We had a 6 ft black bamboo which first seemed to die off then sent up massive shoots to about 12ft. This flourished for a year and then showed signs of water starvation and the leaves died. We lifted it out of its large (2ft diameter)pot and it is seriously root bound so much so that the roots cannot be separated. Some of the roots look like black bamboo themselves. We are re-potting it and adding sharp sand but are at a loss as to whether or how we could separate the roots, except with a power saw. Can anybody suggest a way we can save this beautiful plant. Thanks Rachel

black bamboo from what i gather is not particularly hardy in UK but given a warm spot will probably do ok......i'd look for somewhere out of full sun but not completly shaded.....2 foot diameter is not very big for a healthy bamboo...the best container i found for the price was some black plastic things from homebase with more like 3 foot diameter...you need to leave a gap of at least 2 or 3 inches between the top of the container and the top of the compost...when watering you need to fill this gap with water....drainage holes needed of course...you need to water at least once a week ..preferably twice...dont try separating the roots...feed it through out the growing season...last winters very mild december and january followed by a very cold february was not ideal for your bamboo...they very classy though black stems...good luck..!!

"Eyebright" wrote in message
...

hrafndot Wrote:
We had a 6 ft black bamboo which first seemed to die off then sent up
massive shoots to about 12ft. This flourished for a year and then
showed signs of water starvation and the leaves died. We lifted it out
of its large (2ft diameter)pot and it is seriously root bound so much so
that the roots cannot be separated. Some of the roots look like black
bamboo themselves. We are re-potting it and adding sharp sand but are
at a loss as to whether or how we could separate the roots, except with
a power saw. Can anybody suggest a way we can save this beautiful
plant. Thanks Rachel

black bamboo from what i gather is not particularly hardy in UK but
given a warm spot will probably do ok......i'd look for somewhere out
of full sun but not completly shaded.....2 foot diameter is not very
big for a healthy bamboo...the best container i found for the price was
some black plastic things from homebase with more like 3 foot
diameter...you need to leave a gap of at least 2 or 3 inches between
the top of the container and the top of the compost...when watering you
need to fill this gap with water....drainage holes needed of
course...you need to water at least once a week ..preferably
twice...dont try separating the roots...feed it through out the growing
season...last winters very mild december and january followed by a very
cold february was not ideal for your bamboo...they very classy though
black stems...good luck..!!
--
Eyebright

I found bamboos a complete pain in pots and was watering at least twice a
day to prevent drying out (which they hate) since putting them in the ground
they have been fine, even poorly looking ones that had lost most of their
leaves recovered. The black stemmed ones is less vigorous than some but not
really tender, but without heat the stem colour may not be as black as it
can be.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Thanks for your advice, I will try a bigger container. If you think it is inadvisable to attempt to split this bamboo root system then I will abide by this advice, it woudl be a hefty task. We took it out of the pot yesterday to see what was going on and repotted it (in the same pot for the time being) with sharp sand. I think it is feeling more cheerful now it is warmer. There is still green showing in the leaves. Wish me luck.

Rachel

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Quote Eyebright[/i][/color]

I found bamboos a complete pain in pots and was watering at least twice a
day to prevent drying out (which they hate) since putting them in the ground
they have been fine, even poorly looking ones that had lost most of their
leaves recovered. The black stemmed ones is less vigorous than some but not
really tender, but without heat the stem colour may not be as black as it
can be.
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)[/quote]

Thanks for this Charlie, I am discovering how much of a pain they can be, but it is really rewarding to see shoots growing about 6" a day!!! The stems are a lovely black colour. I was scared of planting bamboo in the ground as I had heard horror stories and I believe that my particular bamboo is well capable of running rampant. I'm still scared but am willing to find a HUGE pot and find ways to keep it watered well. Its a very elegant plant. I'm waiting to find it waving its branches at my third floor neighbour. Have you ever tried splitting bamboo roots?

Rachel