Floppy 'Rufa'

[Alan_L]

This is what my 'Rufa' looks like if left unsupported:



That's after rain, but once it's flopping down, even dew makes it do this.

I don't know why it can't support its own weight. Maybe it gets more sun than it should, or maybe it's weak because it's a TC plant -- but it's healthy and vigorous, just has weak culms.

Once it's tied up, it looks fantastic though:





Anybody else have a floppy 'Rufa'?

[David]

The rufa in the deepest shade is doing the best here, and it is somewhat floppy, but filled in with new growth this spring. BTW very pleasant looking back yard.

David

[foxd]

My Rufa gets a fair amount of noon sun and doesn't seem to be floppy.

Just out of curiousity, how much wind have you had recently?

[Polo]

It's a typical rufa thing when it get wed it goes down
The only thing you could do is to build an iron barrier around it so the culms have to stay straight and after some time you don't see the barrier any more only leaves
I hope this is of some help

Polo

[Alan_L]

My Rufa gets a fair amount of noon sun and doesn't seem to be floppy.

Just out of curiousity, how much wind have you had recently?

This one gets a lot of sun too -- probably 11 AM - 4 PM (at least) of full sun. We've had some wind, but I don't think that's an issue with this plant... unless you were asking for another reason?

[foxd]

My Rufa gets a fair amount of noon sun and doesn't seem to be floppy.

Just out of curiousity, how much wind have you had recently?

This one gets a lot of sun too -- probably 11 AM - 4 PM (at least) of full sun. We've had some wind, but I don't think that's an issue with this plant... unless you were asking for another reason?

Yeah, that's about the amount of Sun mine gets. I've noticed other bamboos tending to decide to flop over and noticed this usually happens after strong winds which are usually associated with a storm. I think the winds blow the bamboo back and forth and eventually weaken the culm to the point it can no longer support itself. This hypothesis was reinforced when I found some culms that had developed visible vertical cracks and did the most amazing bend to lie on the ground.

[Alan_L]

I'll look for cracks, but none of them seemed damaged -- just thin.