Alphonse Karr in outdoor container

[needmore]

I had Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata' and Gigantichloa pseudoarundinacea both in the 15-20 feet by 1 -1.25 inch diameter range in pots - I would drag them outdoors in April and back inside in late October each year, once they were producing culms this size they seemed to max out there. So roughly a 6month growing season in Indiana weather was enough to produce those results. But mainly I think they enjoyed our hot, humid, rainy June-Sept weather - the stuff that killed all of the Chusquea I've tried.

[ghmerrill]

I think your growth window is actually longer there, it seems that by the time im getting shoots, you have had them for a few weeks.
Our night temps are also pretty cool... We can have a 30 to 50° temp shift from the heat of the day to the coolest part of the night. I think you are right, those tropicals love the heat and humidity, and we don't have much of that in the pacific northwest.

[needmore]

Yeah we warm up early, we suddenly switch from the north to the south. Atrovaginata & Viridis are always my last Phyllostachys to shoot and both are already pretty well leafed out on the new culms and they both pushed 25-30 footers this year. My very last bamboos to shoot are the native A gigantea and they are just going off now.

[ghmerrill]

I'm just now getting leaves on the aureosulcatas!

Still, I wouldn't want your winter temps!