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Unhappy bamboo!

heatherjtthomsonheatherjtthomson Posts: 20
in Problem solving
Hi everyone.   I am hoping to get some advice on some poorly looking phyllostachys Aureosulcata.  I bought 4 about 8 weeks ago and transferred them into large pots due to their invasive nature, however they are far from thriving!   They are looking thin, sparse and the leaves and all yellowing and dry.  Also the stems are turning reddish.   I have drilled drainage holes in the pots but the soil does feel quite moist when I dig down.   It has been raining  a lot here the last couple of days though.   Can anyone help me improve things ?

Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    They will take quite a while to establish their root system after transplanting.  It looks as if you have new canes coming thru on at least one of them. You don't say what size the original pots were nor what the root balls were like so that could have a bearing.
    The site will also affect them - wind especially when combined with sun can cause leaf scorch and withering.
    On the brighter side, they are extremely hard plants to kill so you may just have to be patient and wait for them to settle into their new home.
  • heatherjtthomsonheatherjtthomson Posts: 20
    Hi @phillipasmith2, thanks for your reply.   The were in 10l pots when I got them, not sure what the capacity is of the ones they are in now but they are a lot bigger.  They were a bit pot bound.    There's canes coming through in 3 of the 4, so hopefully that's a good sign.   Should I feed them do you think?  You may have hit the nail on the head though re the site, my garden can be both very sunny and very windy!  There's no part that is sheltered from either, except at the front of the house, but they would get very little sun at all there .  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think they look fine. They'll take a little time to settle and establish - the roots need to be well settled and then new growth gets going. Wind and sun will always affect existing foliage   :)
    Don't feed them - it isn't necessary.  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Your plants look exactly like mine at the moment - it's normal for the leaves to look a bit ragged after winter!  As long as you have used a soil based compost your plants should be fine for the next couple of years in the pots you have chosen. The reddish colour is normal in this variety in young and newly emerging canes before they turn yellow as they mature.

    Because of their position in a windy site, your bamboo will need regular watering to ensure that the compost is kept moist, but not waterlogged. The pots will also need to be elevated to ensure good drainage. 

    I feed my bamboo in the ground every spring with a few handfuls of blood fish and bone to encourage the formation and development of new culms (canes).  They grow over a period of about six weeks, starting usually in May, and not again until the following year.  It's even more important to feed them in pots - you'll only need one handful per pot.  Also, allow the falling leaves of the bamboo to accumulate at the base of the culms - the silica in the leaves provides them with extra nutrients.  Enjoy your bamboo!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • heatherjtthomsonheatherjtthomson Posts: 20
    Thanks for that!  I'll give them a wee feed and hopefully see them perk up over time.   ☺️
  • heatherjtthomsonheatherjtthomson Posts: 20
    Thanks Fairygirl - I was just worried I had done something wrong and would lose them 
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