hola bambuseros, just an observation welcoming comment. i have had much better luck dividing Nigra in the fall rather than in the late winter/early spring. when i divide in the winter or spring i usually lose most existing leaves even after thinning or topping. it also does not seem to make a difference how big the clump is! i dont have this trouble with other varieties, in fact my best success so far if with the Vivax. here is an image of a new pineapple looking shoot coming off a single short section of a fat Vivax rhizome that i stuck in a pot just 8 weeks ago!

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-alan in seattle
zone8