Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Cut Bamboo for Planting
How to Cut Bamboo for Planting. Bamboo is a grass that can grow as high as 100 feet. Canes grow from an underground rhizome that branches as it matures. The variety known as running bamboo is the one that's caused the plant's reputation as in invasive species. Different varieties of bamboo respond better to cutting methods that are particular to...
Bamboo is a grass that can grow as high as 100 feet. Canes grow from an underground rhizome that branches as it matures. The variety known as running bamboo is the one that's caused the plant's reputation as in invasive species. Different varieties of bamboo respond better to cutting methods that are particular to their type, but there's a universal method to cut bamboo for planting that should work with most of them.
Things You'll Need
Sharp knife
Wax
Clean water
Potting soil
Container
Start with a healthy plant. Unhealthy plants won't root.
Cut a bamboo cane below an area with small, new healthy buds or branches above it. The cut should be made at least two nodes beneath the new growth. The node is the ring-like section that appears regularly along the cane.
Seal the area of the cane where you made the cut with plain, white wax if you've made your cutting on an indoor bamboo plant. Don't do this on established outdoor plants.
Put the cane in clean water until it roots. Change the water frequently. Rooting can take several months.
Bury at least one node of the cutting in a small container filled with potting soil if you don't want to root the plant in water. The soil should drain well. Set in filtered sunlight and mist regularly. This can also take several months.
Transplant the cutting outdoors in the spring if it has healthy roots. Set it in a sunny spot and fertilize it lightly. Water it heavily for the first few weeks and then regularly through the first growing season.
Tips & Warnings
If the stem yellows or starts to rot, it's best to start over again because the plant won't recover.
Some bamboos are highly invasive. If you live in an area where the spread of bamboo will become a problem, use containers or underground barriers.
