Bamboo Advice

lily6

I planted 3 bamboo, Fargesia Red Dragon 4 weeks ago they are 1 metre tall. They are in a beautiful old cattle water trough in John Innes no. 3, in dappled shade with a fence panel and wall behind them. The compost is moist on poking a finger down into it. My concern is the brown leaves, which are appearing further down the stems from fresh new green leaves. The trough and plants were a Mother's Day gift from my lovely Hubby, he set up micro irrigation from the mains tap, am I being paranoid or could it be simply the bamboos don't like our tap water? Any advice is very welcome I really want them to flourish and cover over said fence panel. Thanks everyone for reading my waffle! 

Theveggardener

lily6 I have two Bamboo's in very big tubs. We had them over by a fence and I notice the leave were turning brown and dropping off. It could be they are to close to the fence also what do you feed them with, I use lawn feed and in this weather give them at least a bucket of water every evening. I'm fairly new to gardening so I'm hopping someone who knows about them will be along and able to advise you better than I can. 

lily6

Hi Dee73 I haven't fed them yet,, they are planted in new compost I figured there should be enough nutrition in there for 6 weeks or so and didn't want to overfeed, but maybe thats wrong! 

Theveggardener

Lily6 mine are around 8ft tall and at least 8 years old that's why I feed mine. I wouldn't feed them yet but as I said I don't know a lot about bamboo. Do you have drainage hole in the bottom of in the cattle trough because although they need watering they don't want them to be water logged. I'm fighting with mine at the moment due to this hot weather.

Lizzie27

Dee73, I wouldn't have thought bamboos need any feeding, they are very vigorous plants and don't need much encouragement to shoot skyhigh!  I could well be wrong though and hopefully a better informed poster will advise.
Lily6, drainage holes are a must.

lily6

Thanks both! Yes lots of drainage holes drilled before the trough was filled up. I have a confession, I have gardened professionally for 30 years, however I really know nothing about Fargesia species of Bamboo and have no experience of growing bamboo in any kind of container. It would be awful if these babies die on me, not to mention the embarrassment. Any further advice is very welcome! 

Theveggardener

Lizzie27 That was the advise given to me by a nursery man, he said the were the same as grass but maybe he and are are both wrong but up till now I have always fed them.

Lizzie27

That's strange Dee, I may well be wrong of course. I've never fed mine in 10 years (although to be honest, I must confess they have died on me this year!!!).

Lily6. It occurs to me that the brown leaves on the lower part may be just old ones that are being shed to make way for the new? I would perhaps shut off the water for a couple of days at least and watch what happens. Fargesia is largely evergreen and evergreens do drop their old leaves around now.

lily6

Hi Lizzie27, that makes perfect sense, I am maybe over thinking and am just a little obsessed .I have just had a little readup about Bamboo in general, their growth season is May to August so you could be absolutely right, they do look quite sad  I've turned the irrigation off and will watch them carefully over the next few days. 

Theveggardener

Found this on the RHS web site.

Watering and Feeding

• Water regularly during dry periods
• Bamboos require a high level of nitrogen in spring and a balanced fertiliser through the rest of the growing season until late August
• Allow bamboo leaves around the plants. This foliage contains silica which helps provide strength and stability

lily6

Thank you Dee73 that's a huge help I will follow the advice!