Willow87

For some reason my bamboo hasn't grown much this year. Its been very hot and I've watered it every other day some weeks. Its on the east side of my house so it gets morning and mid afternoon sun. It doesn't seem to be getting any taller. I also forgot what variety it is. I thought it was Moso but I think I'm wrong. Someone may have identified if already.

1st Clump


2nd Clump

seathingie

Bamboo grows differently than many other plants. When it shoots up is reaches its maximum diameter and height quickly and does not continue to grow. The rhizomes and roots below the ground grow and the next shoots (probably next spring) will be bigger.

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Eric
Davenport (near Santa Cruz), California
Sunset Zone 16
USDA Zone 10b


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ladyflyfsh

Bamboo is a grass, hence likes to be watered a lot! The more you water it the better it grows. It also likes full sun. My bamboo has grown like mad this summer but it has had a lot of water as I water it every day and then when it rains that's a bonus!

seathingie

I'm sorry to say that I don't know the variety.

I want to offer you a couple tips: leave the leaves that fall on the ground as mulch at the base of the plant. Since none are there yet, you may wish to add some orchid bark to provide a mulch. The bamboo likes that. It also likes fertilizer. The plant will show it's thankfullness next spring with fatter and taller shoots! :-)

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Eric
Davenport (near Santa Cruz), California
Sunset Zone 16
USDA Zone 10b


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seathingie

Some varieties of bamboo do not like full sun.

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Eric
Davenport (near Santa Cruz), California
Sunset Zone 16
USDA Zone 10b


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Willow87

Thank you both for the info. My soil is very poor and here we are having a drought. I hope next spring it starts to spread more. Should I put composted manure around it?

Willow87

I added some leaves last winter for extra protection but they completely decomposed a couple of months ago. I have a few large trees that drop tons of leaves but I never rake them up

seathingie

Composted manure is good.

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Eric
Davenport (near Santa Cruz), California
Sunset Zone 16
USDA Zone 10b


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jwmahloch

Your Bamboo looks a lot like mine. I moved this year and transplanted some from my old house that was 4 years old.

If you just planted it this year it will take a couple years to get established, just be patient. Bamboo is grass so you can use turf fertilizer on it. I fertilize mine once a month during the growing season and water every other day or so depending on the weather.

It also would help to use some mulch, fine pine bark mulch is what I use. and if any leaves fall just leave them on the ground.

good luck,

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Jeremy

Willow87

Thanks. I just planted it in the ground last November. I guess i need to get a bag or 2 of mulch since the soil gets dry fast in this heat. I'll also look for some turf fertilizer.

RobG7aChattTN

The first year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps! Sometimes it actually sulks for more than a year. You should never expect growth until spring. It is growing under ground. In spring it will send up a few small shoots. Usually the next spring you will get a few more and they should be taller. Often on the third spring you will see dramatic growth and shoots popping up several feet away. You certainly don't want to plant a running bamboo so close to your house, especially moso. You need to put it out in a very open area and expect it to really spread. My moso keeps shooting too early and the first shoots get killed by late frosts. Then it sends up smaller, secondary shoots to replace the ones that got zapped. It has been really slow to establish for me. If you put lots of composted manure and mulch around the base and water often you will see dramatic growth the soonest, but you might want to wait and move it in the spring in a more isolated spot with manure tilled into the ground.

RobG7aChattTN

If it is moso then when it does shoot the culms will have a little peach fuzz on them, if not then you will know that it isn't moso.

sib

I bought a few different bamboos this spring a regular black, giant black, henon and bory they have all sent up shoots this spring and early summer which I was very surprised to see so many shoots come up. The regular black has sent up 8 new shoots, it is in a large pot. All of them are in pots except the giant black (Daikokuchiku) it is in a large open area in the ground and has sent up 3 new good sized shoots. I also have a tropical bamboo in a pot bambusa chungii which only sent up 1 good sized (thick) shoot. I have found chicken manure which I bought at Fred Meyers works wonders for bamboo. I make a liquid fertilizer out of it by putting some in a bucket and adding water and stirring it up and then pouring it around the bamboo. Watering often when it is not raining. I am very happy and surprised with how well all of them in this their first year have grown. I bought them all in 5 gallon pots and they were all shipped to me at about 3-5 feet tall.
Sib

Willow87

I think the new shoots did have a little peach fuzz on them. I looked through a few pictures of Moso, Water Bamboo and another type and they all look the same lol. The canes have hairs coming out of the stems

Willow87

Here is a picture of the new shoots that I found this morning

RobG7aChattTN

Sometimes they will shoot in fall if they are new divisions. If it is moso the fuzz will be on the culms when the leaf sheaths are shed. So, when it looks like "bamboo" (with the nodes and all) if there is a slight peachfuzz then you have moso.

Willow87

Thanks Rob. I was surprised to see new shoots. After I put some leaves and dead grass around both clumps, the shoots popped up.

jwmahloch

My cat loves to eat my bamboo!!!!!!! She will wait at the back door for me to go outside and pick some leaves off for her.

Attached Images

Iphone Pictures 160.jpg (1.27 MB, 9 views)

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Jeremy

Willow87

LOL wow she is so cute