p.a. spectabilis culms

[jacko]

this spectabilis has 50 culms (curiously the same as f.robusta).the other only has about 12 culms and much more of a clumping appearance to it heres a pic of the other one.

[jezza]

Since i last posted on this thread mine has since pushed up 19 culms, the tallest now 6 feet.

[jacko]

have you got a photo of it jezza?

[jacko]

the curious thing about this species is that every now and then the odd culm likes to go zig zag or change angle of direction altogether .this one was right angles this morning,i thought it had broken.but no it decided overnight to change direction.i cant let it go right angle into the chusquea on the left so i've redirected it up a different angle with a tie and while its still soft.

[jezza]

have you got a photo of it jezza?

[jacko]

nice one looks like yours has gone walkies a bit too.its going for the compost bin

[jezza]

I want it to go walkies in that direction to fill out that corner.

[jacko]

looks really healthy i reckon a few more years it'll certainly fill that corner.

[jezza]

When i moved in i noticed the previous tenants had been using that area for bonfires, blackened and loads of ash. I dug that ash into the soil. It's my fastest growing boo so maybe that's what makes it so fast.

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

If wood ash is good, i got loads stored from the woodburner. I'll put a couple of handfuls in when i dig mine in.

[jacko]

in small amounts its good because of the potash in it but too much can alter the ph of the soil too much towards alkalinity because of the lime in it.urine (diluted with water) with wood ash is a really good natural fertilizer the urine nutralizes the alkalinity of the wood ash and provides nitrogen.

[jezza]

My soil has a mix of flint and clay on the top but chalk 2 feet down. There is a layer of old roof tiles which i have to dig through every time i plant something. This layer divides the clay and chalk. So i have two types of soil.

[jacko]

the zig zag thing has gone crazy at the moment,some have even broken off by bending too far.

[Adam D]

^^^^

I see what you mean about the zig zag thing having gone crazy!

In the last shot is that two culms that have snapped due to the zig zagging?

My tall clump has sent up two culms so far

One is about 2 inches high and within the existing clump and the other is about a foot away and getting on for a foot tall.

[jacko]

yeah it is adam,shame but there you go.weird behaviour though dont you think.