Axial curling of the leaves indicates you're not watering enough, and you don't want this to be a frequent occurrence. Bamboo like to be moist, although not submerged in standing water for extended periods. If you're not good at gauging soil moisture levels, get a cheap (less than $10) moisture meter at one of the big box stores. It sounds like you did a good job of planting...unless the depression will hold standing water in your rainy season. I usually plant my bamboo in a mound that is higher than the surrounding soil (easier to patrol for stray rhizomes) and keep things well-watered. As for new growth, it's possible that you may not see any new shoots for a year or two until the plants are established. However, if they're otherwise ok, you should be getting some new leaves in the next two months (check the very tips of the branches to see if there are any little green spikes appearing).

If your tap water contains allot of flouride or chlorine, try getting different water for it. If you can't buy the water, or would prefer not to, just collect rain water for it. If you aren't sure if the water has any chemicals in it, the pet store in your town should have those strips for testing your water ^^ If the plant hardens again, try to get the mould off, and then tape around the area where the mould is. You could also try putting less water in, so it only goes over the roots, and not the stem. If this doesn't work, just e-mail me. I'll give you some more help.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have tried cutting the "damaged" parts of the leaf off but almost every leaf is involved so I got scared I was going to murder it. Also, I removed alot (but not all) of the damaged leaves one time and the problem just seemed to slwoly return. I repotted it a year ago in peat and topsoil mix and I have to admit, the roots looked pretty scraggaly, but I thought after I repotted it, that it would perk up... but it really hasnt changed. I live in Jax Fl so we have good weather most of the year and I have large oak tree canopies in my yard, so they get good filtered sunlight all day (i use a greenhouse for the 2wks of winter;) I want to plant it into the ground... but felt like it was to small and not healthy enough to stand it..... so all in all... I just am not sure. could be anything. but I think I will take your advice and strip the leaves and hope for the best. thanks

Beautiful plant, but be very careful. It can be extremely difficult to remove from unwanted areas. A raised border planter won't necessarily be sufficient to contain spread--it can send rhizomes down and then laterally. (Picture down a raised planter and under a 3-4' concrete walkway.) If brave enough, I would put it in a solid bottomed planter with just drainage holes below, on top of solid concrete. And then be very careful with the pruning pieces. Definitely do not reuse the soil. I love the look of the plant, but don't dare introduce it into my CA garden.