Sudden stop of culm growth

[Booboy]

This spring my Vivax aureocaulis produced its first shoots. 3 of them all about an inch in diameter. The culms pushed up about 6 feet then all stopped growing. The tops of the shoots have become limp and mushy. The branches that have come out are 6 inch stubs. This is the first of such a thing I have seen. I know shoots can abort before they are a foot in height but this is odd. These culms should at least be reaching 12-15 feet. Any ideas?

[kudzu9]

Booboy-
What's your weather been like lately? South of you here in the Seattle area it has been unseasonably hot and, although I've been watering, I think some of my new culms have taken a hit.

[Booboy]

We have had unseasonably high temps for the last week. 82 - 95 degree highs. I have been watering every other day. Leaves have not curled on me. So you think it the heat doing this.?

[Joseph Clemens]

Sounds mysterious to me, I grow the same variety and many others. Its been around 100F or higher here nearly every day since mid-May (In your last post I assume you mean 82 - 95 Fahrenheit, if it were celcius I could understand your plants having difficulties). I provide irrigation with micro-sprinklers for 8 minute periods every 3 hours during daylight, and every 6 hours during the night. Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis' is one of the few, that while growing in full Tucson sun rarely even folds its leaves.

[kudzu9]

Booboy-
Wish I knew for sure...just my speculation. I always have a few shoots/culms that abort, but I'm sure the weather isn't helping this year. However, my Ph. vivax 'Aureocaulis' hasn't been fazed, even though I haven't been good about watering it.

How long has your plant been in the ground, and has this ever happened in this particular spot before?

[David]

Booboy,
Was this a FS planted last year, and was this its first shooting season since it was divided? Many FS that I have planted have sent up large culms that the recently divided plant is unable to support because of its interrupted root and rhizome system. The plant is essentially out of balance, the culms resulting from buds that were matured while the plant was undisturbed, and therefore to much for the abbreviated root system to support. You might try cutting the culms back and leaving just a couple of branches on each new culm, or cut them out entirely and let the existing culm build up the r & r system.

Regards,
David