Growing Phyllostachys aurea from rhizomes

[kunoichi2003]

Maybe I am doing something wrong but I just can't seem to get this bamboo to grow very well. I ordered a bunch of rhizomes off of e-bay. They came wraped in plastic bags and were moist. They looked ok to me. I planted them about 4 inches deep 6 weeks ago. It took about 2 weeks to get any sprouts at all. I have about 4 sprouts growing to gether in a clump and maybe 3 other sprouts spread out. They very from 1 inch to about 4 or 5 inches. Some places where I planted them have no sprouts at all yet. are thoese ones dead? They have been this way for a couple weeks. They do not seem to be growing any taller. Am I just being impatiant or is something wrong?

k.

Here are some pics of the bamboo. I think something ate the top off of one of them.

[sasa fool]

I see folks on ebay selling bare rhizomes this time of year and it really has the potential to be a let down for the buyers - in my opinion. Bare rhizomes when dug/planted so close to the post-shooting spring cycle are generally going to be a disappointment as they seldom have enough energy to be very rewarding to try and grow. If you purchase them from say February through March, you should find better results but after shooting season such as now they just are tough to get going.

About all you can do is to grown them in a decent potting soil and give them the appropriate amount of water, I tend to keep bare rhizome plants drier than wet as they can easily rot off. If you can get yours to produce a few culms that leaf out then they will slowly begin to generate some energy and slowly start to produce slightly larger culms but I think it is realistic for you to expect some fairly small plants for the next year or so.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi kunoichi,
Good to see that you have some growth from your rhizome cuttings. It is a "tricky business" to get rhizomes to succeed.

I agree with Brad to be careful not to over water the plantings at this stage, Don't let them wallow in their mire or they'll succomb to root rot.
You want to make them work for their living. In other words ... up to this stage their new growth has come from nutrients contained in the rhizome. Now they must send out roots and search for food and begin a life independent of the original rhizome section, which will eventually die off.
Of course, you don't want the soil to dry out. The plant will tell you when it is thirsty by curling it's leaves just like lawns do.

The new shoots will probably grow a little taller, growing side branches and unfurling leaves, but this will be as tall and large in diameter as the culms will ever get.
Now, hopefully there are some more viable buds on the rhizome sections that will grow new rhizomes, because it is these new rhizomes that will need to grow the next generation of shoots the following year.
If the rhizome cuttings do not grow new rhizomes, and if any remaining buds on the rhizome lose their viability, then what you can end up with is a planting that never grows new shoots and eventually dies when the existing top growth eventually dies.

How long were the rhizome sections?
Sometimes there can be better success with longer (healthy) rhizomes because the rhizome has more buds, and keeps some in reserve for the following year and for growing new rhizomes.

The other 'wait and see' issue will be how well Phyllostachys aurea survives your winters.
It is not as top hardy as the other species I mentioned in your thread: Can timber bamboo grow in Michigan? (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2452)

With a little help of some winter protection and a good snow cover, here's to wishing you success.
Do keep us posted on the progress of your bamboo.

Mark

[kunoichi2003]

The rhizomes were about 8 inches long. I did not really want to grow this bamboo but my boyfriend bought it as a present for me. He does not know hardly anything about bamboo. :) Not that I know a lot. So when I decide to buy bamboo again, should I buy a potted plant instead of just the the rhizome?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi k.,
Well the fact that this bamboo was a gift, that it's your first bamboo, and that you've got it growing makes this a special bamboo. :)

Hopefully your winter will be mild so that you will see your Phyllostachys aurea grow next year with vigor.
If not, well, you've had a great learning experience. ;)

A potted bamboo or field dug bamboo "can" assure a higher degree of success in getting started.
Potted bamboos can get quite pricey, though you can shop around for a size and price that fits your budget.

If you're going to get one this year, it's better to get it sooner rather than later, as the most important thing is for the plants root system to become well established before the onset of winter.
That way, even if you get some top dieback from a harsh winter, it should have sufficient energy reserves to send up new shoots next year.

The ideal time to get a bamboo is in early spring before the new shoots come up, because then your plant will have the potential to double in size with new shoots in the first year.
However, at this time of year, for most temperate cold hardy species, the new shoot season is pretty much over.
So your plant obtained now will mostly be focusing on root and rhizome development, (though it might grow a few small whipper-snappers).

Mark