Bamboo Seeds: Harvest and grow new plants from seed

Bamboo belongs to the grass family and is native not only to China, but to the whole world with the exception of Europe and Antarctica. There are 47 different species with around 1200 varieties, but only around 20 of these are suitable for growing in Central European gardens. Many species of bamboo cultivated here only flower about once every 100 years, making seed collection and subsequent propagation difficult.

Bamboo is not just bamboo

Real bamboo (Bambusa in Latin) is rarely found in central European gardens due to the climatic conditions. Instead, mainly different hardy varieties of the two genera Phyllostachys (flat tube bamboo) and Fargesia (umbrella bamboo) are cultivated in this country. These are usually uncomplicated to look after, although the Phyllostachys species should be prevented from spreading uncontrolled by means of a special root barrier. Propagation is usually by division, rarely - and only possible with a few species - also by cuttings.

Bamboo flowers extremely rarely

Collecting seeds and propagating them is very difficult due to the extremely rare flowering of the two most commonly cultivated bamboo genera, Phyllostachys and Fargesia. These species bloom only once every 100 years, although specific periods cannot be given. As a rule, almost all specimens of a species bloom at about the same time - worldwide. The reason for this rare flower has not yet been scientifically determined, but there are assumptions: This is how the plant genus prevails these extremely long periods of time ensure that certain animal species cannot specialize in consuming the seeds - thus ensuring the survival of the species secure.

Other bamboo genera and species, on the other hand, bloom more frequently, but also only at intervals of at least 12 years to several decades. After perennial blooms, many plants eventually die due to lack of nutrients, but first self-seed. This is especially true for Fargesia, which was last planted in the 1990s or 1990s. flourished around the turn of the millennium.

Harvest Bamboo Seeds

When bamboo blooms, it does so over a period of about two to five years. Meanwhile, the plant keeps producing new flowers in spring, but no new leaves follow. As a result, the bamboo withers and eventually dies. After fertilization has taken place, the seeds develop from these flowers, which are sown towards the end of summer or the end of the month. can be harvested in autumn. Unfortunately, the seeds of the bamboo species that bloom more frequently turn out to be sterile in many cases and therefore not germinable. First dry the self-harvested seeds for one to two days, then let them swell in a warm water bath for a few hours and plant them promptly.

Instructions for harvesting bamboo seeds

• Harvest only possible after rare bamboo blossom
• Flowering occurs cyclically with an interval of several decades
• You can't provoke flowering - it only helps to wait
• collect mature seeds at the end of summer / in autumn
• Gently clean seeds with a soft, dry cloth
• Let seeds dry for a day or two

Sow the seeds as fresh as possible as they lose their ability to germinate over time.

Buy seeds that are as fresh as possible

This is especially true if you want to buy and sow seeds. Research the flowering times of the bamboo species and variety you want to determine the best time to buy seeds. The fresher the seeds are, the higher the germination rate. The seeds of the very popular Moso giant bamboo (Latin: Phyllostachys edulis or Phyllostachys pubescens) are mainly used harvested in the months of October and November, so that you do not necessarily have to buy them until autumn of the following year should. There can only be fresh seed when the bamboo species in question is in a flowering cycle.

Growing new bamboo plants from seeds

If you have bought bamboo seeds, you will receive the appropriate growing instructions for the type and variety. In addition to high humidity, the exotic, tropical species in particular need high temperatures of over 26 °C in order to germinate successfully. For our hardy bamboo species, on the other hand, temperatures between 16 and 24 °C are sufficient. The cultivation of plants from seeds is basically possible all year round, but you should ensure an adequate supply of light. To do this, place the breeding station directly next to a bright window (one facing south is ideal).

prepare seeds

Before you sow the seeds, you should first let them soak in a glass of lukewarm, clean water for six to twelve hours – preferably overnight. If you don't have fresh but older seeds, you can peel them to improve germination. Of course, this does not happen in nature, but the seed is not stored there for months or even years.

If you are unsure, you can also divide the existing seeds and treat them differently. This way you can also check which cultivation method works best for you. For example, you can soak some of the seeds, some not, germinate some seeds like cress on cotton wool, others on sandy substrate in the indoor greenhouse. Feel free to experiment, as many bamboo species are difficult to coax out of their tough shell to germinate.

Prepare substrate and plant containers

When it comes to substrate, use sandy growing soil that is as low in nutrients as possible, although so-called growing pads (e.g. made of coconut fibres) are also very suitable. These only have to be pre-soaked in water and can then be placed in the prepared planters. You can use special growing plates, but also small pots or yoghurt pots. It is only important that the containers are thoroughly washed and clean so that no germs or mold can destroy the germination success.

Plant and care for seeds

Since all types of bamboo germinate in the sun, you must not plant the seeds directly. Instead, just lay them on the moistened substrate and definitely don't cover them with soil. Some guides recommend a light covering with bird sand, but this is also not advisable due to the poorer germination rate. You can put several seeds in one jar. Then care for the seeds as follows:

• Always keep the substrate slightly moist
• The substrate must not be wet = otherwise the seeds will rot
• Moisten the substrate with a spray bottle
• keep humidity high
• Cover the planter with cling film, a cut-off PET bottle or similar
• Indoor greenhouse with or without heating is also very suitable
• Air several times a day to prevent mold growth
• Place the planter bright and warm - but not in direct sunlight

In principle, these cultivation rules apply to all bamboo species and varieties and only vary in detail (for example with regard to the ambient temperature). The seeds germinate within one to two weeks, but depending on the species, variety, Growth conditions and age also several months up to a year for the formation of the first need delicate green. So if in doubt, be patient and don't throw in the towel if germination doesn't work right away.

Nurturing and planting out seedlings

After germination, initially only a single cotyledon appears (and not a pair of leaves, as in many other plant species). If you can see this cotyledon and the little bamboo has already grown a bit, you can Carefully separate the plantlets and place them in small pots with a suitable, nutrient-poor substrate set. When transplanting, do not remove the seed under any circumstances, instead cover it with soil.

Continue to hold the plantlets under tense air (i.e. H. under foil) and make sure that they are not exposed to direct sunlight for the first few months. Once the substrate is well rooted, you can transfer the young plants to a larger pot with suitable bamboo soil. You can start fertilizing as soon as the first real leaves appear. Use special bamboo fertilizer for this purpose, whereby lawn fertilizer (caution: choose a brand without moss killer!) is also suitable. However, fertilize very sparingly at first.

When can the seedlings go outside?

Whether and when the young bamboo plants can go outside depends on their size, the prevailing weather conditions and, above all, on the specific species. As a rule, you should first cultivate young bamboo in pots and hardy species such as Fargesia and some Phyllostachys only in late spring / early summer after the last night frosts plant out. Many other bamboo species (including the popular Phyllostachys edulis or Moso giant bamboo, as well as tropical species such as Bambusa or Dendrocalamus) are not hardy and should therefore be cultivated in pots anyway become. In the cold season, they must be frost-free in the conservatory or similar. ä. hibernate, but can safely go outside during the summer months.

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