I'm getting many of these spikes that look like they are trying to push up and grow into new shoots however once they reach about 1 inch high, they kind of bend and just stay there, and these are coming up randomly throughout the grove. They also just come up and then stay about the same size since some of these have appeared over 2 weeks ago.

Does anyone know what the point of these spikes are? They might be rhizomes since they have sharp tips and look too large to be shoots, so I've considered putting another layer of manure on the whole thing.



Close up of a few of them coming off a culm.

For the time being they are rhizomes...ignore them and they might become culms or remain rhizomes.

Some look like shoots to me. I've seen that happen a lot - the shoot starts and stops. It is towards the end of the shooting season, mostly. I figure the plant decided it didn't have enough energy and went on to other things.

"it didn't have enough energy and went on to other things"

I have that problem a lot - it's what keeps me on the couch some nights

It may have spent all of its energy from the shooting that came in late April through mid May, but now with the 20X foliage upgrade from before it looks like it must be taking in a lot of energy each day however I don't see and rhizome or shoot activity other than these spikes. I guess it must still be focused on putting on even more leaves, or storing lots of energy in the culms, but I expect it to start making true rhizomes at some point, Maybe by Mid-August. Most of my other phyllostachys already show signs of running

I think these spikes should be an indication that this plant is ready to make rhizomes in every direction once it feels like it has stored up enough energy in the culms. They appeared after shoots were aborting about a month ago, and have been around for about 2 weeks. They aren't rotting off either so I hope they start elongating and start running. Another reason I think they might not be running yet might be a combination of the heat wave with temperatures consistently above 90F and a lack of rainfall, but I gave it a good soaking of about 10 gallons of water today.

Its foliage is way denser than any of my other groves


Most of the 2009 culms look like they are dropping their leaves and drying up from the shade or stress from the heavy shooting load.