Miscanthus - Planting, Dividing, Propagating (In Detail)

[@vistillia]

I have to say you are one of big inspirations for me in my quest for more self sustainability at my house. Your explanations and instruction in permaculture helped me move from struggling with just seeds to adding in more sturdy, self sufficient food plants to my set up. I just wish I had your twin set up somewhere down here in the sun tropics. Zone 9 makes me look oh so wistfully at many plants offered by yourself and some other decent commercial nurseries.

[@edibleacres]

Thanks for the kind words! I bet you'll find some great allies down there!

[@victoriousgardener]

Just got mine planted that i received from your nursery. I appreciate this video for my future dividing. Also appreciate all the facts and the sincere approach to your videos. My favorite permaculture channel!

[@edibleacres]

So happy to share ideas and plant material with you Vickie!

[@kamaartaliaferro6238]

Getting a PBS vibe from this video. I love it.

[@wilderfarmstead]

Love this video! My Miscanthus has done amazingly well this year with absolutely no care! Such a hardy stock, I can't wait to see what they do next year after a good winter's rest.

[@princessresinista9080]

I got a couple of clumps from my friend in the summer and it really didn’t work out so she gave me a few more clumps that I am hoping will get done now that it’s the dormant season! Thank you for making this! I’m making a privacy wall!

[@edibleacres]

Hope it works out in wonderful ways for you!

[@letyvence]

Thank you!

[@mycedarridge]

I just got my start from you and Googled how to plant it and you popped up! 😂 Perfect!!

[@edibleacres]

Ha! Hope it is helpful.

[@BroadShouldersFarm]

After watching this video, I now feel really bad for asking for 10 clumps in mid-March! This is WORK!

[@edibleacres]

Ha!

[@dougmoring7321]

THAT'S THE HEALTHIEST SOIL IVE EVER SEEN.

[@lulabelle4760]

Reminds me of digging up bamboo. I had a big container full of bamboo that needed dividing and transplanting. After struggling and fighting , then breaking the container apart, it came out of the container. Then using the shovel, pick and a saw to divide it...I gave up and drug the chainsaw out and accomplished the task. It wasn't gentle but it worked! A girl has to be creative!

[@edibleacres]

The two plant types are really similar. Super tough, woody roots that really lock together!

[@comedianscottyk4783]

Thanks for posting this Bro! I was wondering if I could do this with what I planted 2 years ago!!! 😊

[@edibleacres]

You can! Recommend that you focus on doing the work in the spring though...

[@milo1245]

Hi great information in detail,thanks. In the next couple of weeks I'll be splitting and moving my miscanthus to a more sunnier spot for Spring 👏.

[@edibleacres]

Hope it goes wonderfully for you.

[@elizabethsansom6447]

Very nice job

[@castrolrmk6069]

Thank you very much for this information. Much appreciated 👍

[@Ultrazaubererger]

I have found that if you sacrifice some rootlets with a more brutal approach you can save a lot of time and effort. Where I learned perennial gardening we separated the plants with old pruners (take the spring out, grab them in the middle and hack at the soil clump). After some hacking you can use your hands to split the clump. With some experience you can separate a lot of plants very fast that way and the losses are not that big. You sacrifice about 10% yield for about 50% time saved and you don't have to get your hands wet (8 hours in 5-10°C environment is bad enough on it's own). This way we separated all the Fall/winter plants like paeonia, hemerocallis, hosta, most of the grasses etc. But I don't recall having worked with miscanthus giganteus in particular except when I had to dig out a large/old patch of 'Aksel Olsen' which was one of my worst experiences* so maybe your method is the right approach here. *comes right after digging out hemerocallis in cold rain in the winter on a sloped field.

[@edibleacres]

Good suggestions and ideas here. I am not sure it would be much easier to tease apart clumps unless you used an axe! (not kidding!)

[@Juneloverain]

Beautiful yard!

[@edibleacres]

Thank you!

[@francefournier1118]

Excellent video , very informative , all I need to know , i have a beautiful miscanthus that needs ro be relocated.. now I feel confident to do it. Thank you ,

[@edibleacres]

It is certainly serious work, and very tough, but very rewarding. Spring seems better than fall for this work, too...

[@williamnorris1380]

Excellent

[@liam314]

You can propagate Miscanthus from stem cuttings taken in summer. The 1st and 2nd nodes will root if placed in water for about 2 weeks, and then planted out. Might be less work than doing this! ;)

[@lupapp75]

You can propagate from the stems too. Cut the stems and put them in water.

[@miscanthustechnology]

Good luck!

[@francefournier1118]

Yes very tough I have tried it last Year it was so difficult i thought i was going to kill my plant , so I gave up. This time i will dig on the side to try to get under the roots. I will need some assistance from my better half I think😀

[@denisew7552]

Hi there, thanks for sharing this! I was also wondering, are there seeds that can be collected as another option? Thank you for your time 😊

[@aw5832]

That soil look magical compared to my heavy clay.

[@royhill9892]

You charge $10.00 a piece? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!

[@edibleacres]

We definitely don't charge that much. Rootlets cost as little as $1 a piece when bought in groups, $3 individually and clumps that can be divided into 5-10 individual rootlets later sell for $7... We offer this plant material at some of the lowest prices on the internet...

[@Maitki-tp7kd]

I did it without water today, it took a long Time I have now one and a half wheelbarrow of rootlegs

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Have you ever attempted rooting the node buds on the stems? I've read about doing that but haven't tried it yet. It requires a longer stem, and I assume you'd have to overwinter them indoors since you'd be collecting the buds in the fall before frost. Also, I saw that the DEC had classified Miscanthus sinensis as a regulated species. Is Miscanthus X giganteus exempted by being a hybrid?

[@edibleacres]

I don't see it on DEC as regulated or prohibited... It really doesn't spread by seed at all that I've found. I don't know about rooting the node buds, but I see stems with what seem quite promising swollen nuggets up a few inches to a foot quite often. I don't try planting them since there is so much other clonal material to work with, but could be an interesting experiment. Hoping to catch up sometime soon Tim!

[@oxbowfarm5803]

@@edibleacres Its in the Prohibited and Regulated Plants PDF, and it has Miscanthus sinensis as "Regulated" so it isn't clear to me where Miscanthus X giganteus fits since my understanding is that it is a sinensis hybrid. www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/isprohibitedplants2.pdf

[@howlie58]

Hi, I’m a newish subscriber to the channel. Your chicken composting videos got me hooked. I am in Western North Carolina (6b) and am wondering if miscanthus will work for me. We are in an area with a lot on invasive plants like flora rosa. I’m hopping I can use a miscanthus wall so my neighbors can’t see my birds and to help with soil erosion. Also, do you have a like where I can order some from you?

[@edibleacres]

We will be offering Miscanthus for spring shipment. We're updating our inventory and should have it available for order in the beginning of the new year. Should grow great for you!

[@chuchonation]

8:02 my lord turn that spade around and use it properly 🤦

[@peterriccardi5933]

when are you gonna have miscathus riezhone avelible

[@edibleacres]

March 1st

[@catchemalive]

What’s the best fertilizer for the new rhizomes once planted? Nitrogen?

[@edibleacres]

We've never fertilized but you can certainly save pee for a while and side dress. They don't need it it seems, maybe just nice mulch around them would be best...

[@deecanuck5514]

Wow! This is exactly what I needed to see. Thank you for the great video! Do you plant the roots in Spring? What do you do with them in the meantime? Would they survive winter outdoors in soil in a pot? I'm trying to divide up my 2 beautiful 5 year old chunks (zone 5), with the goal of planting them in a different location (zone 6)... but I may not be there til June. I'd hate to do all of that work and then kill them. :)

[@edibleacres]

I would wait until the spring to do the work if you can... You don't want them sitting in pots over winter...

[@deecanuck5514]

@@edibleacres Thank you!

[@HubsByG]

Is Miscanthus x Giganteus Invasive? If I plant a wall to help shield some wind, will it over take the garden? If it spreads, is it easy to control? I have limited dexterity in my fingers. Thanks.

[@edibleacres]

It is not. It expands but slowly and predictably.

[@HubsByG]

@@edibleacres Great, stuff thank you very much :)

[@mcd5478]

Chris Tracy, glad you asked. Was wondering the same thing. 👍🏼

[@bigweb0311]

Chris Tracy miscanthus giganteous is NOT invasive. Miscanthus grass is VERY INVASIVE. He should have explained that to you so you didn’t make that mistake.

[@HubsByG]

@@bigweb0311 From doing research and talking to growers here in the UK. Yes, Miscanthus Grasses are invasive, but the Miscanthus x Giganteus (variety used in this video), has sterile seeds. Once planted the Rhizomes will spread about 6 inches producing more shoots but then will stabalize for around 15 years of production. In Australia, they are developing new strains of Miscanthus which are also non-invasive and grow in wider environmental conditions and grow taller. They are using miscanthus in Australia for the production of Biomass, Diesel and Gasoline. Very interesting research. But thanks for replying. I thought it was invasive like it's non-hybrid strains like miscanthus sinensis.

[@devonh2290]

Do you cut back the stalks if you aren't propagating them, or can you leave them up year round as the wall? If you leave them up, does that impact new growth the next year? We have planted some this year to also create a living wall. No signs of new shoots yet here in zone 6a, but hopefully soon.

[@edibleacres]

I think it is generally beneficial to cut them back before new growth starts the next year. More light and air for the new growth and a cleaner look. Plus the canes are useful!

[@mycedarridge]

Quick question, Sean. How long did it take for y'all to get that nice of a wall?

[@edibleacres]

We planted larger 'clumps' in year one and at a spacing of about 6"-1' down the line, so by the end of year 1 it was an OK density, still spotty in places, but definitely in position. 3 years later and it's substantial to the point you can't see through or walk through. It can be a little slow to get going with smaller numbers and individual rootlets, but apply compost and mulch and care for them and they'll repay you with incredible beauty!

[@motownboyz1766]

Do u know if u can propagat these by putting the stocks "cuttings" in water or dirt to grow roots that way?

[@edibleacres]

That is possible. I haven't tried it but could work.

[@tnason04]

Why miscanthus rather than a native grass such as big blue stem or Indian grass?

[@edibleacres]

Miscanthus gets 12-14' tall and has incredibly strong stalks. Thats why I love working with it.

[@Greatperformancestoday]

When is the earliest you can divide miscanthus? Does it have to be late winter?

[@edibleacres]

I believe Miscanthus does it's absolute best in taking in late spring in transplanting and dividing, but that is in a cold climate. I suspect in warmer climates it will work fall and spring equally well but I don't know.

[@loraannrothfuss2865]

Can you use a small saw to cut apart the roots?

[@edibleacres]

I think so. A saw you don't mind beating up.

[@loraannrothfuss2865]

Do you need to take the papery coating off the rootlets?

[@edibleacres]

I really don't think you need to.

[@greenboyatgafarms2250]

Does it do well in South Alabama? How much for how much money can you get? How to order some? Really interested in getting some.

[@edibleacres]

We have it on our website at edibleacres.org but you can find it all over the internet.

[@melig7543]

Could you harvest it for bedding... like straw?

[@edibleacres]

Potentially, but I would think it would be VERY coarse and rough for the animals. The leaves that drop in the later fall would be quite nice, however.

[@melig7543]

@@edibleacres thank you for the quick reply!

[@soilbellefarm3710]

Do u have any for sale

[@jackofalltrades-maine.]

Send me some of that grass ?

[@joemug4079]

Damn! It befounds (not a real word) me how KZbinrs ask for free money! Making unprofessional videos is not money worthy! Get. A. Job! I post KZbin videos and would NEVER ask for FREE money! Good grief! Talk about socialism...and gall!

[@edibleacres]

Are you saying I'm asking for free money? You mean the reference to the paypal 'tip' link in the description?

[@edibleacres]

Checked out a few of your videos and realized I should apologize. I didn't realize I was dealing with a high level video production person. Your 'Pork Rinds and Camel Toe' video was phenomenal. I now understand why you are in a good position to judge the quality, intent, and value of other youtube folks! So worthwhile and interesting!