Whats the maximum shooting load at a given time for bamboo?

[stevelau1911]

After an unusually wet and cool summer my moso has decided to add 12 shoots and counting on top of the original 6 from a couple of weeks ago which haven't finished growing yet. The plant only has 4 decent size culms. Last year this plant did the same exact thing in October, but all the shoots ended up aborting. My plant has lots of leaves, but this still looks like a lot.

culm# to shoot ratio is 8: 18,,,,,, if I take in that the comparison of the average shoot size, potential biomass generated is more like 1: 4.

Basically if it manages to put mature all it's shoots, this plant will look like a fargesia. Does anyone know if this is too much for it to handle? I'm hoping this plant doesn't just run out of shooting energy and abort all 12 shoots. I'm staking the culms apart to hopefully maximize the blade exposure to sunlight, hoping it can help out a little.

This plant has been actively absorbing energy since the end of May adding to it's leaf count, but not lately now as leaves are turning yellow and dropping from shooting stress.

I will pull out some of the smaller shoots if that will help ensure the success of rest of them.

[Matt in TN]

I'm pretty sure the bamboo knows better than we EVER will how many shoots it needs. Let it do its thing, and it will come to its own balance. I think you are over-thinking this too much.

[stevelau1911]

From what I've seen out of bamboos so far as well as what I've read, bamboos are only supposed to double their count in a given shooting. If this moso planting really knows what its doing, and can put up that many shoots which are progressively a little larger, I'll be really impressed. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the growth patterns of bamboo since it is by far the most fascinating plant I've ever grown.

I'm just concerned about this plant's energy reservoir getting drained since from the looks, there is no way its energy input from leaves and roots can match it's output which might mean lots of shoots aborting half way up.

The only thing I can do for now is leave it alone and hope it knows what its doing.

[Alan_L]

...from the looks, there is no way its energy input from leaves and roots can match it's output which might mean lots of shoots aborting half way up. The only thing I can do for now is leave it alone and hope it knows what its doing.

Steve, your enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge are great. Up until early this summer I was as worried and analytical as you about my young bamboo plants. Then I realized that although there are some things I can do to help them along, for the most part they'll do what they need to do at the speed they need to. Plus, there are a lot of unexpected factors that you can't plan for (critters, storms, etc.)

12 shoots on a small plant? If it were my plant I'd be REALLY EXCITED!! That's a lot of new leaves for energy production. Plus, a rabbit, squirrel, bird, or some other nibbler may take a few out for you anyway.

So I agree with Matt: RELAX. Observe, take notes and photos, enjoy the plants. Before you know it you'll be writing the "help! my bamboo is out of control!" posts.

[va_highlander]

Be not like the man from Song. Among the Song there was one who, concerned lest his corn not grow, pulled on them. Wearily, he returned home, and said to his family, "Today I am worn out. I helped the corn to grow." His son rushed out and looked at them. The corn was withered.

- Mencius, 3.2

[Steve in France]

Steve , what you will find is that Bamboos are all different , conditions , age , type and care , will make every Bamboo you grow act in a different way. There are a few rules that apply, one is if you want big Bamboo fast then put the work in, the other is if you just want to leave them to get on with it they will. Some Bamboos that are used for food/shoot production will abort a lot of shoots because they have been selected to produce more shoots than the Bamboo can support to maturity. Shanghai 3 is one and I presume Dulcis aborts a few shoots. Clumpers tend not to abort shoots unless the conditions are not right for the growth , like late Fall. When Bamboo are young they do weird things all the time, culm colours, blade size, culm direction and so on are often different from there mature state.
Like the guys say, relax , it will all be fine in the long run.
Best Wishes
Steve

[Matt in TN]

When Bamboo are young they do weird things all the time,

LOL - this goes for people too!

[kudzu9]

My record this year was with a Ph. bissetii which has been in the ground 3 years. The original plant had 3 culms, and was about 15' high. Year One: no shoots. Year Two: 3 shoots. This year: approximately 30-40 shoots. None were as big in diameter or height as the original culms, but they were decent size.

[Alan_L]

Hey kudzu, how far has your bissetii spread so far? (From the center of your original planting to the farthest new culm). It's hard to tell from the photo.

[kudzu9]

Alan=
The three largest culms in the center are the original ones and it's spread about 3' or so to either side in a pretty linear way (for scale, that box shape is 3' wide). There were also a few outlying culms that came forward several feet and back as well, but I removed about 1/2 dozen of those to bring the grove size down a little.

[stevelau1911]

It looks like bamboo can handle a much larger shooting load at 1 time than I thought since the original 18 are now leafing out now along with a few more that came around the middle of August, still growing. I think this excess of shoots might be related to the excess of rainfall this year. It appears to be done shooting now, but I'm hoping it doesn't start shooting again by mid September since that wouldn't be enough time to harden off for winter.

I'm hoping next spring I'll see more size instead of quantity.