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P. Henon?

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 6:59 pm
by BooRat
Back in September I ordered a supposed Henon rhizome off ebay for $10 and planted it in a 17gal tub. A bunch of these shot up. This is my first attempt at Phyllostachys (only grow tropicals in the yard) and have no idea if this Henon or not. Any guesses here? Thanks!
Henon low.jpg

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:23 am
by Tarzanus
Not possible to ID this way just yet. Leaves look suspicious to me. Did you take a photo of rhizome you got?

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:09 pm
by BooRat
Thanks Tarzanus, this is the only pic I took of them. One is supposed to be nigra and one henon. The nigra shot up a few survival shoots but they couldn't take the S. Florida sun and heat no matter how much I shaded it. Both are about 12" long.
IMG_0844.JPG

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 2:30 pm
by BooRat
Test... I tried to reply two days ago but my posts need to be approved???

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 4:07 pm
by needmore
BooRat wrote:Test... I tried to reply two days ago but my posts need to be approved???

You first couple posts must be approved, we've kept this site spamless for 14 years this way.

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 5:34 pm
by BooRat
needmore wrote:
BooRat wrote:Test... I tried to reply two days ago but my posts need to be approved???

You first couple posts must be approved, we've kept this site spamless for 14 years this way.

I understand, no problem. Thanks!

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 9:21 am
by Glen
BooRat wrote:One is supposed to be nigra and one henon. The nigra shot up a few survival shoots but they couldn't take the S. Florida sun and heat no matter how much I shaded it. Both are about 12" long.
If your plant shoots in the spring, photograph these shoots when they are a few inches tall, and perhaps we can help with the identification.

You are in a more tropical climate than am I, and running bamboos have some trouble here. Unfortunately, Phyllostachys nigra forms are some of the worst performers in a subtropical climate. If you really want to try runners (which I think is a good idea :) ), here is a list of the ones that seem to grow fairly large, and/or thrive in my general area. I would consider them experimental in your area:

Phyllostachys aurea
Phyllostachys glauca
Phyllostachys makinoi
Phyllostachys viridis (all forms)
Phyllostachys lithophila

Other fairly large species that might grow well for you:

Simiarundinaria fastuosa
Sinobambusa tootsik

Any of these will perform better if they get started in the shade. If this is not possible at your location, consider growing them for a season or two in large pots in a shady area, and then planting them out as fairly large specimens. Also note that running bamboos generally need better drainage than tropicals. Tons of rain is fine, as long as the soil drains fairly well.

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2019 6:24 pm
by BooRat
It's easy to find the minimum climate requirements for a species but difficult to find the upper climate limits, so thank you very much Glen! I'm going to put the Viridis "Robert Young" on my short list to try!

Do you have any luck with henon in your area? I'll keep it in the big pot here and see what the shoots look like this year. It has been in full sun for the past few months and seems to be doing well so far, but the summer heat will tell the tale. I will probably eventually divide some and give it to a friend in north Georgia where he has room for a grove and a more friendly climate for it.

Re: P. Henon?

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:38 am
by Glen
I have a grove in Zone 8b that is probably about 15 years old. I tried the plant in the sun for a while, and it almost died, so I moved it to the shade. I do not think any culms have reached 1 inch. It looks good in the spring, but gets a lot of leaf burn during the summer. I found that watering it was actually harmful, because it seemed to be damaged by something in the water supply (salt, etc.). All Phyllostachys seem to be salt sensitive, but P. nigra seems extra intolerant.

I also have a younger grove in Zone 9a. It is in a much richer loamy soil, also in the shade, and its leaves look good. It is spreading well, but not gaining any size.

Generally, when grown in climates that are too tropical, running bamboos stay small, and often look stressed in the summer. Some will grow and spread well; they just stay small forever.

North Georgia will be paradise for 'Henon'!