When I have done propagation from cuttings in the past, I never cared about soil temp or used rooting hormones. I merely made the cutting, trimmed the branches and stuck it in the ground. Some bamboos are easier and root faster, some take longer. I’ve had a few that took upwards to 4 months from the time I saw new growth to root development. The only other tip is that any other plant propagation process, you need to keep them moist but not drenched. Also, keeping the culm filled with water may help as well.

For your running bamboo question, yes it was referring that a running bamboo cannot be propagated from cuttings, both branch and node. Sorry for the confusion.

Also, I have propagated running bamboo by division. It says they running bamboo cannot be propagated this way?
Or did you mean it can’t be propagate by culm or branch cutting?

Thanks,

Matt

thanks for your response. what you have said re time of year and age of culm reflects what i have mostly heard and read, but i like to ask people anyway. when i was just getting started with bamboo, and knew even less than i do now (hard to imagine!) i took some culm cuttings from a wild running bamboo forest and stuck them in pots. one of them actually sprouted and started. it was shortly after that that i began checking out all the bamboo books from the library and every single one of them asserted that runners can only be vegetatively propagated from rhizomes, and NOT from culm cuttings! uh… i’ve got one out there in a pot! i’ve had really good luck with s. brachycladum (golden bali), and really bad luck with b. lako. same time of year, same age culms, treated identically. go figure. like you say, each species seems to have it’s own tendencies for reproduction.

thanks again,
george pace

As for your question, I have found that indeed time of year is dependent on species, and yet for some it doesn’t matter. Likewise, some are also more finicky than others and thus I’ve experienced varying degrees of success from species to species. Also, age of the culm used as propagation stock is said to make a difference as well, with some suggesting to use 2 or 3 year old culms.

As for exactly specifics on particular varieties, I have only successfully propagated B. dissemulator, B. vulgaris, B. multiplex ‘silverstripe’ and B. Multiplex ‘Alphone Karr’. I tried some B. dissemulator in the spring but none took. I’ll be looking to try some again here in the next few weeks, along with some other tests that should be better documented. Check back for the posts and updates.

For the thicker, more established bamboo stands I use a 6 inch blade designed for ripping through wood as it has deeper serrations and goes through the rhizome mass easier. Otherwise I just use a 10 inch blade. I’m not sure how many divisions I can take per blade, but it certainly is easier taking them this way vs hand digging with slammers, prybars and hand saws!

I just looked on Amazon, and they have what’s called “pruning blades”. These come in a five pack and are the same price as the 10 pack of regular blades I use. They also show they make them in 9 inch lengths, whereas my local Lowe’s only carries them in 6 inch lengths. Guess I know where I might by my next batch of blades!

I too use a sawzall although my cordless is a Dewalt. My question is what type of blade do you use? I us an “Ax” blade but it gets dull after about 6 culms. Any suggestions on blade type?

Thanks.
All the best
Richard Creagan
Kiolaka’a Mountain Farms
Naalehu, Hawaii 96772