Bamboo Cuttings: [Concept, Time, Rooting and Planting]

What does it mean to plant by cuttings?

Planting by cuttings is the procedure used to reproduce a plant by means of a fragment of its stem, leaf or root.

When carrying out the process of planting by cuttings, it is certain, if everything is done correctly, that the new plant has the conditions of the species that gave rise to it.

For horticulturists and gardeners, propagation by cuttings is a technique with which they can reproduce a large number of plants very quickly, from a single specimen and through a simple process.

Currently planting by cuttings is the process most used by beginners in the arts of gardening.The asexual or vegetative reproduction of bamboo, which consists of its propagation from branches, buds, stems or rhizomes, is the best method for the multiplication of the plant.

What is the best time to plant bamboo cuttings?

The best time for planting should be during the rainy season since the soil of the plant must remain moist for the first 30 days.

Currently, bamboo cuttings can be reproduced throughout the year, as long as the necessary conditions are offered, mainly water, for their development.

How to get bamboo cuttings to root properly?

Rooting of bamboo cuttings occurs easily while in water or on land. Although it is not necessary to put nutrients in it for its roots to emerge large and strong, the most important thing is that the water does not contain chlorine.

How should we take the bamboo cuttings to plant them?

To obtain a fragment or stem of bamboo for planting, a mother plant in good phytosanitary and robust conditions must be chosen.

Take a bamboo cutting from the mother plant by gently running your fingers along the roots to separate them and then break off a stem.

A long and robust cutting with a minimum of 2 nodes should be chosen to guarantee reproduction.

A cutting is cut from the mother bamboo that is as close as possible to its stem with the help of proper gardening tools, disinfected and clean.

The lower leaves of the cutting are then removed, taking care to leave the upper leaves intact so that the cutting can concentrate its energy on root development.

Then the cutting will be submerged in a glass container with water, the one that best suits the extension of the cutting so that 40% of the cutting is submerged in the water and the rest is protected in the container.

How long should we leave bamboo cuttings in water?

Bamboo is one of the plants that can reproduce more easily in the water and that guarantees a higher percentage of capture.

Once the cutting is obtained, it is necessary to place it immediately in containers with water to avoid dehydration and stress on the plant.

Horticulturists and experts prefer the use of distilled or bottled water because they do not contain chlorine, which is a very harmful nutrient for bamboo.

In the case of preferring tap or tap water, it is recommended to let it rest for about 24 hours so that the chlorine decomposes, before introducing the bamboo cutting.

The cutting is placed in water covering several of its nodes and then it must be waited until the roots come out and the new plant develops.

Is it convenient to use fertilizer or compost?

It is convenient to use fertilizer for the best development of the bamboo stems, in addition to the use of fertile soils, which provide conditions for a high number of sprouts in the shortest possible time.

Sandy loamy, alluvial soils derived from volcanic ash are recommended, and in general a good bamboo harvest can be obtained with a mixture of 63% sand, 19% silt and 18% clay.

As a soil improvement measure, it is recommended to apply compost and natural humus, as well as the application of dry leaves and grass to increase soil moisture.The cutting is placed in direct indirect sunlight for a month and then placed in a bright spot without direct sun.

When planting bamboo cuttings in the ground, weeds must be controlled to avoid competition in the absorption of nutrients.

How long does it usually take for a bamboo cutting to come out?

In a bamboo plant propagated by a fragment of its stem, placed in distilled water or planted in the ground, it can take a month to produce new roots and new shoots.

The most convenient reproduction system for the generation of Bamboo plantations is known as «reproduction by chusquines».

Chusquines are thin sections of bamboo stems with roots coming out of the rhizome and seen as a sapling.

With this method of reproduction, each plant is capable of producing 5 to 8 new plants in an average time of four months.

Bibliography and references

Bent Ana. (2019). Great Book of Indoor Gardening. First edition. Servilibro Editions, SA Madrid-Spain. PP 43-47.
Manual of propagation of higher plants. Metropolitan Autonomous University. First Digital Edition 2017, Coyoacán. Mexico PDF.