Bamboo: Support During Winds?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

I've got a black bamboo in a pot. It is around 1m tall, and the canes are quite thin.

Should I support them with.....err.....bamboo canes when windy, or are they strong enough?

[bramble]

They're definitely strong enough, no need to support them.

[digthatchick]

Phyllostachys nigra - Ideally, it should be situated in a sheltered location where some protection from strong winds is available. Mulch with bark or a well-rotted organic matter in spring to keep the roots cool and moist during the growing season. To restrict its spread, either plant the bamboo in the ground in a large container with drainage holes or surround the sides of the planting hole with corrugated plastic to stop the roots from growing too far outwards. No need to support.

[piskieinboots]

I planted a bamboo in my garden 18 months ago, being on the edge of an air-field/runway - you can imagine how windy it is here.

I have to say the plant really struggled, in fact it very nearly gave up during the first 6-8 months, so I put up some wind break material around it, then mulched, watered, mulched, watered, feed, mulched, water and then some more.

It is now looking very healthy - but had I not done that, whilst it may have survived it would not have been a healthy specimen.

Water and then water again, they need lots

[sarraceniac]

The reason I grow half a dozen different bamboos (or baboons as my youngest grand-child has it) is because we all love seeing them waving gracefully in the wind. Even Saturday with gusts of 50-60 mph none of them broke, which is more than I can say for my bamboo screen.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Thanks a lot.

I have planted it in a large container and mixed in lots of well-rotted manure into the compost.

Does being in a pot severely restrict the height it will reach? I'm hoping for 4m+.