[killester]

I have 10 bamboo trees all in large pots for about 4 years. They seem to be in trouble, cananyone advise on the care of these trees,advice would be most welcome.
Cheers

[Belfast]

any photos?

[killester]

Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I went at them today and cut out all the dead branches,they look pretty bare at the moment. I will take some photos tomorrow and post them.
Cheers

[sal]

could they have outgrown the pots?

[ormondsview]

If they're dried out, they suffer. Cut the dead tops off and repot. Divide up if you can with a small spade or knife. Place them in a bowl that is filled with water and stones and keep wet. I lost several bamboo when they just dried out and they were beside the pond where the wind blows the spray at their tops. I overlooked their roots which were quite dense. They were from plant sales in August and the weather was too hot so their roots were probably damaged.

Sick plants sometimes recover in shade when nursed along with optimal watering, feeding, pruning and division. http://www.bamboogarden.com/care.htm

[killester]

Hi There,
I dont think the pots are the problem,Water or lack of it would appear to be the problem. I cut away all the dead branches and thinnrd in the process. Ihave watered well and will continue to do so, I am not sure what to feed them eith if you have any ideas that would be great.
Thanks.
L

[ormondsview]

All plants like natural fertilizer like manure watered down as a tea base. They get very strong on composted organic matter in the soil which gives nutrients lacking in the store bought perlite/vermiculite/ peat mixture that surrounds most potted plants. At last resort, you might have on hand some fertilizer from the store which has the larger and stronger doses of the major 3 components to growth. But take care to dilute it to minimal strength - a watery blue color a an eyedropper type feeding. Follow the package instructions.

Make friends with people who have bamboo. It grows rampant and gardeners just love to share. If your plant dies, do a trade with a friend.

[Lady Power]

Do you have anywhere to plant them out? I'm sure they've done great work for you til now,---bamboo is a very attractive plant and there's nothing quite like it in a landscape; perhaps they deserve a reward by being made permanent...good for hiding things ( depending on their height, of course) and they never seem to stop moving, even in the stillest wind conditions.