The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[BooNanners]

I was looking for a thread where online bamboo vendors and peoples experiences with them was discussed. I thought if anyplace could rate vendors and their plants, this would be the place. If such a thread exists a link would be appreciated and if not please share your experiences. Thanks

[Markj]

Ive heard that TY TY are a little off the mark

[southlatropical]

Avoid ebay sellers. Tropicalbamboo.com is where I've gotten most of mine from. I've bought 6 three gallon plants from them. Only once was I disapointed with the size/health of the plant (it is doing fine and putting up new growth).

[Rex]

I wouldn't rule eBay out entirely. Some of my healthiest plants came from eBay!

[BooNanners]

I would guess that some ebay sellers being smaller than commercial growers can give their plants better attention. I've seen short, sparsely leafed neglected plants from a commercial grower that required intensive care. Timing would also affect quality, later in the season stock may be picked over more so that early Spring. Fortunately bamboo is so resilient that it can almost always be revived with the proper care and conditions. Still I'm tempted to try some boo from Cali. just to see how it compares.

[kudzu9]

I have found the web site "GardenWatchdog" to be incredibly valuable for checking the reputations of online nurseries, including those that specialize in bamboo. Here is the link: http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/

In addition, I can say that most of the major bamboo nurseries I have ordered from or dealt with are reputable...unlike a number of the more general nurseries. In addition, as far as I am aware, the bamboo nurseries that are members of the American Bamboo Society (ABS) are generally reliable. Here is the link:
http://www.americanbamboo.org/SpeciesSo ... urces.html

Finally, if you have specific interests and could share them, maybe we could make more specific recommendations.

[moriphen]

Kudzu is dead on, I only buy from ABS members or if I can go on site and buy the bamboo at the nursery. Otherwise I really don't know if what I am getting in the mail is what I actually ordered. I figure that if a ABS nursery cares enough about their reputation to join a organization dedicated to promoting bamboo. They would care enough to not sell me dead/sick plants.

[BooNanners]

Kudzu that site is awesome and just what I was looking for, many thanks.

[BooNanners]

Finally, if you have specific interests and could share them, maybe we could make more specific recommendations.

My interest specifically was in acquiring "Daikokuchiku" or Giant Black, a Cali. clone, my thinking being Cali. would be the place to get it from and thus a reputable Cali. bamboo source would be good to know. I'm also curious as to whether the same species appears or grows differently coming from different parts of the country.

[va_highlander]

I have purchased from MidAtlantic Bamboo and have no complaints:

http://www.midatlanticbamboo.com/

They have Daikokuchiku, though I have not purchased that particular cultivar.

[foxd]

BooNanners, I would avoid sites not listed on GardenWatchDog, such as TyTy. TyTy threatened to sue in order to have the reviews removed because they were so bad, though they were entertaining reading.

[ghmerrill]

If you are just looking at getting one plant, you probalby are not going to have issues. I ordered several plants a couple of times from two different sources, and one, which I was able to hand pick the plants, I had no problems with. the other, first order was awsome, the second full of what looked to be leftovers after everything was picked through. I dont know if it was because of that order being later in the year, or what. Bottom line, if you are cheap like me, and are ordering one gallon plants, dont expect alot... if you order 3 gal or larger, you should get a good plant no matter who you order from, if they are an ABS member.