How to Dig Up and Plant Running Bamboo Rhizomes for Propagation

In another episode of bamboo education at Bamboo Sourcery Nursery & Gardens, we demonstrate how to dig up running bamboo rhizomes for propagation and harvesting purposes. Bamboo expert Joe Ruffatto instructs us on his tips and tricks to the trade.
For more bamboo info, see www.bamboosourcery.com.
Song Credits: Shimshai - "Roots"
Videography: Cristie Kiley

[@musicteacher5757]

I got a pot full of bamboo that someone put in the garbage. I re-potted it in a tub that I put in the ground. Two years later a cane shot up 6 feet away! I didn't know it was running bamboo. I'm glad.

[@busyyogurt5206]

I bought my first bamboo over 20 years ago from Bamboo Sourcery and it fills me with joy every single day. 20 x 365 = a lot of days. P.S. Joe, I just realized you are the Mr. Rogers of bamboo.

[@bamboosourcery]

Aw that is so sweet! That's why we do this work! Thanks for reminding us that all the hard work pays off.

[@patfromamboy]

7300 days

[@Whatsthedealsquirter]

Excellent video this helped me a ton thank you very much keep doing what you're doing we all appreciate it

[@helenfay9465]

Thank you so much for all this information... and the beautiful tunes to accompany it! 😁❤️💛💚

[@bamboosourcery]

So glad it's helpful! Yeah, the tunes are great - they are Shimshai, www.shimshai.com/

[@full1985black]

The best channel regarding bamboo, your information are amazing and I can't find any better in the network Congratulations and thanks 🙏 please make other videos like this

[@sneezeloweze3953]

Coolest return ever I'm glad your making videos again!

[@bamboosourcery]

Thanks a lot! Did you see our newest one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXW5YqycgahoqdU

[@richwilliams1943]

well explained. thank you my good man. love the good tunes too

[@bamboosourcery]

Shimshai is great tunes!! 🎶

[@molihua3896]

Love the Song… ❤💛💚

[@bamboosourcery]

Isn't it awesome and perfect?! www.shimshai.com/

[@mmmmmm2013]

Wow very exciting. I am bamboo obsessed, gonna go to a vacant property with my Sawzall, pruner blade and are Pic and go crazy!!! Thank you, BC, 🇨🇦

[@bamboosourcery]

We love the idea of this! Let us know how it goes, bambooster!

[@rogerdodger5415]

Just what I needed! Thanks! 🙏🏼👍✌🏼

[@bamboosourcery]

We're so glad it was helpful!

[@peterbeauclerk]

Thank you!

[@jordancasanova8517]

Actually dug up some a few days ago. Thanks for the video 👍looking forward to one on clumping bamboo

[@bamboosourcery]

Oh cool! 'Tis the season! Thanks for watching!

[@bamboofangreen1713]

Bamboo is great! i subscribed. and i'm the 1000th subscriber! 🎋🙌

[@bamboosourcery]

Wow what a lucky number! Thank you!

[@amourmtungo623]

Thank you

[@bamboosourcery]

You're welcome!

[@Globally1201]

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED WITH BAMBOO AND THE MANGROVES!!!🌱🌿🌳... UHH-MAZING GOD OF ALL LIVING THINGS!!!💪🏽🙏🏽🔥 THANKS FOR SHARING!!!😃👍🏽🙋🏽‍♀️🔥🙏🏽👑✝️📖🔥

[@bamboosourcery]

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm!!! 🥰

[@kevindao5222]

The 'roots so strong' song is a bop

[@bamboosourcery]

It totally is - we love Shimshai! It goes with the bamboo too!

[@gregboshell977]

I found some with this years growth started i got some of the roots think it will grown to

[@bamboosourcery]

So cool. 😎

[@IAmHumanJake]

I had to stop the video an comment. Nice music choice

[@bamboosourcery]

THANK YOU!!! www.shimshai.com/

[@orlandosanchez444]

Cuántos días tarda en salir el raiz

[@lindaachelpohl]

Wow very interesting, how many new shoots will you have in a years time?

[@bamboosourcery]

It varies greatly depending on the species, time of the root division, size of the root division, care, and quality of soil.

[@gonchawanchannel7874]

อยากได้มาปลูกที่บ้านจังเลยค่ะ

[@bamboosourcery]

"I want to be able to grow it at home." - That would be cool. 😎

[@frnk3b006]

What species or variety is the first one you're working with?🤔

[@richwilliams1943]

i am interested in starting some indoors in an aquaponic system. i have a few plants outdoors. i wanted to wait until after the plants send up all their shoots and then dig up the rhizome and take them directly into an aquaponic system. i am moving in november and i have no plans to leave them behind. i plan to put them in the ground for zone 8 winter(2023). does this plan sound reasonable to you? is there any advice you might suggest? thanks in advance

[@bamboosourcery]

We're unsure if bamboo will grow in aquaponics.

[@staceylam762]

Hi Does this method apply to clumping bamboos also? I have oldmaii that I need to propagate

[@AlexDSmith35]

Like grass, Can you do Octoberish as well to grow new bamboo?

[@bamboosourcery]

October is too early to dig. December would be the soonest we'd recommend.

[@LT-is3kv]

Great video. I've recently just done this with bamboo nigra (Phyllostachys) however the weather changed to frosty -3 degree. Will this kill the rhyzomes?

[@bamboosourcery]

It shouldn't... but also keep in mind that Black Bamboo is flowering gregariously worldwide.

[@LT-is3kv]

@bamboosourcery Thanks! Sorry what effect does flowering have? Also i should explain, when I received a shipment of root bound bamboo I unravelled and cut off the rhizomes strips and planted them ...and then the frost kicked in. Do you think they'll be OK?

[@carterscustomrods]

My bamboo is still growing too tall, too fast (golden green strip vivax.) I've propegated a few dozen cuts over the past 2 years or so, and my biggest issue is the new shoots coming up from the ground grow too fast. My recent just popped their nubs out 2 weeks ago. They're now around 12ft-14ft and about 2 to 3 inches diameter at the base. But they're extremely fragile and a decent thunderstorm, and they snap them and make them 4 ft or so. When that happens, the base stops growing in diameter, and it just stays that height (4ft or so). I'm not giving anything to them, just water and an occasional 💩 from my dog lol. Should I start cutting them around 6ft-7ft and hope they strengthen up faster? (I have the same problem with full-size new bamboo, but it makes it to 15ft-20ft before they break off in a storm. They can be up to 8in in diameter at theire base,but thry remain fragile for around 2 months. I'm not certain, but I assume they're growing too fast. A foot a day on average (which I've read is a lot fast than new shoots normally grow. Thank you to anyone who can point me in the right direction!

[@bamboosourcery]

No, you can't cut shoots. They will die. They do grow fast, and they're fragile... just the nature of the beast.

[@ravenoakfarm]

How long does it take to germinate and how long before you have a bush to plant?

[@bamboosourcery]

It will germinate in the spring when the weather warms up (March, April, May).

[@Romans6.1-2]

Is that the only way to propagate running bamboo? (I have a bad back and would like to propagate one that I have)

[@bamboosourcery]

It's not the only way. You can also divide plants.

[@charliecarter2523]

👍👌

[@bamboosourcery]

👍✨

[@carterscustomrods]

Is that golden green stripe vivax? I thought that is a clumping bamboo?

[@bamboosourcery]

It's for sure a runner! It's bamboosourcery.com/product/phyllostachys-vivax-aureocaulis-phvxa/

[@TheLolacat1]

i want to start growing this to make a natural privacy fence. not sure how long that will take. cant i just put the bamboo pieces in the ground or do i need to pot them first? thx

[@bamboosourcery]

You can just put them in the ground.

[@TheLolacat1]

thankyou@@bamboosourcery

[@doggygaming950]

I have yellow groove running bamboo for about 15 years. Planted root 1 year and thought it died because saw nothing for at least a year. Then one day I found a little guy nearby and each year the new shoots are thicker and grow taller...probably about 15 to 20 feet. Love it. Just need to keep the roots under control...which isn't rocket science.

[@12vLife]

Anybody know where to publicly find free running bamboo in South Florida? Especially around Miami and Sebring Florida.

[@bamboosourcery]

Check Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist? We're in CA

[@arjuckes]

Hi I am in SW France and have just brought a property with 60 ft high Bamboo. I am in the process of trying to eradicate it completely as it is out of control in my very sandy soil. Will it die if I just cut it all down close to the ground or do I need to dig up all the rhizomes? Thanks.

[@bamboosourcery]

You need to remove the rhizomes as well.

[@richwilliams1943]

you can cut them down without digging up the rhizomes, but they will send up new shoots the next spring. break those off as they shoot up in spring and no more will shoot up after spring. the rhizomes may produce for a few years in spring only but if you repeat this process, the rhizomes will die underground without the ability to photosynthesize

[@jkreviea]

When would you do this? Like if I bought plants and wanted said plants to fill in an area, I would not dare to start cutting the ryzomes out, right?

[@bamboosourcery]

December through March

[@coventrypunx1014]

Why not

[@jkreviea]

Perfect, and always start them in a pot and not back into the ground? We get a lot of rain. How tall before you'd plant them from the pots?

[@michaelfoort2592]

So March is best for digging Rhizomes?

[@bamboosourcery]

Winter.

[@clivantyeo]

What is the maximum height and thickness of the bamboo that grow in a 1 gallon pot?

[@bamboosourcery]

Are you trying to KEEP it in a 1 gallon pot indefinitely and you want to know how big it will get in that size?

[@clivantyeo]

Yes, space is a luxury where I stay. So I am thinking how big the bamboo will get in a 1 gallon pot.

[@wilmorris4225]

Why do you prefer running and not clumping varieties? I know here in florida it is actually illegal to sell running bamboo because it is so invasive.

[@bamboosourcery]

We love both kinds. This video is about runners. We also have ones just about clumpers. We are the experts in containing running bamboo. Not necessary with clumpers.

[@Liu-Kang-Xi]

How do you contain them?

[@Wes61]

I'm here In Florida. I Purchased Leptomorph (known as running) bamboo from a nursery. I wasn't able to find any laws on bamboo although there was talk about this being changed during 2008. If you can find any laws on this let me know because you're freaking me out a bit 😆 🤣

[@musicteacher5757]

In Florida, too. I believe some runners are native to Florida. Golden, I think. I don't think they can ban native plants...

[@musicteacher5757]

Runners are edible.

[@dragosd8992]

Can you please do a follow up of those rhizomes ?

[@bamboosourcery]

Good idea.

[@dragosd8992]

@bamboosourcery I am thrilled to see your answer ! I was watching it again and again as I intend to propagate several hundred rhizomes of phyllostachys edulis. Could you please also talk more about soil composition, how often you irrigate and what pots you use ? Edit: typos

[@watzegjemedaarnouvan]

dose bisseti grow fast

[@bamboosourcery]

Yes. 3 ft. per year.

[@user-mo3ks2kq6i]

Hello ! Do you have any for sale? Do you deliver in Romania?

[@bamboosourcery]

No, we do not deliver to Romania. Try www.bambooweb.info/Sources.php

[@deniecedonnafield4749]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@bamboosourcery]

🌟

[@sueguidry4216]

Where to buy bamboo starters😊

[@bamboosourcery]

www.bambooweb.info/Sources.php

[@marcussamuel8009]

Kind of soil is?

[@bamboosourcery]

Rich, well draining potting soil. bamboosourcery.com/project/site-and-soil-preparation/

[@billyb6001]

yes. but how do I kill it?

[@livefree5997]

Vinegar and salt is pretty effective i hear.

[@bamboosourcery]

@@livefree5997 Not the case... It'll hurt it but not get rid of it.

[@bamboosourcery]

You need to physically dig out the rhizomes. No poison is effective.

[@dragosd8992]

I have several questions about rhizome propagation. I am from Europe. Do you have any way we can communicate? reddit ?

[@staceylam762]

I thought they want lots of water

[@rraqua1279]

Bamboos can single handily transform the garden into Japanese garden

[@rabbipemberton179]

ᵖʳᵒᵐᵒˢᵐ ☹️

[@jamiecramer5834]

whats up with the awful music??????????

[@bamboosourcery]

HAHAHA! You think it's awful?... we thought it was pretty fitting!

[@Bobdinkins666]

What’s up with the stupid comment?

[@MrsJohnDawes]

What's up with unhappiness ?. I like the music . Ya man

[@Whatsthedealsquirter]

Excellent video this helped me a ton thank you very much keep doing what you're doing we all appreciate it