On Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:35:36 +0100, David Hill wrote:

On 27/06/2013 09:20, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 26/06/2013 22:12, David.WE.Roberts wrote:
Just bought a black bamboo plant from a local garden centre at half
price - £17.50 for a large pot which isn't bad when a small pot of
'normal' bamboo was £11.99.

Guy at the garden centre said it was worth trying to split it, before
planting up, as you can get several 'free' plants with luck.

So I Googled 'splitting bamboo'.

Apparently I need an assistant with very flexible legs and a relaxed
attitude.

However I am not sure quite how this helps me make new bamboo plants.

Blush

Cheers

Dave R

You may have to break or split the pot if it is potbound. The roots
are incredibly strong - they will be jammed tight inside a terracotta
pot and will easily deform a plastic pot. Once out, you may need a saw
or old bread knife to divide the plant.

Keep it well watered after replanting or repotting. You may find there
is very little soil left in the pot if the bamboo has been in there a
long time, so prewatering the old pot before division (which is often
recommended prior to splitting almost any plant) may not have much
effect.

Some good info he
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/divide-...boo-71426.html

I wouldn't do it at this time of year, I would leave it till the Autumn
when the plant/plants require less water.

Yes, this is one risk we are weighing up.

If when we take it out of the pot there are some easily separated rhizomes
at the edge we may try and trim a few off and start them in pots.

Taking an axe to the main root cluster is probably not a good idea at the
moment despite the cool and moist weather, and the fact that any resulting
plants will be in pots and so can be intensively watered in a controlled
manner.

Something to contemplate, as you say, for spring or autumn.

Cheers

Dave R