Bamboo

I bought a bamboo - sorry I've forgotten what type - a couple of years ago, and put into a container. It started off OK, but this year looks decidedly unhappy. Don't know if it was the long winter, but there's not much new green growth. It's looking a bit straggly and yellowish.

Would re-potting it into a larger container help?

SageCat

[ 04. June 2006, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: SageCat ]

 

dont know if it helps but I have just bought a bamboo (fargesia) which specialises in these. I was told to plant it with a mixture of loam and horse manure and to feed it with lawn feed (not weed and feed) every few weeks. I told her mine would be in a container and i asked if a half barrel would be ok and she said thats about right so maybe it just needs to go in a huge pot and be fed? I am no expert in these things but maybe someone else here is.

 

Thanks for that! Into a bigger pot it shall go ............... and I'll try feeding it too! It'll think it's Christmas! :D

SageCat

 

bamboo will spread if not contained so it could be a bit pot bound. If so you could try spliting it.

 

Most plants that grow rapidly need suitable soil and lots of food. As the above gardeners say pot bound or hungry and perhaps a bit dry.

 

Bamboo likes a peat/soil(JI3)/compost mix and plenty of food in the growing season. Cut out all the spindley shoots as these remain the size they sprouted at and will not thicken. This promotes the production of stronger thicker canes and ultimately a healthier specimen. I also mix in mini bark which aids water retention and boosts the organic content of the container. Theres no great art to growing bamboo but if you let it dry out you are in big trouble and if its overwatered in stagnant soil the new shoots will rot before they have had a chance to sprout. If it is pot bound it is a good idea to split and reinvigorate with fresh growing mix. If you do go with JI3 in the mix don't put too much in becasue it can dry hard and trap the shoots underground.


:D :D
BM