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black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)

5vm6ndvv2s753825vm6ndvv2s75382 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
I have four black bamboo plants which have been next to each other in containers for about 5 years. They are suddenly all flowering now and have no leaves. What has caused them to flower at the same time? I've read that this is the end of their life but can I do anything about this or is it too late to save them? 

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our Phyllostachys bambusoides flowered some years ago and then gone.
    This year another one has done the same. They have been growing in our garden for some decades.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I must go and look at mine


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    My understanding, is that all the Black Bamboos in gardens are clones of one original plant, so they will all flower at the same time. 
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I too thought they all flowered in the same year
    I read on a Tropical Facebook group last year that many flowered, I saw one in a group of 4 in flower, but mine didn't , nor has it flowered this year.

    Devon.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    My remaining one has not flowered but another did flower a couple of years ago then died. It seems to be the life cycle of this bamboo. My remaining one needs sorting out, repotting, and fresh compost, it has grown sparsely so I am not sure if I am going to try and keep it going or bin it. I will probably give it one more go.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
     Just a thought … I don’t grow bamboo … has anyone tried taking root cuttings of these? I wondered if that would work if they die after flowering? 

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





  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    There was a black bamboo flowering event that started in 2008 I believe. They don't seem to flower at exactly the same time but over a period of a couple of years. They don't all seem to flower at the same time, it seems to depend on size and health but I suspect some are not exactly what they seem and in fact a slightly different species.
    I have a black bamboo, supposedly, phyllostachys nigra that is quite mature but it's not shown any signs of flowering yet. If it does flower then it's not automatically the end though as they don't always die off completely from what I have seen and they often reproduce sexually.    
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    How can a plant reproduce sexually?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    punkdoc said:
    How can a plant reproduce sexually?

    Through pollination, or at least that's the way I've seen it described over the years unless that's not the correct term.

    In terms of bamboo I believe some species are self fertile so won't need to be pollinated from another plant but they could be pollinated by another if there is one close by. I also know that some species require insects to reproduce but most use the wind. 
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