This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Bamboo failing
lscbrydges
Posts: 12
in Plants
Hello
I wondered if someone could help. About 6 months ago, I planted three large bamboos in the flowerbed, each in large containers with holes in (following advice I was given about root spread). The buckets have lots of holes in them for drainage. I'm watering them often, but they are looking very sorry for themselves. Dropping leaves, thin, pale, brown. For comparison, I also planted one in a large terracotta container just next door, which is doing very well. And another in the same flower bed, straight into the soil That's doing well too. So... its obviously something to do with the big ones being in containers. But what to do!? I've been told not to take them out of the containers but they're clearly not doing well... thoughts?!
I wondered if someone could help. About 6 months ago, I planted three large bamboos in the flowerbed, each in large containers with holes in (following advice I was given about root spread). The buckets have lots of holes in them for drainage. I'm watering them often, but they are looking very sorry for themselves. Dropping leaves, thin, pale, brown. For comparison, I also planted one in a large terracotta container just next door, which is doing very well. And another in the same flower bed, straight into the soil That's doing well too. So... its obviously something to do with the big ones being in containers. But what to do!? I've been told not to take them out of the containers but they're clearly not doing well... thoughts?!
0
Posts
How much bigger than the rootball are the containers that you buried your bamboos in? It may be that their growth is being restricted because they don't have enough growing space - the roots spread out laterally to produce new canes. Having said that, they don't look too bad. It's quite common for bamboos to loose leaves in dry windy weather, you'll just need to make sure that the soil is kept damp but not waterlogged.
I think the bamboo in your container on the left is a different species, possibly a Fargesia. They have a different growing habit which is lower, denser and more leafy, hence the difference in appearance. I wouldn't be too worried at this stage about your other bamboos unless you know that the containers that they are in are on the small side. If so you'll need increase the size of your containers and use a soil based medium rather than compost for them to do well.
If it is, it forms clumps, not shoots, so I'd get it out the containers and put it straight in the ground with plenty of water and a trim. They need root room, and you can keep them the size you want by taking out a few outside stems.