Best time to dig and divide Bambusa sp.

[Dean W.]

What’s the best time to dig and or divide Bambusa sp.?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Dean,
Here in the south central part of the Texas I have had great success making Bambusa divisions in the spring as the weather warms. This gives ample time for the plant to establish roots and build up nutritional reserves before the onset of shooting which is typically during the summer.

However I do have a Bambusa multiplex variety that needs moving, and if I have time I will divide a chunk of it in October and see how it fares.
As it's growing in too much shade, in competition with other plants, I'll need to reduce it's lanky top growth by half.
The problem with late autumn divisions is that it can result in reactionary shoots emerging which will surely be zapped by frost.
However if we don't have a brutal winter, I'm confident the division itself will rebound next spring.

My already established Bambusa plantings are still sending up new late shoots even in September and I've learned from experience that these late arrivals get their tops zapped when temperatures drop into the mid 20's F (- 4 C).
I usually remove these late shoots, hoping that the plant will instead direct it's energies to the earlier shoots which are still rising skyward and haven't yet fully leafed out.
Shoots that leaf out properly (develop side branches) seem more resistant to cold and are more likely to survive temperatures in the 20's F or teens F, depending on species.

However bottom portions of the late shoots that survive the winter and have viable buds at the nodes can make propagation stock (in the form of cuttings)

Mark

[Dean W.]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your reply, as always your knowledge is appreciated. I have a few I'm thinking of dividing and or replanting and one on the way. I also want to grow some out to give me some trading stock.

Dean