Dehydrated Bamboo

I recently visited my local supermarket and found three 'Phyllostachus Aurea' standing around six feet high in pretty dehydrated state, the leaves had faded to a very pale green and the soil/compost seemd to hold no moisture what-so-ever! These had a price tag of £29.99 but reduced to £3.00! So, i reasoned if I could save just one it would be a worthwhile investment. I gave them a good soaking once I got them home and now after a couple of weeks new shoots are sprouting out of the 10'' black plastic pots I found them in, sadly the foliage didn't recover and now is a pale straw colour but the canes are still green, so my question, will the canes grow new foliage or should i cut them back and allow the new shoots to become my new bargin buys!

Miko (interested in creating a Japanese garden)

 

The canes will not recover. The link to this supplier explains:
www.lewisbamboo.com/pages/how-bamboo-grows
The new shoots should establish.
You can harvest the old canes for use if they are thick enough for a purpose.
To preserve them, cut cleanly above the root and stand the canes in a bucket of salt water. Allow them to draw up the salty water for 3-4 weeks. Drain and dry in a airy shed for several months. They are best tied in a bundle and stood upright so as to remain strait. Beware sharp edges !

 

Thanks!

Do you have a suggestion for a smaller variety for a tsubo niwa, a small courtyard garden?

Miko

 

I've found all phyllostachys are fine in the ground, IF you are prepared to be vigilant and remove PDQ any runners you don't want.....except sasa palmata, that's a total thug and needs to be kept in a pot....on top of a concreted area...which is over 12 inches thick...and surrounded by men with machetes

 

Naturally, don't we all? Thanks for your suggestions

Miko

 

Ouch! that's quite a thing!

Miko

 

Today I noticed new shoots around the edge of the pots are coming on well, I was about to set about cutting away the older canes with their straw coloured dead leaves when I noticed there are new green shoot sprouting from behind the old dried out leaves! Seems there's life in the old canes yet!

Yaayy!!

Miko (three £30 potted bamboo plants for less than a tenner! Result)

 

Result indeed. And you'll always have them............