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Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:47 pm
by Adam
New member here from Florida - I've been in Bamboo Limbo and finding your site is a blessing - I've tried searching the posts but not finding an answer - Locally I get mixed answers on my problem and no two are the same - Hopefully someone can help

Planted my Bamboo about 6 years ago and everything was doing well .... I has a great 60 foot long section - About 5 months back Spectrum Cable came out to lay a new line and dug a 4 foot deep trench right next to my Bamboo - Luckily I caught them after they had gone a few feet but the section of Bamboo next to the trench has been declining - It is the only section I have an issue with but now it is starting to spread - I've been told it is everything from a fungus to a virus but nobody has a solution - It strats off as black spots and eventually the stalk dies

I've attached a photo ... cam someone hep me with a solution?

Re: Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 7:24 pm
by Tarzanus
I have it on my Moso seedling. It seems to form o the culms that are closest to the water (pond) and are getting more moisture than other culms. They don't die off, actually, they have the healthiest leaves and branches. I think it's some kind of mold. If it is, try to improve drainage or use some kind of fungicide during the wet part of the year. It could be something else...

Re: Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:06 pm
by Adam
I've had three different diagnosis and solutions

Fungus - Don't worry it happens

Black Sooty Mold - Spray with insecticide soap along the bottom 6 feet

Mosaic Potex Virus - Cut it out it can't be saved

I've tried the Florida Agriculture Center and the University of Florida but in the end nobody has bamboo knowledge and the fella that installed it has gone out of business - Doesn't somebody here have a solution?

Re: Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:24 pm
by needmore
I've never seen that and I'm familiar with sooty mold & fungus.

Re: Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 1:04 am
by shuboo
Your first answer is correct. Those are fungal spots. They do happen. Usually to older culms. You can treat with a copper fungicide as a preventative but the already affected culms are not really able to be salvaged. On the plus side, it's usually just cosmetic. It happens to most tropical clumpers. Since it usually affects the older culms there's always the option to remove the culm. :?

Re: Black Bamboo Spotting

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:47 am
by Glen
I really can not see much in the photograph provided. Perhaps some clearer photographs of the area around the clump, the culms and leaves would help.

Based on your description, my first thought is that the "fungus" is just an opportunistic symptom of the underlying problem. If the cable company cut all the roots on that side of the plant, perhaps the plant is just going to have to reset by losing some culms and reaching an equilibrium, before it regrows. If this is the case, just remove the damaged culms, then water and fertilize well. The plant should recover.

One question that comes to mind: Is it possible that any herbicides were applied by the cable company, or someone else, within the root zone of the plant?