What impact does fertilizer have on bamboo?

[Sirius]

Dependable, thanks for that.

I am using well rotted manure.
If the temps are too low for growth, does the plant store the nutrients in the rhizome?
Or must it be utilised immediately?

[dependable]

Lower temperatures will slow metabolism of the soil, or the compost, as well as the plant. One of the good things about organic fertilizer (and this is a small o organic, as in it is based on carbon based natural compounds, as opposed to some sort of certification,) It will not leach away as much chemical salt fertilizers (ie 12-12-12) in a cold rain or snow melt, as it is released with the decay of the fertilizer product. This break down happens much faster when it is warm, when your plant is up and running and can use the nutrients.

[Sirius]

Lower temperatures will slow metabolism of the soil, or the compost, as well as the plant. One of the good things about organic fertilizer (and this is a small o organic, as in it is based on carbon based natural compounds, as opposed to some sort of certification,) It will not leach away as much chemical salt fertilizers (ie 12-12-12) in a cold rain or snow melt, as it is released with the decay of the fertilizer product. This break down happens much faster when it is warm, when your plant is up and running and can use the nutrients.

Ok, thanks.
Thought I had mulched a bit early if all the nutrients would just leach away.

[stevelau1911]

I don't think it is even that big of an issue as far as fertilization before shooting season because the bamboos have already stored their energy for the shoots and root growth is not very significant until shooting season.


One thing I have noticed on my groves is that the biggest new shoots tend to come up relatively close to the biggest existing culms so I think if you have a limited supply of manure, it is best to pile it around the base of the largest culms over the summer so those tap roots can really take in as many nutrients as possible. All these nutrients will likely go into that culm as well as the rhizome it is attached to which fuels the dormant shoot buds on that same rhizome to swell up nice and big.


Another thing I plan on doing is harvesting all the smaller shoots that likely won't grow tall enough to contribute much since my groves are already pretty established. I think that might help out the larger shoots a little bit as far as energy to spare, especially if they are on the same rhizome.