Nebraska Bamboo Experiment

12 years ago

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and bamboo. I would like to get some advice as I have recently begun experimenting with bamboo. Last week we had a bit of a heat wave (50F) so i took the oportunity to get some bamboo, as I have always wanted to grow it.

I picked up some Phyllostachys nigra (picture attached), nuda, and aureosulcata (Black, nude sheath, and yellow grove) as well as Fargesia nitida (Blue Fountain).

All of the Phyllostachys were 1 gallon plants which had been grown in those pots for about 9 months. Upon getting them I have transferred them all to 3 gallon pots and topped the soil with small stone to help keep moisture in. I keep these indoors in a room with a lot of natural light, in addition to two grow lights that are shining on the plants. I also mist the leaves with water once a day. So far the nude sheath has remained looking as it did when i first potted it (alive and relatively healthy). The yellow grove seems to be doing very well as the leaves have greened up more since the re-potting. However, when I came home earlier this week the black bamboo had a bunch of leaves yellow and grey with some falling off. I quickly watered it more to make sure that it had enough, and the following day it seemed that no more color was lost nor were any more leaves lost. Any suggestions on if there is something else that i can do to keep this little bamboo alive?

My plan is to grow all of these in pots for a year or two, then the nude sheath and blue fountain will go into the ground (as both are rated hardy to -20). the nude sheath to a sunny location and the blue fountain to a shady area. The black and yellow grove will eventually go into much bigger pots and be divided as needed (the yellow grove may also go into the ground as I have heard many people have great success with this one in zone 5). I want to keep these in pots for now as they just don't feel established enough yet to survive a Nebraska winter (when the time comes I plan to mulch at least 8 inches).

Has anyone tried this before, or opinions on growing in a container for a while before moving it into the ground?

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Comments (6)

kentuck_8b
12 years ago
They need good light inside a house and also the air is usually too dry so you may need a humidifier to keep the air moist.

I prefer to grow mine in pots for long periods before putting them in the ground. However here, most can stay outside even during the Winter but I will try to put them in greenhouses on the coldest of nights.

In a year or so, I plant them outdoors in the ground.

Kt
dbarron
12 years ago
Yes, I can't say I've ever tried..but I don't think they're going to be happy as houseplants. Like most hardy plants, I believe they're going to require winter cooling/dormancy.
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YourDudeness
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the advice. Do you know, when they are dormant/resting, do they still need full sun? I know with trees and most shurbs, that when dormant, they do not need sun, but bamboo is a much different plant. I will have them outside by March (maybe sooner), but will need to work on how to protect them next winter.
dbarron
12 years ago
I generally assume photosynthesis is occurring anytime it's above freezing (for sure)...but I'm sure the needs and rate is much slower during sub-freezing temps.
What part of Nebraska are you ? I lived in Columbus for 3 years and don't think that most of these bamboos would make it there. In particular the wind when temps are below freezing would be murder on the growth. You might lose the canes each winter and never get any size (at best).
I'd advise sitting with protection from wind (and shelter against a warm wall if possible). I never did care for the anti-dessication sprays...but you might look into them.

Even in zone 7A in Oklahoma, I had winter dieback sometimes on P nigra. I haven't tried any of the fargesias though I had the nuda and aureosulcata.
I believe they're all rated above your zone, nigra:7, aureosulcata & nuda:6. It's fun to try, but w/o a microzone, I don't think you're going to get more than maybe 5 foot culms.
YourDudeness
Original Author
12 years ago
I'm just south west of Omaha (in Papillion) zone 5b. Where I am planning to put the nuda will have a good bit of protection from the wind, but i will definitely look into the anti-dessicantion spray. I am still a year or two out from putting it in the ground though. My nuda already has canes that are 6-7' tall, but only two of them. So I am going to container grow it for a year or two to make sure it is nice and healthy.

The blue fountain will go in a nice shady nook created by the house and the deck, which also blocks it from most wind.

As for the other two, I will be looking to keep those in containers and overwinter them in the basement. It is usually around 35-40F down there and gets filtered sunlight. If anyone knows for sure if they need full sun, I can also add in some LED grow lights on a timer (similar to what I am using now).

Thanks!
Jeremy Hintz
8 years ago
Are you still in the Papillion area? Was looking for a close bamboo grower to see how your plants have been doing. I live up by lauritzen gardens.