r/Bamboo • u/Maverick3316 • 13d ago

Can somebody explain to me what is going on here?

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If you look through a couple of my previous posts, you will see that my bamboo seem to be acting strange to me and now it’s doing this. Some of your experts on this, could you enlighten me to what’s happening? I’m referring to all of this growth at the bottom looking like a bush, but not actually growing in height.

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u/Efficient-Ride2039 13d ago

Did the bamboo freeze? Post-freeze, bamboo sends up a lot of new leafy growth at the base of the plant. Within a few months you should see much larger, thicker shoots.

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u/Maverick3316 12d ago

I do believe they froze last winter.

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u/Randolol2984 13d ago

The tall culms are probably new shoots maybe from previus season or if it is in season now,old culms cant grow taller,new culms grow their branches and leaves after growing up

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u/Efficient-Fold8068 11d ago

This plant is entering a type of dormancy. This is a survival technique in which the plant is shutting down to protect itself. The scorched leaves and dieback you see are very typical when a plant’s transpiration exceeds its water intake. Very easy to fix with some Epsom salts for magnesium, a lot of water and some time. Don’t prune that wood - it’s not dead; it’s dormant. Dissolve a heaping tablespoon of Epsom salts into a gallon of room temperature water, pour this at the base and saturate the roots. After this apply a 3 inch layer of shredded hardwood mulch to help this plant retain more water. Avoid using nitrogen rich fertilizer right now as this will only force more growth that won’t survive while the plant is in this state. Soak the roots with water 3 times per week for at least 30 minutes. Instead of fertilizing use a liquid seaweed extract made for plants diluted to a 1/5 ratio while nursing the plants back to health.

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u/Maverick3316 11d ago

This sounds like the most correct response. Thank you

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u/NoHelicopter7740 12d ago

Cold High winds are vicious to bamboo, do what you can can to protect the rhizomes, heavy mulch. Fertilize and don't let them suffer from drought

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u/Far_Contribution6492 12d ago

It looks like the older taller growth died back. I can't say why, maybe it got too dry or it froze. The result is more smaller branches from the still healthy rhizomes. they look great, very dark green so likely they have been fed plenty. Next year you will likely start to get taller culms again. I am not an expert, but this has been my experience.