About a month ago, maybe 2 since time slips by easily, I was given a couple of culms of bamboo (I expect Bambusa Multiplex) out of someone's yard. I divided the culms up with single nodes, removed some branches and stuck them in potting soil under a tree and have been watering them daily. Some branches have kept leaves and some have lost all their leaves. Today, while watering them, I noticed a single shot coming up next to 2 of the divisions. I was not aware that they would send up shoots before they had developed roots. Is that normal, and does that mean that those divisions have rooted and on their way to making a living plant?

My guess on Bambusa Multiplex is based upon the many branches, clumping behavior and the fact that her father found the original bamboo floating down the river after a storm. She just stuck a culm in the dirt and watered it and it grew. Whatever it is, it is hardy and probably common.

Can you provide a photo?

This following are photos taken this morning of the bm culm divisions. I noticed that there are 5 shoots now with some just barely breaking the ground. I now have high hopes that my first attempt of propagation will be a success. I did fill the culms every morning with water as recommended and kept the soil moist. What's the verdict, can the culm produce a shoot without first producing roots? Do they normally produce shoots this quickly?

rickw,

I think the case is still being tried. It's too early to send the jury to the deliberation room. Unless you take the potting mix off, there is no way to tell yet if it is actually rooting and producing a new shoot with a rhizome or if it's just a branch coming up from the energy in the culm.

I don't know, it looks like a shoot to me, and it's happening on several divisions at the same time. Of course, I am not a bamboo expert so I will yield to the master. I guess I'll have to wait and see, cause there is no way I'm going to disturb it just to take a look.

Ok, Mr. Impatient here,
I took more pics today, 6 days since last pics; it is still too early for a verdict.

This was the first shoot/branch?






You can see multiple shoot/branches? coming up on this one.

Almost half of the divisions have a shoot or branch coming up.

Like Roy stated it could just be new branching developing from the stored energy. I noted that on previous propagations I have done that branches "appear" as shoots from the node section that is buried. This is usually followed by rooting, though not always since the new prop can run out of energy before it develops roots.

Most of my multiplex propagation success has come from whole culm burial, not culm cutting. You could always sacrifice one by removing the dirt and checking for roots to satisfy your curiosity.

It's been another week and I still can't tell if they are shoots or branches. Time will tell, I water them twice a day and look for new developments.

Ok, explain whole culm burial. Is it as simple as digging a trench, laying the bamboo culm in the trench and covering with compost? If so, I've been putting in a little extra effort.

Yes, with whole culm burial you strip the nodes of all but one or two branches, dig a trench, then burial the culm with the remaining branches sticking up out of the ground.

This method works great on B. Multiplex Silverstripe and Aphonse Karr. Have not tried it on anything else.

Only time will tell. I still have a Oldhammi propagation from Richard Waldron's house that has not put up any new growth in since it first put up a tiny spear Spring 07, but the leaves are still green. I'm really hoping one of these days it will shoot...

I know this is thread is almost a year old, but Rick if you're out there, what was the outcome?

I had about 50% success on the nodes cuttings and they recently put up shoots that are about 4' tall. I was very pleased with the results. I put them in 3 gal pots a couple of weeks ago because they were getting crowded in the original pots with roots growing into the ground below.

I also tried whole culm planting this year like you suggested and those have kept most of their leaves and put up a few branches, I guess I'll know how successful that is next year.
Rick

Thanks Rick for the reply. I'm getting ready to do some more experimentation and this certainly helps. How deep were those pots you used?

They were the 4"X4" pots that come 8 to a flat, they were probably 4" deep.