divided them about 6 weeks ago. One is doing better than the other but I will plant them both in the ground in another few weeks or so. Mike near Brenham TX |
RE: P japonica flowering?
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| MikeMcG, that's great. I meant to ask you about them the other day, but forgot. Let me know, once they reach good size, if they ever start to bloom. Kudzu, sounds like the P. j. seeds have a good chance of germinating. I could not find anything that even resembled a viable seed on the S. brach, but I will be watching the plant closely. Kt |
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