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Is my Bamboo dead?

alan544alan544 Posts: 36
in Problem solving
I've had my bamboo for a few years now but it seems to have got a little sparse in recent months and doesn't look that good. I water as required and also started to feed every few weeks from around 2 months ago but nothing seems to be changing. There's no new growth and it doesn't look as green and luscious as when I bought. About a year ago I did move it into this spot which is sheltered and doesn't get that much sun. Previously it was in a part-sunny spot.

Any thoughts, ideas or help would be much appreciated.


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Has it ever been repotted with fresh compost?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • alan544alan544 Posts: 36
    Dovefromabove said:
    Has it ever been repotted with fresh compost?
    No. Do you think that's the first thing I try? Would a 50/50 mix of compost and John Innes 3 be good?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    edited June 2022
    I think it needs repotting Into a larger pot.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • alan544alan544 Posts: 36
    punkdoc said:
    I think it needs repotting Into a larger pot.
    But will I ultimately have the same issue in a year or two time when it gets too large for the pot? It's already pretty big.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    yes, you will. Or you could split it and make 2 pots and that would last for a while. But plants grow


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It certainly won't live for much longer as it is.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • alan544alan544 Posts: 36
    Thanks for everybody's input on this. I think I may go down the splitting it and making 2 pots route.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    If you don't have space for it in the ground and need to keep it in a pot, a wider pot would be better as the roots expand outwards rather than downwards to produce the new canes.  I'd use a soil based compost like John Innes No 3.  In pots bamboos need lots of water, even if it's been raining - not much rain will hit the soil surface in that sheltered corner. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged.  If you repot, lift the pot slightly off the ground with pot feet or similar so that the soil drains adequately.  Bamboos typically produce new canes for about six weeks in the UK from May to June.  If you repot you might encourage new growth this year.  Hope this helps.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • alan544alan544 Posts: 36
    Plantminded said:
    If you don't have space for it in the ground and need to keep it in a pot, a wider pot would be better as the roots expand outwards rather than downwards to produce the new canes.  I'd use a soil based compost like John Innes No 3.  In pots bamboos need lots of water, even if it's been raining - not much rain will hit the soil surface in that sheltered corner. The soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged.  If you repot, lift the pot slightly off the ground with pot feet or similar so that the soil drains adequately.  Bamboos typically produce new canes for about six weeks in the UK from May to June.  If you repot you might encourage new growth this year.  Hope this helps.
    Really appreciate this. Looks like a trip to find a pot. Ultimately I don't have too much room in the garden so I think your idea of a wider container may be the best plan.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    One other tip, you can improve the look of your bamboo now by removing any spindly or discoloured canes at base level - this will give the other canes more air and light and less competition for water and nutrients.  I'm just about ready to do this to all the bamboos in my borders.  I also trim all the leaves off the bottom third of all the canes so that you can appreciate the canes themselves - it looks like you may already have done this.  Your plant does look healthy but will appreciate some TLC!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


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