New shoots from the Phyllostachys aurea in Late Oct!

[wannabRN]

Hello every one,

I bought a new Phyllostachys aurea bamboo plant from Ebay 3 weeks ago, it came with two half inch culms, no foliage at all but with a nice size rootball...

I planted it in partial shade kind of half under a big oak tree and gave the best TLC I know how to this bamboo for the last 3 weeks...

In the last few days, I noticed there are 4 little shoots popping out in the base of this bamboo and one has grew to about 3 inched tall of course I am excited just like the pround dad of a new born baby!

Here is my question

There is only about 2-3 weeks before our first frost of the year ( even we still have the mid 80's temps ) will these little shoots survive and will they make any leaves ? if not, what should I do to them ?

I also purchased a Pseudosasa japonica and it has put up new sheaths on both of the culms, will they continuely grow when the temp goes down to frost ?

Any advice will all be greatly appreciated

Rog from AR

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Rog,
Hmmm, it is getting a bit late in the season if your bamboo start has no leaves.
What is your typical winter minimum temperature?
You may need to rely on a healthy rhizome /root system to produce new shoots next spring.

Generally fresh growth of new shoots and leaves of Phyllostachys species will tolerate a light frost or temps somewhere around the mid 20's F /- 4 C before serious damage occurs ...

You can apply extra mulch around the plant to help prevent heaving of the rootball brought on by freezes and thaws ...

One method of protecting a cold sensitive plant is to install a chicken wire cage around the planting and fill up the interior with leaves /straw etc.
Anything with air spaces provides better insulation then compacted materials.
One has to be careful not to add anything that has seeds in it that would attract mice or voles, as they may find it an ideal place to overwinter and chew off any growth.
--------
I also purchased a Pseudosasa japonica and it has put up new sheaths on both of the culms, will they continuely grow when the temp goes down to frost ?

An establish planting becomes more acclimated to the growing season, whereas a new planting tries it's darndest to keep growing till it can't.

In both scenarios, once frost comes, that's their signal that the times they are a changing, though here in Central Texas, winters can be so erratic that the bamboo doesn't know whether they should be culming or going to sleep.

I hope your plants survive the winter! Let us know how it goes.

~ Mark