Rare Black Bamboo Seeds for Planting - 50+ Seeds - Grow Black Bamboo, Privacy Screen, Good for Environment - Ships from Iowa

So I purchased a lot of seeds and plants earlier in the summer not realizing several of them were from this specific shop. Unfortunately of all the things I’ve purchased every item from this shop had no success. I did bamboo, ash tree seeds, willow cuttings. And I’m sure there is more as I’m going through and reviewing now that it’s been a few months. I want to have faith and n this company but it’s odd that your plants and seeds did not work out while others I got from different shops are thriving? I am waiting for the shop to get back with me and I’ll update my several reviews if there is a solution provided! But for now my experience with this shop’s products hasn’t been good.

** UPDATE 7/29/21 ** Vendor responded immediately and offered refund or replacement, for that reason I am updating my review to five stars for their outstanding Customer Service! ** UPDATE 7/28/21 ** I attempted to germinate another round of seeds, followed directions o a T…nothing. I’ve germinated all types of seeds over the past 20 years, these are the worst I have attempted. I am going to seek a refund from the vendor, of the 50 seeds I received, only ONE sprouted and honestly it’s struggling to grow, so I’m going to see if I can get my money refunded, I will update as to the final disposition. To begin I am far from a beginning gardener and I raise all sorts of oddball stuff from seeds, I wanted some bamboo plants and didn’t want to pay $10 per baby plant which is the going rate where I live so I decided to give these a try. I read the various reviews and decided to take a gamble anyway, attempting to sprout a dozen at a time. Note the scan image on the seed package received DOES NOT navigate you to instructions from this company regarding germinating these seeds, strike #1. Of the first batch of 12 seeds only one successfully sprouted, not very encouraging, my visions of a bunch of healthy and happy bamboo plants reaching for the sky failed to materialize, strike #2. It took the seed about a month, literally, to produce a start. Yesterday I decided to try another dozen seeds, I made sure the water I soaked them in was exactly 85 degrees. I will be putting them in my little mini greenhouse which I’ve used a million times to sprout other seeds and will monitor for signs of activity, I surely hope this round does better than the last. For now due to the extremely low germination rate on the first batch I am giving this product 1 star, I would love nothing better than being able to report a relatively acceptable germination rate and will happily do so if there is success to report. If the vendor is reading this my suggestion would be to include explicit instructions as to the correct process for germination of these seeds, currently you receive a pack of seeds and you are on your own as to which process or method you choose to start them. Stay tuned….

Purchased these seeds because the woods behind our home were removed so an assisted-living facility could be built (progress, I guess). That being said, we now have tons of noise, traffic, lights all night and the occasional ambulance/rescue vehicles. Wanted something that would grow fast (we live in Florida, so climate is good) and provide a decent barrier between us and them. Planted seeds according to instructions and not one sprouted. Have been an avid gardener for over 50 years and NEVER had this happen. Grow my own vegetables, orchids, lillies, plumeria, you name it. Have lots of smaller bamboo plants in the house and thought I could grow the larger variety for privacy. Boy was I wrong. I don't believe any of the seeds purchased were viable. Don't waste your money.

Could not germinate any. Finally I stuck some seeds around in the ground, and would have put a hand shovel of garden soil dug around and watered once; at the edge of the wood at a downed tree trunk. Florida oak forest landscape. The soil is poor and sandy, with a spongy airy loamy layer at forest floor. Cutting back weeds, to prepare for wildflowers, I ran into 3 or 4 skinny bamboo sticks - 18" - 2' - kind of weakly standing, kind of anemic looking, so I stopped trimming. The bamboo looks tenuous without the support and shade of surrounding natural growth and weeds. These went in October 2021 - it's now April 2023. Are these black bamboo? I don't remember where I threw seeds in. Don't know how else bamboo would just sprout - nearest bamboo is over 1000' away at a neighbors. So I am going to order more seeds and try again.

In early summer I soaked the seeds in 10% saltwater over night, then rinsed and planted in a seedling tray that allowed for bottom watering. Some I hulled (pealed off the outer layer) and some I didn’t. I had sprouts from both groups, about ten or 12, but only six made it due to drying out. My bad. Brought them in for winter and transferred to slightly bigger grow pots so they have room and Can be better cared for. It is now January and some have three stalks, each bigger than the last, and about 6” max. No shoots over winter. Might be indoors for two or even three winters before I can comfortably plant them outside. Cats are jerks and like to chew on them, so watch out for that. Very happy with the germination rate for this notoriously difficult-to-propagate plant, however. If you just threw them in your garden, watered them, and hoped they’d grow, you were doing it wrong. They are hard to get going, and then hard to get rid of once you plant them in your garden. :) This is also a running bamboo, so if you are successful, do some research before planting in your garden without a rhizome barrier. One of my favorite plants, but it can be a nightmare in the wrong place.

I read all the reviews. Did the research. Watched YouTube Tutorial. And here is what worked best for me. Germination within 4 days. Green seedlings within 2 weeks. 1) You get way more than 50 seeds per packet. I bought two packets and have been able to experiment with multiple germination methods. 2) Dropping them into seedling mix and keeping them moist and at 85F is very very slow. After 3 weeks, I had two solid sprouts (out of 24) and and everything else died. 3) Doing paper towel in plastic baggie and keeping at 85F also is fairly slow, but because you can inspect the seed easier you can at least see the progress. Had only 2 sprouts again out of 24. 3) THIS IS WHAT WORKED BEST AND FASTEST. A) Mix a 1/4 tsp of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide with 8oz of water and soak for 10-15min. Then rinse multiple times. (This kills mold and jump starts germination) B) Remove the Seed Hull. The actual ovum will look sperm like. (See pictures). This doesn't increase germination, but it does allow you to inspect the seed to see if it's even worth planting. If you do the water tests, you can only do it without the hull. Otherwise they will all float. It also allows you to see the changes faster. C) Combine Liquid Kelp, Vitamin B1, and water according to manufactures directions and soak the ovum for 24 hours. Kelp has gibberellins which are plant growth hormones and signal seeds to sprout. D) Carefully take the ovum out with tweezers. Don't rinse seeds. Place on a paper towel. Spritz with the same Kelp, B1 and water solution till wet. Fold paper towel and place into small seed tray with humidity dome (see pictures). E) I keep the house at 72F and I kept the seeds at the same temperature. Check every day and spritz with Kelp, B1 and water once a day. Two days later the first seed started to sprout. Four days later 6 of 12 seeds have sprouted. Using the Kelp solution will work also at higher Temp but keeping the seeds at 72F was much more successful than 85F. F) Once the seed has a decent size root sprout, move the seed into a starter tray with seedling mix and humidity dome and continue as normal. G) Both leaf and root will form from the bottom (round) part of the ovum, which is why laying them down is better than dropping them in a hole. (See picture) H) 17 of 24 Green Seedlings with leaves germinated and are growing quickly still at 72F.

I germinate hundreds of seeds per year of many different plant species with a 60 to 90 % success rate depending on seeds. I attempted to germinate these using 6 different methods and never got one to germinate. These are either so old they are inert or were ruined from improper storage and/or harvesting. Look elsewhere for viable seed stock or better yet rooted cuttings. I might as well threw time,money and supplies in the trash.

This 20 seeds didn't germinate for me. I followed all the instructions. Not sure if it was the seeds or my lack of green thumb. Not sure what to do now, maybe i will go buy some black bamboo that is already growing.