The Bamboo has been left alone fore a while, so I decided to give it a clean.
The main issue I find with the Bamboo is the refuse that builds up in the center. We have some full size bamboo growing in the yard, and they drop *a lot* of refuse… old leaves and trunk wrappings. I think this is an evolutionary strategy to crowd out other growth: bamboo shoots come up like spears, but other ground growth is likely to get smothered.
So a bunch of cleaning later, and we can see a clear mound which has built up in the center.
I’m going to drop this link for future reference.
Anyway: this finished result. I don’t know what to do about those goal posts in the center. I like the thickness, and I’m afraid if I cut them they’ll stop growing.
As per normal, I haven’t done any styling. And as I write this I think I should. Looking at some internet pics, I see some features I don’t have:
- space between trunks, and fewer trunks
- taller and thicker (although I should probably discount this as selection bias)
- more green trunks, less brown
- styled to look like a forest (I have a hedge)
… which leads me to think I should cut about half the trunks to stop the crowding and create space. But also, it’s very possible I have a poor species choice for bonsai.