By Barbaracreak
United Kingdom 
I have a large potted black bamboo that is looking very sorry for himself .... I have kept him in a shadey area where it is happily alive, but has no leaves. How do i encouraged it to leaf up again? .... The pot seems to be fine with plenty of room for new shoots to appear, but all i have are old black bamboo shoots ?
6 Jun, 2011
Most bamboos prefer sun, so I suggest you move it to a better position and also turn it out of its pot to check the condition of the rootball - it may be potbound. If it is, you can split it in half, or just provide a larger container. Only other thing I'd ask is whether it flowered last year? You'd be hard put to notice the flowers, they look like funny little tufts, but most bamboos die after flowering.
6 Jun, 2011