Unhappy bamboo

robmar · 25 February

Hi all,
I've had this bamboo for a couple of years. Last year many of the stems started dying off; I've pruned them. The rest doesn't seem much healthier.

I repotted it after I bought it. It lives in a partly shaded area, and gets plenty of water. It does get standing water in the tray (from rain), but the pot has a few centimeters of stones to help prevent waterlogging the roots.

Does anyone have an idea what I can do to try and save it (it was relatively expensive)? I'm tempted to cut all stems off and see what grows back...

Thanks in advance

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/7i/nrm5vwoch5av.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/33/w4bptrinha0i.jpg

clematisdorset · 25 February

I think the saucer of standing water needs to be removed. Tip up the bamboo and check the roots under the pot. They will probably be rotting. Has it been standing on the saucer for months?

Fairygirl · 25 February

They aren't ideal for pots- especially such a small one, so it'll need potted on.
The roots will probably be reaching the water too. They like lots of moisture, but that isn't the same as sitting in it permanently. Decent soil, but also drainage. It might need a bit more sun than you're giving it as well.

ViewAhead · 25 February

They are quite hungry plants, so if kept in a pot, they do need an annual slow release fertiliser in spring.

Plantminded · 25 February

That looks like a variety of Fargesia which is quite slow growing and it prefers shade. I would repot it in a wider pot, using a soil based compost like John Innes no 3 with some added grit to help drainage. Keep the compost moist but not wet. You could also remove some of the thinnest leafless canes at the base now to improve the appearance of the plant and encourage new canes to form in spring. I often reduce the number of canes on my bamboos quite dramatically by two thirds to encourage better, stronger canes to form.

robmar · 25 February

Thanks everyone for the hints!

I'll remove the saucer and check the roots when I repot. If any roots are rotten, is it game-over, or can it recover? (Can you trim them?)

Current pot is 40cm across, 30cm deep. I could repot in one 60cm across, 40cm deep.

Wierdly, the German garden/DIY stores don't seem to have anything like horticultural grit, I suppose I can use play-sand instead (it's supposed to be low-lime), or try to find some fine-grain building or decorative gravel.

Plantminded · 25 February

Yes, you can trim the roots without harming the plant. That pot should be fine for a while. I wouldn’t add sand, there will already be some in the soil based compost. A handful of gravel or pea shingle will help. Keep your pot elevated on pot feet or similar to aid drainage and good luck with it!

greatnorthernexotic · 26 February

I'd agree with what others have said - remove the tray so it can drain freely, make sure you feed regularly in summer, but also consider dividing the clump every couple of years so the new, thicker culms have space to spread into.

thevictorian · 26 February

It looks like a fargesia to me as well and it's likely F. rufa which I have had for many years. I kept some in a pot and it did really well but it's much happier in the garden where it's an easy to control, non running species.

Unhappy bamboo

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