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Shitty Neighbours pt 1 – How to propagate Bambusa Textilis Gracilis

“…and forms an excellent hedge for privacy, noise and pollution (such as smoke, dust, bad jokes and farts)…”

Dear reader, if you are after detailed instructions on how to successfully propagate Gracilis bamboo from cuttings, this is the link you are after: How to successfully propagate Gracilis bamboo from cuttings as I have managed to grow new Gracilis from cuttings after numerous trials. The instructions in this page were not that good and the rate of success was none.

Or you may like to read the entire Vicacinus story and ongoing saga at: this new site dedicated to stupid neighbours.

When dealing with plants, it is nice to know their latin name as they are broken down from the plantae kingdom into orders, families, genii and species. A similar principle can be applied when dealing with certain idiotic, intolerant and repulsive human lifeforms.

I hereby coin the term: “Vicasinus” – meaning stupid neighbour. From the latin: Vicinus Asinus (or Vicinus Plumbeus) – both correctly and adequately describe one of these.

Stupid Neighbour

Vicasinus – donkey next door

 

Definition: 
VIC·AS·IN·US /vikasinas/
Vicasinii, plural
Adjective: A neighbour performing the act of being an ass.
Noun: A neighbour who acts like a donkey.

I assume that by this point you are most probably asking yourselves, what do stupid neighbours have to do with the propagation of bamboo (and Latin)? Well, since my vicasinus was taking photos of me from his mum’s kitchen window, I suddenly felt compelled to look at ways to remedy a rather obscure, creepy and sinister behaviour. Local council regulation restricts fence heights to 2.0 metres, and since their window sits higher than 2.0 metres above ground, I had to find a better solution than a high fence (mind you, the fence is now 2.2 metres high).

Enter Bambusa Textilis Gracilis – a fast growing, clumping variety of bamboo (also known as a slender weaver for its gracefully thin aesthetic appearance). It grows to around 6.0 metres in height, and forms an excellent hedge for privacy, noise and pollution (such as smoke, dust, bad jokes and farts). It provides shade, peace and tranquillity –  a sense of zen. In addition, such hedges look contemporary and provide a little Asian flavour in your garden.

I’ve built a small raised garden bed around 70cm high and 1.2m wide (with the help of a couple of friends), to stop any unnecessary and unwanted root propagation. Although Gracilis is clumping, it does grow to a diameter of 1.2 to 1.5 metres. My hedge will be 36 metres in length so I will need approximately 30 plants planted at 1.2 metre intervals. Over time they will clump and blend rather nicely into one another.

Raised garden bed

Stone wall with fence and 75mm sleeper retaining wall

 

Hnawish helping build the stone wall

Hnawish working on the stone wall

To propagate Gracilis, you will first need to find some mature plants as they have the largest diameter culm. I got mine from my friend Ben who runs the local nursery Palms for Brisbane. He cut four mature plants using a curved hand saw and we were on our way. The steps to prepare the Gracilis are as follows:

1) Trim back any leaf nodes with a good pair of sharp secateurs – the leaves will die anyway.

Trimming back leaf nodes

Koray Trimming back leaf nodes

Koray trimming leaves

The leaves make a bit of a mess

2) Use a hack saw or sharp curved hand saw to cut the culm – starting below the joint (where the leaves come out of) and ending above the joint on the other side. The reason for this is that the plant layer where root growth takes place is between this joint and by cutting diagonally across, this layer is exposed.

Trusty hack saw

Trusty Hack Saw used to cut Bambusa Textilis Gracilis

Bambusa Textilis Gracilis

Gracilis culms cut and ready for hormoning

Bambusa Textilis Gracilis

Trimmed leaves will die when placed into the potting mix

3) Prepare pots with potting mix. You could use smaller size pots, but I opted for 300mm pots as I will let the bamboo grow in these to a decent height. Also, you could put more than one single culm per pot and separate them at a later stage.

300mm plastic pots with potting mix

300mm plastic pots with potting mix

4) Get some medium rooting hormone (or honey works too) and apply to the culm where the cut was made. I made sure that the entire surface was well covered with the white powder. The active ingredient in butyric acid. I also applied a little beer to my lips to stop them from chafing.

Root Hormone

Root hormone is applied to the cut surface of the culm

Root hormone is applied

Culm with butyric acid applied for promotion of root growth

5) The culm is now ready to be planted! I stuck the culms into the potting mix at a depth of approximately 5 centimetres. Some of the culms wanted to tip over because of the loose soil – the watering stage was next and helps to compact the soil around the culm and keep it in its place.

Bambusa Textilis Gracilis - ready for watering

Bambusa Textilis Gracilis – ready for watering

So there you have it! 30+ pots of Gracilis planted… now we just play the waiting game and cross our fingers.The above plants were planted on this 8th day of September 2012 (first week of Spring in Brisbane). Ben told me to initially water them once a week and to keep them in a shady position, otherwise the culms may rot away if too much water is applied, and they may dry out too quickly if they are kept out in full sun.

Once the plants begin to catch on, water them twice weekly – they will appear dead before they come back to life again. Once the roots starts to develop, the plants become extremely thirsty and need regular daily watering for two months. You will then be able to add fertilizer into your potting mix – the plants don’t benefit from the nutrients until the roots have established. From what I am told it will take between 2 to 3 years for a plant to reach its full height. It is currently spring in Queensland, Australia, and the plants are thriving all around me. The bamboo will pause its growth pattern during the colder months but shoot up during the warmer months. I will touch base again in a few week’s time and post an update on the growth of the Bambusa Textilis Gracilis…

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Darwin 3414.

On the way to Toowoomba

“…when you’re the driver, you tend to focus more on oncoming traffic and keeping the vehicle between the white lines….”

The number of times I have travelled to Toowoomba over the years is countless. Countless, because I have never really counted them, and I am not saying I go there often, but I do go from time to time. When you’re a passenger in a car, the mind tends to wander off into distant daydreams, thinking about things such as life, problems and happy times. But when you’re the driver, you tend to focus more on oncoming traffic and keeping the vehicle between the white lines.

 

Noel the Farmer

Noel – Very friendly farmer.

I thought I would take the opportunity of the 130 km trip to Toowoomba to take some photos. Interestingly, on the way there:
– I met a super friendly and cool farmer named Noel.
– I almost bought a shot of Tequila at The Sundowner Saloon
– I saw a Red Elephant (and I didn’t even have the Tequila!)
– I had coffee made and served by a skinny Fred Flintstone
– I didn’t see people fall from the sky but I could imagine it…

Rip Cord - People falling from the sky!!

RIPCORD

Toowoomba is nicknamed the Garden City, and what better time to visit the garden city than in Spring? The trees were getting their first spring flushes, flowers were gently beginning their opening journey divulging their inner beauty, branches were budding and eggs were 2 for $5.00 dozen (whatever that means)…

THE BIG ORANGE

THE BIG ORANGE

I always enjoy my visits to Toowoomba. Last time I was there, I ate a sausage roll with a knife and fork! Oh lah dee dah!! I would recommend that you take the time to stop and enjoy the scenery on your next trip to Toowoomba, alternatively, get someone else to drive the car!

The Aikido Kid a.k.a. The Black Van Damme

“…He meticulously and precisely shuffled to the left, and then to the right (in a similar fashion to the little shop of horrors)…”

My Kanaky brother, Hnawish, had his Aikido graduation over the weekend and I was invited to take some photos of the event.

Hnawish - The Aikido Kid

Hnawish – The Aikido Kid

He had to pass some rigorous tests in order to obtain his black belt. And so he did -Hnawish threw, spun, whacked, jumped, and dove, then he dipped, dodged and grabbed with surgical precision. Bodies were flying left, right and centre – all in the spirit of good sport. He made it look so easy. A flick of the fingers and waaaaaaaah! They flew head over heels, literally – the photos prove it.

Throwing looks so easy

Throwing looks so easy

They came at him with wooden swords and knives. He meticulously and precisely shuffled to the left, and then to the right (in a similar fashion to the little shop of horrors), disarmed his opponents and brought them to their knees, literally (again). All it took was a little twist of the wrist, a tug from the elbow.

When someone comes at you with a timber sword...

Hnawish is ready…

How impressive! I know who I would love to be my bodyguard if I ever become an organised (or even disorganised) Mafia boss. Respect! Oh, and I forgot to mention, Hnawish graduated and is now a first dan black belt. Congratulations Master Hnawish!

The Harbour Bridge - thousands of steel rivets.

Sydney Trip July 2012

“….. I always end up meeting someone interesting or finding myself lost in a place I like to find myself…. “

Sydney is a truly awesome city to visit. I love coming here and having Portuguese chicken from little Portugal (in the suburb of Petersham). I also love going to Newtown for Thai cuisine. Newtown very much reminds me of Brisbane’s West End and it is the home of the free-thinking, art-loving, purple hair sporting, nose ringing, beatnik’en fashionistas.

The Harbour Bridge - thousands of steel rivets.

Ribbed for his pleasure.

Foggy Sydney

Foggy Sydney

Sydney is most definitely a buzzing city and has plenty of cool events (for example last weekend’s Aroma Festival), hip restaurants and trendsetting hang-outs. Things can get happenin’ if you know where to look and/or if you have connections. But who am I to say? A little bit of adventurous roaming never hurt anyone and is a great way to become more acquainted with such a city.

Personally, I like to take to the streets (armed with my camera and tripod) and follow my nose and instincts.

I always end up meeting someone interesting or finding myself lost in a place I like to find myself.

I’m just sayin’.

One of the SHB Pylons

One of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons

The smiling face of Luna Park in Sydney's Milson's Point.

The smiling face of Luna Park in Sydney’s Milson’s Point.

 

 

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Concrete Jungle

“…. I look at how root systems wrap themselves in every crack and crevice. Reticulating, torticulating, twisting, undulating, penetrating…”

Is it the moisture in the concrete or is it the lime? Could it be the tiniest amount of urban dirt that accumulates in the parting of two surfaces? What makes these plants thrive in these man-made, unnatural growing conditions?

Concrete Jungle

Concrete Jungle

I look at how root systems wrap themselves in every crack and crevice. Reticulating, torticulating, twisting, undulating, penetrating… dying? No – thriving.

Man builds. Nature takes over. Nature obeys no man’s laws.

Wall Fern

Fern growing in mortar at Newtown station

Unnatural, you ask? No, of course not. There couldn’t be anything more natural than plants combating man made creations, they make the triste and grey look lively and interesting.

A Sydney bridge, plant growing in concrete crack

Tree growing in concrete crack

If I was a plant, I too would probably nestle my roots deep into the very urban foundation. My home would be right there, in its rightful place.