Black Bamboo

[rutters]

I've just received some bamboo plants throught he post but whan I opened them the leaves were either dropped off, yellow or curled with brown tips!!

I have notified the company but does anyone know if this is expected for this time of year? is there anything I can do for them? where do they like to be?

btw They are about a foot tall with spindly stems

cheers

[rutters]

[worldor]

I had the same experienc last year. I put it into a large pot and planted bulbs round it. It has done very little this year but does still seem to have some life left in it. Whilst waiting for the bulbs to come up I have top planted the pot with violas. Not sure if I am doing the wrong thing in putting other plants in there though.

[Andy H]

I had a LARGE TALL clump of bamboo given to me and I let it dry out and it died, the next one I got was ok, they seem to do nothing but they have growth spurts above ground then as they seem to do nothing they are growing under ground. Other bamboos are different and I am no expert.
I would stick it in the ground and feed it and wait. I know in sandy soil they can spread fast.
Someone else will be able to help.

Lovely stuff bamboo. Wish we could grow the BIG stuff over here, so useful.

[Mrs Ava]

I brought a black bamboo 2 years ago - paid £40 for about 6 spindly, rather iffy stems.  But I wanted it and the chap in the store told me not to worry - they get chilled on the lorries and will shed their leaves, but get it in, plenty of organic matter in the ground, and they like to be good and wet. 

I did as I was told and now it is HUGE!  It is glorious with ebony black stems, some thicker than my fingers!  The leaves bring me out in a rash, but the noise as the wind blows through it is amazing!