2 weeks ago I bought a Black Bamboo (nurtured for 4 years) it said on the label. I have repotted in a large pot done all the necessary (John Innes No 3.) Well watered. However Its leaves are turning brown and papery like they are dying. At the same time I bought the same version of the bamboo but with yellow stems, treated this exactly the same and this look healthy. It is an established looking plant, and it cost me a lot of cash I would hate to think it is dying What do you think. It is my first experience of Bamboos
May just be shock from transplanting. Are you keeping it nice and damp. I have a non clumping one confined to a pot that goes all papery and unhappy when it is short of water. I suspect you will get new shoots coming up soon and then you will be able to remove the ones that are no longer viable. The only time I managed to get hold of black babmboo was as a piece from one that was being dug out and it did not survive. Liz
Newly transplanted bamboos may undergo leaf drop initially. I know, it is very worrisome when it happens - it happened to me once with a specimen that cost me over $100.
Your right it is worrisome. I hope it will be ok, but it does seem to have happened to others, so I will perserver with it and hope for the best. Went and bought a specialist book about Bamboos and Grasses yesterday and would you believe it it does not mention anywhere the syptoms of my Bamboo. Grrrr.
Hi Freakygardner Leeds and Milton Keynes are not so far away from each other weather-wise, and I've had the same problems with my contained black bamboo. I've now lost nearly all the leaves off existing stems but after serious watering every day and two or three liquid feeds there are so far seven new shoots coming through. Other people have covered the possible reasons and solutions, but I hope to offer some encouragement based on our shared weather zone. I'm sure I've been caught out by an unusually dry and mild spring - I don't usually need to water nearly this much until May/June. The good news is that it's recovering well and I'm interested to know if yours is too; I hope so.
Milton Keynes! I used to work at the Milton Keynes Hospital! That was more than 20 years ago. But, hasn't the climate really changed over the last 20 years. A large bamboo like P nigra is never going to be happy in a container for long, unless it is a large container. It does not like to be root bound - it dries out too quickly. It's tough to kill a bamboo, but two of the sure ways to do it are (a.) drown it (b.) dry it out. Bamboo is a grass. So, I think of the lawn - brown and crisp when left to dry, mushy and soggy when flooded for too long.
Thanks this is the most encouraging news I have had. At the moment mine is still droping its leaves with no sign of improvement.