Leggy 2-gallon Harbin Inversa

[jpluddite]

Howdy folks.

I just bought a few 2-gallon harbin inversas. Actually, they were 2-gallon last year and this year produced a couple shoots a piece (in their pots). The shoots are probably 12 feet long, but very leggy--no way they stand on their own.

I'm getting ready to put them in the ground. Any advice for what I should do to optimize next year's shoots? Should I top them? Stake them?

Thanks for the input.

By the way, Gary--the bamboo fanatic--in Pasadena, MD is liquidating his stock. The more you buy, the cheaper the prices. I took a friend with me yesterday and he bought : #5 atrovaginata, #7 parvifolia, #7 solid stem, #7 Robert Young, #7 makinoi, #5 Spectabilis, #2 rubro, #2 Lama Temple, a 5.5 foot tall Japanese maple, plus one plant, all for $200. Each of those boo were healthy, well-rooted, multiple-culm plants. [The inversas I bought had been fairly well shaded by the other bigger plants which is why they are so leggy.]

Gary has a few big ones left and several smaller, including many clumpers. If you live near Pasadena, it might be worth your time.

jp

[canadianplant]

Usually when things get leggy its lack of light. Im assuming youre smart enough not to put these guys in shade, so I may have to assume it was over fertlized? The shoots may just not have had enough room to really grow.

IF you want to get NEXT years growth going, you need to amend your soil. They like loose soil high in organic matter. Bamboo is a grass, and grass LOVES nitrogen. You can use well rotten manure to charge up the nitrogen levels. Work some manure/compost/blood and bone into the area where you think the boo will spread (most plants roots are in the top 2 feet of the soil, and bamboo are fairly shallow rooted). DOnt pack it down too tight.

[jpluddite]

Hi Canadianplant.

I just bought these from a guy whose yard was a bit overwhelmed with potted boo, since he was retiring from business and was trying to save as many plants as he could. That's why they're leggy--the were being shaded by larger plants.

Do you think I should top them before I put them in the ground?

[canadianplant]

Ahh, that makes sence then.

I dont top my bamboo, even after dieback (just a personal preference to me). I do know that the more leaf area, th ebetter chance of upsize next year. I would try to leave them, just stake them myself. I know its only a few culms but, the rizomes need all the startch it can get.

Also, be aware that it might shoot when you plant it. All my bamboo have so far.

[sully0family]

How funny. You must be the one Gary was telling me about: "a couple of great guys came down and were very excited and knowledgeable about Bamboo". Gary is a great guy. I bought off him in the spring, and back then he told me he was closing shop. I figured I'd give him one more shot and he ended up having what I wanted (Fargesias) which are on their way
Sorry, I don't have any knowledge on your Harbin.

[bamboothew]

I wouldn't think there is any good reason to top those culms, since even if they are so floppy they just lie on the ground they still have green leaves contributing food to the plant!

Sorry to hear that Gary is closing shop, I have had dealings with him and he has great plants at reasonable prices! He has rare plants too, being one of only a couple of guys I have heard about that has sold kwangsiensis seedlings. Wish he were within driving distance for me!

[jpluddite]

Update:

I didn't top the inversas. I put them in the ground an each of them put up several whipish, YG-looking shoots relatively close to the parent a couple weeks after. The next season, they all put up yellow culms close to the parent. Only one of them had any upsize, and it was minor.

[Sirius]

I bought an auriocaulis and a vivax last year. Both very leggy.
I suspect it was some small shoots from a spindly rhizome that had been potted up.
Mulched well last autumn so am hoping this season's growth will have more vigour. I will eventually cut out the thin, floppy culms.