Cut shoots in winter or leave?

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LA Bamboo
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Cut shoots in winter or leave?

Post by LA Bamboo »

Last year was my first year growing bamboo, and my plants only seemed to stop shooting Nov.-Feb. The new shoots that developed in October and very early November all died. Should I cut new shoots that appear late in the year, or just let my plants do their thing?
dependable
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Re: Cut shoots in winter or leave?

Post by dependable »

I would let them be, if the shoots are where you want them. They do better when allowed to accumulate bio mass.
Alan_L
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Re: Cut shoots in winter or leave?

Post by Alan_L »

I'm wondering if removing shoots will trigger the plant to fire more off? Probably better to let them go even if they will not survive the winter I think.
LA Bamboo
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Re: Cut shoots in winter or leave?

Post by LA Bamboo »

Thanks for the replies. Potentially triggering new shooting was my concern, but not wasting energy on doomed shoots was what I was hoping for. This question was regarding only my Oldhamii hedge, which is starting to produce 2"+ diameter culms. Maybe I'll play around with a few plants and let the rest do their thing, but I'm thinking you're both correct and I won't be doing any good.
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