Blue Bamboo - P.n. Henon in Alabama

[dickshaw5]

About a month ago I received a 5 gallon blue bamboo that I had ordered.
I planted it that day in a predug hole.......
Lo and behold........there is one large shoot about 18 inches high and a number of smaller shoots at it's base.....almost a cluster.
All shoots have elongated leaves.
There are three seperate shoots approximately 8 to 12 inches from the larger shoot.
What am I to do....remove the smaller shoots at the base of the large shoot...or leave them.
Is this normal for this time of year here in Bama country.
The bamboo was ordered from TyTy Nursery in GA.

Is this normal...........?
Photo of newly planted bamboo....
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/529/thumbs/DSC00008.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1366)

A beginner........in growing bamboo......which I have long admired..............having lived in Japan,Korea and VietNam...........for many years..........
Dick

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Dick,
Thanks for writing and all the best with your bamboo.
Here's some more photos of Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=529) at the Gallery Bamboo Flora.

It is thought that Henon is the mother species that the Phyllostachys nigra species came from ... Something about who and how plants are first named, as to why Henon is called Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' ...

It appears that you didn't have much above ground leaf growth on the plant when you received it, so you will need to rely on all new growth for the plant to sustain itself till next year, when the shoots natural emerging season is late spring.
Your plant is sending up small shoots now primarily as a survival instinct because it appears that the larger culm with leaf growth was probably cut off for shipping. (?)
If you have a root system with plenty of healthy rhizomes and don't over or under water, you'll be fine.

There's still enough of a growing season remaining in your region for these new shoots to harden up before frost comes ...

Hopefully by this time next year your plant will look like this pic, at which time you could optionally thin out some shoots.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/whole.jpg Phyllostachys aurea - by vinniedriver
See Thread Phyllostachys aurea shoots at angle? (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1471)

~ Mark

[dickshaw5]

Mark.......
Thanks for your rapid response and advice.
The mother bamboo did arrive leafless....the cane having been cut off.
Now,I understand.why I am having so many new shoots.
Since we have clay soil here in northern Alabama................I'll have to be careful in watering.
Particularly since the Henon being an evergreen....it'll need watering this winter.
I'm indeed looking forward to Spring.
I'm like a kid with a new play toy..............at 78.
Dick Shaw.................

[paulineisaachsen]

Hi Dick

Here's a tip. Bamboo is a dormant evergreen in winter so will not need watering, particularly in clay. The rhizome will rot if the ground is too wet at that time. But come spring it will probably need plenty of fertiliser with the rains, especially if the leaves are tatty.

cheers
Pauline

[dickshaw5]

Pauline.
Thank you for the tip about not watering in the winter.
I didn't know that........
Still in the 90's here.....just too hot....so I am watering the bamboo.....lots of shoots.
Dick

[dickshaw5]

I must have 15 shoots..some 24 inches long.
I wonder whether I should fertilize next Spring and if so...........what and how much.
Would 8 8 8 do...........
Dick

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Dick,
For continuity of discussion, this portion of your post in the thread ...
Pine needles mulch for bamboo? (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1553) has been moved to this thread about your new planting.
---------
Yes, 8-8-8 would be fine. This isn't a high strength fertilizer, so you shouldn't have any problems overdoing it and burning your plant.
I would sprinkle a cup of this / 2-3 handfuls around the planting once the weather warms up in early spring, and repeat this when the shoots come up.

It sounds like your bamboo is off to a good start.
The main thing now is for your shoots to produce their leaves and to harden up before the first frost comes along.

Mark

[dickshaw5]

Mark.
It was 25 degrees last night....now 35 degrees.
These are some of the photos I took............for you to scan.
Many of the browning leaves were blown or dropped off..only a few remain.
I hope your advice and decision is a happy one.
Dick

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/529/thumbs/100_0008.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=2852)

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Dick,
Your plant's looking good.
It will be interesting to see if the plant will produce just a few, hopefully larger culms, or numerous smaller culms, or both.
It's all up to the rhizomes now, and we'll soon see how well they have taken to their new home.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon is top hardy to about 0 F / -18 C.
Though leaf damage will occur before this temp, 20's F should not be a problem, and the new autumn leaf growth appears hardened off sufficiently.

Mark

[dickshaw5]

Mark.
Thanks for your quick reply.
Hopefully............the bamboo will take off when Spring arrives.
Right around the corner..............

Dick

[dharbu]

Dick, Although bamboos are evergreen, just remember that they replace their leaves each year. The old leaves will drop as the new spring leaves unroll. It is a good practice to leave the old leaves at the base of your plant. They are a good compost & offer the plant a source of silica which it needs to build strong culms ( stems). I bought a 3 gallon pot of Ph. nigra 'Henon' 2 years ago at the Southeast Chapter of ABS. It is currently about 6 ft tall & 5-6 ft in diameter with many culms here in northern Tennessee. I'm hoping for 10 ft plus culms this Spring. Phyllostachys species generally "shoot" in the Spring. I believe that a good organic mulch especially for new plants is very important to hold soil moisture & to keep the soil cooler in Summer. Good luck. phs

[dickshaw5]

dharbu
Your e aim reply gave me a sigh of relief........as I notice that more of the leaves were dscolored yesterday..........and would soon drop.
Your explanation.............restored my hopes that my bamboo would survive.
I'm a newbe at growing bamboo............but I have long admired it.and what can be done with it.
Thanks for taking the time to post an answer.
Dick

[dharbu]

Dick, Glad I could be of help. I spent a good part of the morning cleaning wet snow off our bamboos. They were bent to the ground from heavy icy snow from last night's storm. At least it wasn't pure ice. They will rebound as the snow melts but we may get more snow tonight and I didn't want to get any breakage. My plantings are only a few years old as I am new to this area. I've been messing with bamboo since '89...once the bug gets ya... Hope you can make the SE Chapter Spring meeting in Savannah next Sat Feb 18th. Check the ABS website under chapter info. The details are there. My wife & I plan to be there. It's a real interesting meeting. Regards, phs