Is it a recent purchase and how long in the pot?

Any chance of a photo and do you know the genus and species by any chance?

Many thanks it is Phyllostachys - golden. It has been in the pot since we purchased it 4 years ago. We tried to protect it as much as possible during the winter, but it was extremely cold for a long period, so has this got anything to do with it?

Probably not in Devon but if you are inland I suspect you still got very cold temperatures last January. This species is pretty hardy but like all things in containers, the roots/rhizome can get damaged in prolonged freezing cold.

It may well be starving too and indeed this may be the primary problem. Even feeding may not address it as the compaction of rhizome/roots might be more of a problem to the plant and override anything you do except move it on into either a larger container or plant it.

It may take a few years to get back under steam if it is alive but will be worth it in the long run as it is a lovely plant.

As the rhizomes do creep, I would surround it with a rhizome barrier if planting in open ground ie border, especially with other plants there or you will have culms/new canes appearing all over!

Alternatively to Fractal's suggestion (with which I agree) turn the plant out of its pot, cut the root ball into 3 sections ( or just in half) and replant only one section in fresh compost in the same pot.

A suggestion I have also made to my customers too in the past. Thanks for that Bamboo. I'm still going to finish this bottle of lovely red though all the same Lol...

Tsk, tsk, Fractal -- I'm on the Pimms myself...

Very powsh ;-)

Thank you all very much, enjoy your refreshments!!!

:-)))

Posh, yea suppose it is, but I don't like alcohol really - Pimms (with loads of fruit and lemonade) is the exception, great when its hot, worth the trouble of making it once decent strawberries are out. Try some when you're wrestling with that Bamboo, Kiesty,lol

We have sorted out the fuschia, but the bamboo is a bigger task, think I will take your advice and think about it with an extremely large pimms!!! (Incidentally it was Vine Weevil killing the fuschia)