Post #776909 by AceExplorer on Mon, Jun 12, 2017 10:49 AM

I just received 100 Moso Bamboo seeds in the mail --- $5 with shipping on eBay from overseas.

Before I purchased the Moso seeds, I knew I would have to "start" them. No biggie, because there are good instructions all over the web. I was also told two things - that Moso IS a runner, and that it is NOT a runner. I'm going to assume it's a runner, so that means I'll take precautions.

Or not.

I visited a Central Florida farm where they have told me that if a bamboo runs, all you need to do is stomp on a runner, break it off by hand, or otherwise mangle it and that will stop the run. So --- since Moso is such a huge and tall and thick variety, I am expecting that any runners will be FEW and that they will be easy to spot and control by breaking them off if they were to run too far. The big problem with runners comes not with the gigantic bamboos, but the small bamboos which can send MANY shoots in fairly quick succession.

From what I've read, some of it here above my post in this thread, is that Moso may also be controlled by reducing watering, however we do in some years get a ton of rain here.

Are there any other Moso bamboo growers out there who can confirm this, or warn me before it's too late?

I'll post some pics of my seeds, and the process to get them started. I definitely will be starting a number of my seeds and, if they thrive, will be looking to plant them and maybe give one or more away to friends. (I have a green thumb.)

I have briefly thought about how cool it would be to plant one or more in a wild drainage area near my home, because it would look so cool, but I'm not at all keen on the idea of introducing a non-native specie into the native Florida wilderness - so ixnay on that idea.

If I plant Moso along my fenceline then I may get to see if my neighbor freaks out, hahahaha.