Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning
• What you need

Bamboo is actually a thick, woody grass that is often used for furniture and floors. When planted in gardens, bamboo can become large decorative plants or dense and discreet fences. If you already have a bamboo tree, you can easily propagate it by cutting cuttings from the main stem of the tree or underground stems, that is, the root system of the plant.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Plant cuttings

1. 

   Select and disinfect the right tools for cutting bamboo. Choose a bamboo cutting tool based on the thickness and strength of the bamboo tree. If the tree is small in diameter, you can use a sharp knife. If the tree is larger and stronger, you may need a hand saw. Whatever tool you use, pre-disinfect with household disinfectants, such as diluted bleach or rubbing alcohol.
   • If you are using bleach to disinfect, first dilute it with water. Use 1 part bleach to 32 parts water. For example, you could use 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach for every 0.5 liters of water.

2. 

   
   
   Cut a piece of bamboo about 25 cm long diagonally at an angle of 45 °. Each cut bamboo must have at least 3 or 4 eyes, ie the rings surrounding the tree. Bamboo plants must be at least 2.5 cm in diameter to be able to grow with cuttings successfully.

3. 

   Dip a piece of bamboo in the root-stimulating hormone powder. The rooting hormone will help the roots grow faster when you plant cuttings. Dip the ends of the bamboo in the hormone powder and shake to remove the excess. The rooting hormone comes in the form of a powder, sold at gardening stores.

4. 

   
   
   Apply a layer of soft wax about 3 mm high around the open end of the raft. Use a soft wax like soy wax or beeswax. The wax will prevent the bamboo stems from rotting or drying out. Be sure not to let the wax seal the hollow bamboo tube in the middle.

5. 

   Plug the bamboo section up to 1 eye deep into the pot containing the soil. A small nursery pot is suitable for each cuttings. Plug the bamboo cuttings into the planting soil until one eye is completely buried in the ground. Compresses soil around bamboo cuttings to remove air pockets.

6. 

   
   
   Use a spray bottle to spray water on damp soil. The soil should be completely damp but not soaked. You can dig your finger into the ground up to 1 knuckle deep to make sure the soil is damp.

7. 

   Pour water into the bamboo tube. Although the roots will grow in moist soil, pouring water into the bamboo tube will provide more water for the plant. Check the water level every 2 days and keep the water almost always full while the plant grows.

8. 

   Place the pot in a warm place away from direct sunlight and water it daily. Bamboo cuttings should be placed in a shady place, but a little bit of daylight is fine. Check the soil daily to make sure it stays moist. Do not let water stand on the ground. Too much water will put the growing root system at risk.
   • You can put a plastic bag over the bamboo cuttings to help the plant retain water, although this is not necessary for plant growth.

9. 

   Planting trees in the ground after 4 months. Within 3-4 weeks, you will notice the bamboo shoots grow taller and new shoots sprouting from the bamboo eyes. 4 months after planting bamboo cuttings in pots, you can plant them in the ground.
   • Gently swirl the soil in the pot with a hand shovel or spade to make it easier to remove the plants. Place the bamboo in the hole slightly wider than the bamboo roots. Fill the plant with soil and water it carefully.
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Method 2 of 3: Soak bamboo branches in water

1. 

   Cut strips about 25 cm long from young bamboo. The cut bamboo must have at least 2 eyes and 2 segments, ie between the eyes. Use a sharp knife to cut diagonal 45 °.
   • Disinfect the knife with a household disinfectant, such as diluted bleach or rubbing alcohol, before cutting the bamboo stalks.

2. 

   Soak the bottom of the bamboo in a pot of water in a well-lit place. The lower eye of the bamboo section must be completely submerged in water to allow maximum space for roots to develop. Place the plant in direct sunlight for 6 hours a day and at temperatures above 13 degrees Celsius.
   • If you can, use a transparent pot to make it easier to see the roots grow.

3. 

   Change the water every 2 days. The oxygen is lost very quickly when you soak the bamboo branches in water, especially when you are trying to grow the bamboo branches into a tree. Changing the water will ensure that your plant continues to get the nutrients it needs to grow.

4. 

   Transfer the bamboo branches to the pot when the roots are about 5 cm long. It will take several weeks for roots to grow out of the branch. Once the roots of the plant are about 5 cm long, you can move the bamboo branches out into pots or into the ground to let the plant continue to grow. Plant the branches in the ground about 2.5 cm deep. advertisement

Method 3 of 3: Planting bamboo with underground stems

1. 

   Use a sharp garden knife to cut a section of the underground stem with 2-3 buds. Carefully brush off the soil from the bamboo roots. Find a section of the underground stem that has 2-3 buds, that is, where the trunk grows. You may have to cut the trunks down to get underground. Use a sharp knife to cut a piece.
   • Do not use underground sections with dark or patchy patches. These are signs of disease or pests, and as such the bruise cannot grow well.
   • Only take underground sections of bamboo from mature bamboo clusters to avoid the risk of harm to the tree.

2. 

   Place the underground stalks in the pot, the buds facing upwards. Place a layer of plant soil in the pot. Place the stalk down, the side with the shoots facing up. If you left some of the shoots on the stalks underground, keep the tips above the ground.

3. 

   Cover a layer of soil about 7.5 cm thick on top of the underground section. Bury the body underground so it can begin to grow. Compact the soil so that it is in full contact with the underground body.

4. 

   Use a watering can to water the soil. Water the soil so that the soil is completely moist, but the water does not settle on the ground. You can poke your finger down to the second knuckle to check if the soil is damp.
   • Check the soil moisture with your finger every 2 days and water it until the soil is damp but not soaking wet.
   • The underground section may rot if waterlogged. Don't over-water.

5. 

   Place the tree in a shady place for 4-6 weeks. Place the pot in a place out of direct sunlight. The best place is in the shade of the outside wall or under the big tree canopy. It will take about four to six weeks before the plant will sprout and emerge from the ground.
   • You can plant bamboo plants that grow underground from the stalks to the ground when the night temperature stays steady above 13 degrees Celsius.
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Advice

• If you cannot plant the bamboo segments immediately, plug the ends of the branches in damp soil or wrap them with a damp cloth to keep the branches moist, otherwise the bamboo will dry out very quickly.

Warning

• Bamboo can spread out quickly. When planting bamboo, you may want to put up a fence, such as a wall, around the tree to prevent it from growing out of control.

What you need

• Household disinfectant
• Sharp knife or hand saw
• Plant pots
• Woodland
• The hormone stimulates the roots
• Soft wax, such as beeswax
• Aerosol
• Garden knives
• Watering