Three Methods to Propagate Bamboo - Part 1

View Part 2- filmed after the cuttings rooted in the ground.
   • Bamboo Propagation - Part 2  

I’m in a sub-tropical area of Florida working with giant timber bamboo, Bambusa oldhamii, one of the best bamboo species for building in our area. Here are three methods to propagate bamboo. This is difficult so don't expect a lot of success. Be patient and try different methods.
Method 1: Make a long cutting (10 nodes, 6 feet long) and lay it on the ground. Cover it with soil and keep in a moist or shady area. The big cutting will have numerous opportunities to root and grow shoots. This will take 3 – 6 months for the nodes to root and then you can cut the growing piece out and put it in a pot. The sawzall is my favorite tool for cutting bamboo, always cut next to a node for a cleaner cut.
Method 2: Cut the bamboo, wait for it to regrow and then make a single or double node cutting. When you cut it the plant will accumulate plant hormones in the tip of the plant, helping it to stimulate roots and shoots.
Method 3: Divide the bamboo. This is easiest with a potted plant where you can just dump out the pot and cut it in half and then replant both halves into their own pots. This is a good method for long term propagation. Just keep it in a pot and keep dividing to make new starts. #florida #bamboo #propagation