How to grow bamboo from cuttings in water – 3 simple steps with expert tips for success

I'm a big fan of propagating. It's a great way to get more plants for free and the process itself is exciting to observe. When you start to get to grips with propagation, there's no doubt that you'll soon want to multiply every plant you have. Even the most unique plants can be propagated, so long as you understand how to best do it for that specific plant.

If you grow bamboo, you can easily grow cuttings in water to get more shoots and grow more canes. There are so many varieties of bamboo and it's no secret that you have to be careful when growing it outdoors to stop bamboo from spreading. While it's possible to propagate all types of bamboo, you might find it easier to work with smaller varieties.

The woody nature of bamboo may be intimidating, but it's actually very simple to grow bamboo from cuttings in water. Here are some expert tips for how to do it successfully, so that you can grow more these beautiful, structural plants.

3 simple steps to rooting bamboo cuttings in water

When it comes to propagating bamboo, it's all about perseverance and providing the optimal growing conditions for roots to develop. By following just a few steps, your bamboo cuttings could be ready to plant up after six weeks.

1. Take a healthy bamboo cutting

The first step to growing bamboo in water is taking cuttings and ensuring they're in the best condition for propagating.

'Choose a bamboo shoot from a healthy culm that's at least one year old. Make a clean cut about six to 12 inches long, just below a node where new roots will form,' says Shane Brill, gardening expert and director the community garden at Washington College in Chestertown, MD.

A culm refers to the hollow, woody cane of bamboo. It's best to choose a shoot that is growing healthily off the culm. You should cut by a leaf node, identifiable as a line along the shoot.

Depending on the type of bamboo you're trying to grow in water, you'll need different essential gardening tools to take the cuttings. These pruning snips from Walmart will work well for bamboo with softer stems, but larger varieties may require something like these bypass pruning shears from Amazon.

Shane Brill

Shane is a gardening expert, permaculturist, wellness advocate, and educator, uniquely positioning him to see, and speak to, the effects of community gardens, especially where young adults are concerned.

2. Remove any lower leaves on your cutting

One of the most common water propagation mistakes is not removing the foliage that sits below water level. This results in leaves rotting, hindering the health of your cutting. You can simply remove lower leaves with your hands.

Once your cutting is cleaned up, you can choose to dip the bottom of your bamboo cutting in a rooting hormone, although this isn't a requirement. This is a substance made up of nutrients and chemicals that help stimulate root growth.

'Supercharge rooting by first submerging the cut shoots overnight in willow water, which is a powerful rooting hormone,' suggests Shane. 'Simply gather young branches from any willow tree and strip the leaves, then chop and blend into a watery slurry before straining for use. Permaculture interns at Washington College use willow water for great propagation results with both soil- and water-based cuttings,' he adds.

You can also purchase this rooting powder from Amazon, which is designed to help with the root development of woody plants like bamboo.

3. Place your bamboo cutting in clean water

The final step is to place your prepared bamboo cutting in water, enough to cover at least the bottom node. It's key to ensure the water is clean to increase chances of root development and deter any pests or diseases. You should also keep your water cutting in a warm spot, maybe even using an indoor greenhouse.

'Because sunlight can encourage algae, place in a bright spot with indirect light. Change the water every few days to keep the cutting oxygenated and prevent rot,' Shane advises.

You can also use a range of indoor growing systems to both observe the root development of your bamboo cuttings and display your bamboo propagation beautifully - like with this propagation station from Amazon.

If you're struggling to provide sufficient light for your bamboo cuttings, you can also use this grow light from Amazon. Grow lights for plants provide extra light for young plants and help provide the perfect environment for root development.

'Roots will form within a few weeks. When the roots are a few inches long, the bamboo can be transplanted into moist, well-drained soil,' says Shane.

FAQs

Can you propagate bamboo by division?

It's easy to multiply your bamboo by division. Using a sharp tool like a spade, you can split the root ball and detach rhizomes growing young canes from the main plant. It's best to do this during spring before the active growth period kicks in. You should then replant the separate plants and keep them well-watered to help them establish.

Bamboo is a fun plant to try propagating from cuttings in water. By providing the optimal growing conditions, you'll notice roots develop in no time and you'll soon have new bamboo plants for free.

Once your new plants have established in your yard, it can be wise to keep on top of cutting bamboo back to control this aggressive grower.