Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Fascinating article, thanks DTFF!

If bamboo can be cloned in a test tube at a nursery it cant be so hard. So do they have a patent that can be read to copy the process? I would love to grow bamboo for many reasons.

Like this?


Need more specific info..

I would hope they are guarding their secrets very closely, considering that all of Asia would swipe the process if they could.

DD - that is standard tissue cloning practice. The secrets would be in things like what tissue is used, the nutrient mix in the agar, various timings etc etc.

Has anybody considered bamboo for aquaponics? I was thinking about 3" - 4" diameter stuff to replace PVC tubing. We've got a heap on our property, so it would basically be free. I know it would have to be replaced at least every 12 months, but this wouldn't be a problem.

Bamboo has a big future in lots of areas. Pound for pound it's stronger than steel. It has a lot of potential for construction, once problems of preservation and joinery are overcome.

Some of it's advantages over timber include:
- Only 3 years from initial planting to harvest (compared to at least 20 for timber) and then harvests every year .
- No need to replant
- Greater strength
- Greater CO2 absorption due to faster growth

Thats a nice idea. Give it a try!

My one clumping bamboo just happened to bloom last year. In case you don't know, that kills it. So, I don't like clumping bamboo. I consider running bamboo an unequaled workhorse in the garden. I have a big clump of P. nuda, known as one of the best edible bamboos, though I haven't tried to eat it. It is great for stakes for tomatoes and I also use it extensively for fencing to deter deer from getting in my flower and vegetable beds. I have 4-5' tall welded wire fence but then I extend it vertically by tying bamboo canes on and running wire between canes. I don't consider running bamboo at all hard to control, I just cut off canes at the ground. I've been working on opening up the center of the clump by cutting canes in a path through the middle.

I also planted two kinds of timber bamboo in hopes of getting really big canes but it is kind of remote for watering and has been increasing very slowly.

HB

Guy that lives out here throws the shoots on the BBQ. Never tried it myself.

I just bought some bambusa oldhamii, clumping, grows to 50' high and 4" diameter...could be interesting
I got assured that it wouldn't flower and die in my climate, hope that's true
apparently the shoots are really good to eat on this one too

If you're in the US and looking for timber bamboo try and find some Guadua from Sth America, this is the best stuff there is.

I think the best eating variety is D. Asper fro Southeast, which is also great for construction. We've got a lot of this growing.

The link below has some amazing pics of bamboo construction
http://inciarco.com/foros/showthread.php?t=714&page=2

Finally got around to planting the bamboo I've had in pots for a long time. Timor Black & Buddha's Bellies.

I helped myself to some bamboo clumps from an abandoned homestead out in the desert nearby. I ran the clothes washer drain to a shallow pit backfilled with gravel . The stuff is growing wild. the original shoots are now over eight foot tall and new shoots are up to five foot. All in just three months. We wash at least one load a day and this disposes of the water without any pooling on the surface to putrify. It is going to give good shade to the walkin box and is more visually appealing than that thing. Hopefully it will yield supplemental feed for the goats.

Instead of cloning, try rooting cuttings. I have been having some pretty good success with cuttings of bamboo by rooting them in the Aquaponics system before planting them out in compost.

We have a very large clumping bamboo. For a good cullum cutting you want to use cullums that are at least an inch thick where the branches come out. We first did this when taking a clump to the cook's parents. We had to cut the long cullums so the clump would fit in the van anyway. So we cut the cullum between the branchings. Then trim off all but the biggest branch. Then soak the sections for a little bit then place in the grow bed. When new growth shows up, plant into a pot of compost and keep moist till more new growth comes on. Plant out but keep moist till well established. 4 out of 5 cuttings I've done this way seem to take quite well.

Should get more water now its not in a pot.