What is wrong with my Black Bamboo please?

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Can anyone help please? I have a group of 3 types of bamboo in a corner of my north facing garden (Northumberland), it is shaded from around 2/3pm. The middle of the 3 is a black bamboo and towards the end of July I went on holiday until 13th August and it was on a watering system(sprinkler) for 5 mins morning and evening. It was fine when I left but when I came back it appeared to be brown with what I would describe as "wheatlike" heads and very few remaining green leaves (see photos) - the other 2 bamboo plants are absolutely fine.

I have looked online but there are so many different and conflicting suggestions - too dry, too wet, needs feeding, doesn't need feeding etc. I'm confused as to whether the plant is dying or whether this is a natural seeding. Plants are about 8 years old and last fed in spring. What is my next course of action - dig it out or leave it as it is leaving the leaves that have dropped on the soil as mulch?

Any suggestions and help gratefully received.

 

I think it might be flowering.
The Mysterious Flowering Cycles of Bamboo Plants

 

There have reports around the world of black bamboos flowering. Usually ends up with the plant dying .
Bit of a bugger really. Ive got about 6 in pots no flowers yet.
Id cut the flowers off.

 

Better get my step ladder out then Wee Tam cutting off the flowers will be a big job - it is a shame as all three bamboos seem more than happy in position and, of course, the black one has to be in the middle leaving a bit of a weird gap. Wonder if leaving the canes for a while would work whilst I try to find a replacement plant.

 

Definitely flowering, don't think cutting the flower heads off will help. See and
Some people report nursing them back to health with lots of feeding and TLC, takes a few years. Others have tried cutting them down to the ground on first signs of flowering and then feed and TLC; still others have waited for seed to germinate and replanted.
See here for fun and games on removing bamboo roots, which will need to do before anything goes into that spot Goliath Undefeated ...
I'm waiting for mine to flower at some point over the next few years and then I'll decide what to do.

 

Thanks Nigel J - watched the You Tube linked above and it was really useful. Definitely got a P.Nigra flowering bamboo!!!!

 

It takes a few years to finish the flowering cycle and yes, they die afterwards but you'll end up with a couple of thousand seedlings to replace the original plant.
Also yes, I'd like some seedlings when they're ready!

 

Um...they don't necessarily die. Mine was very stressed and flowered several years in a row, but as it got lots of rainwater through the winters and springs it recovered. I certainly didn't have time to cut the flowers off! How about cutting out the flowered canes, @Stanley2 , give it a good, regular soak (not a light sprinkle for 5 minutes) and see what happens? In the worst case scenario, the other two will soon spread to fill the gap.

 

Is my black bamboo dead? It's main stem is almost 20ft tall and still a dark colour, but all side branches are grey with any once leaf just spindles. Can I save it. It's about 10yrs old, in the ground, and probably neglected.
HazelMW

 

Bamboos are usually sending up new canes around now. You could try to revive yours @HazelMW by removing all the weak, spindly canes, clearing the area around the base, incorporating some organic matter into the soil, and giving the plant a good deep watering. Ensure that the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Your bamboo looks very close to your wall. It has probably become dehydrated because of being in a rain shadow. Ideally, it would be better off in a sunny, open location.

 

Agree with @Plantminded altho my P nigra grew well in a shadier spot in my area.

 

They’re also fine in shade, as long as they get water. The canes on my other varieties colour up better in sun though.

 

Thanks for the help, giving it a go.

 

18 : 6 : 12 from an Agricultural store is supersonic for bamboos. The very best fertilizer I have ever found for bamboos was Pigeon Poo but I can't get any now. :(

 

Hi kindredspirit, thanks for advice, can you only get this in Ireland? What might be the equivalent elsewhere please, if you know, of course.