Bamboo is one of nature’s fastest growing plants on the planet and a sustainable building material.
This article will discuss bamboo’s remarkable growth rates and the factors that influence how swiftly it can multiply. Understanding bamboo’s growth patterns is crucial for landscapers and homeowners using this renewable resource.
We’ll talk about how bamboo changes with the seasons and over time. We’ll also talk about important factors like soil, sunlight, and rain that affect growth. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of what makes bamboo grow so quickly and why it’s such a great plant.
Bamboos are some of the fastest growing plants on Earth. Their rapid growth allows them to shoot up to their full height in just a couple months. But how long exactly do bamboos grow before reaching maturity? Let’s take a closer look at the bamboos’ quick growth cycle.
The Bamboo Growth Spurt
Bamboos exhibit an extreme growth rate during their initial sprouting phase. This growth spurt is unlike what’s seen in most plant species.
Within the first 60 days after emerging, bamboo canes will grow steadily in height and diameter. This intensive growing period lasts for about 2 months. During this time, each shoot can grow up to 39 inches (100 cm) per day. That’s the equivalent of about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of upward growth per hour!
This unmatched growth rate is due to the plant prioritizing vertical height over girth. The bamboo needs to overtop surrounding vegetation to reach sunlight as quickly as possible So most of its energy goes toward the rapid vertical growth
Culmination of Upward Growth
After roughly 60 days of exponential growth, the bamboo shoot stops extending in height. By this point, it has likely grown tall enough to rise above obstructions and successfully compete for sunlight.
The average maximum height for bamboo canes ranges between 50 to 130 feet (15 – 40 meters), depending on the species. Larger varieties like Moso bamboo can surpass 130 feet at maturity.
So within about 2 months, bamboos can reach their full heights, going from a tiny shoot to a towering giant. After this growth spurt ends, the stem will not get any taller.
Focus Shifts to Girth and Strength
Once the bamboo shoot ceases its vertical growth, its focus shifts to increasing girth and structural integrity.
The stem begins to thicken and produce more lignin, which provides stiffness. Expanding diameter combined with lignification transforms the hollow, fragile shoots into strong, woody canes.
This secondary thickening phase allows the bamboo to support its own weight and withstand external forces like wind. A mature bamboo’s diameter ranges between 2 to 10 inches (5-25 cm), growing up to a few more inches per year.
Branching Out: Foliage Development
In addition to thickening, the bamboo shoot starts generating more limbs, buds, and foliage after its initial spurt. Branch formation typically begins within the first 2 to 4 months.
The plant develops branches with leaves at each node along the stem. As branching advances, the bamboo forms the signature segmented culm with alternating nodes and cavities.
Leaf growth provides vital surface area for photosynthesis. This powers the bamboo’s continued development after the initial sugar reserves from rhizomes are depleted.
Lifespan of Individual Culms
The lifespan of each bamboo culm is relatively short compared to woody tree stems. Individual canes typically persist for only 7 to 10 years before falling victim to pests, disease, or their own increasing weight.
So while new shoots continue emerging, older stems deteriorate. The bamboo stand persists through the constant cycling of new culms replacing dying ones.
Clumping vs Running Bamboos
There are two main bamboo growth habits: running and clumping. Running bamboos are more aggressive, spreading rapidly via underground rhizomes. Clumping types stay more contained, only slowly expanding short rhizomes.
Due to quicker rhizome growth, running bamboos like Phyllostachys edulis fill an area faster. But both running and clumping varieties exhibit the same quick shooting and culm maturation outlined above. Growth rate is more determined by bamboo species than growth habit.
Ideal Conditions for Fast Growth
Bamboos achieve their maximum growth potential under ideal soil, climate and care. Here are tips for encouraging rapid growth:
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Plant running bamboo away from foundations, pipes, or delicate plants to allow unimpeded rhizome spread.
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Choose a sunny location with fertile, well-drained soil high in organic matter.
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Give additional water and fertilizer during the initial sprouting phase.
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Remove spent culms regularly to stimulate new shoot growth.
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Use mulch and irrigation to maintain evenly moist (but not soaked) soil.
When provided optimal conditions, bamboo’s growth rate lives up to its reputation as one of the quickest on Earth. Even the slower bamboo species can achieve most of their mature height within a few short months.
When Does Bamboo’s Growth Slow Down?
Bamboo’s nearly exponential growth during the first 2 months inevitably slows as resources are diverted from height to girth and foliage.
Expanded diameter and leaf formation require more energy, gradually reducing the breakneck vertical speed. So while new shoots continue emerging in cycles, culm height maxes out after those initial 60 days.
After that, bamboo grows at a more modest, steady pace – adding a few more inches annually in diameter, gradually spreading rhizomes, and replacing older stems. Once established, the bamboo stand persists indefinitely with this slower sustained growth.
Bamboo’s Impressive Growth Habits
The bamboo growth rate is unmatched in the plant kingdom, shooting up dozens of feet within weeks. This unique ability has made the “wood of steel” highly prized.
Though the intense growth spurt is temporary, bamboo’s rapid shooting and maturation provide an endless resource. As long as rhizomes keep spreading and new canes keep unfurling, a bamboo grove will thrive indefinitely.
Bamboo Growth in Winter
In contrast to summer, bamboo slows its vertical expansion during the colder winter months in Australia.
Even though there isn’t as much growth above ground, bamboo keeps making a large network of underground stems and roots below the frost line. During this period, bamboo allocates more resources to strengthen its root base in preparation for the forthcoming spring.
Some species, like Pleioblastus, can keep slowly growing stalks in mild winters, but many types stop or slow growth above ground. While not as conspicuous, this winter widening of rhizomes is equally crucial for bamboo’s prolific multiplication.
By storing carbs underground when the weather isn’t good, bamboo makes sure it grows quickly when the weather gets better. This adaptation allows it to flourish year after year as a resilient and productive plant.
Bamboo Growth in Summer
In the warm summer months, bamboo thrives with its rapid vertical growth above ground. During this time, many species can grow more than one foot per day, which is faster than almost all other plants.
The hotter summer temperatures provide ideal growing conditions for bamboo to maximize its photosynthesis and multiply extensively. Clumping bamboos vigorously send up thick, green canes toward the sun, while running bamboos quickly spread their rhizomes and make their stalks longer.
Summer’s rain and moisture also help bamboo grow a large root system that will allow it to grow more plants in the future. This fast growth spurt in the summer in Australia helps bamboo naturally spread to make thickets and groves in just one growing season.
How Bamboo Grows
FAQ
How fast does a bamboo grow?
What is the lifespan of a bamboo tree?
Does cutting bamboo make it spread?
Does bamboo grow indefinitely?
How fast does a bamboo plant grow?
One plant recorded a growth of 121 centimeters in one day. The bamboo is a variety of grass with a woody many jointed stems. The stem itself is hollow and is connected to a network that spreads out beneath the surface of the soil. It is a versatile plant. Bamboo shoots are a staple diet in many Asian countries.
How tall does bamboo grow?
Grows in shoots up to 90 feet tall, but just a few inches in diameter. Harvesting bamboo does not require replanting. Regeneration occurs from the existing root structure which helps prevent soil erosion. Bamboo grows in China
How long does bamboo take to mature?
Another 12 months on and Slender Weavers bamboo will be mature at 6-8m Does Bamboo Like Mulch? Start with some good organic material and then cover that with a hardwood chip. How to mulch bamboo plants: Bamboo plants love mulch so regardless of adding anything else, always aim to use some mulch.