Large Bamboo Division: Learn When To Split Potted Bamboo Plants

Bamboo plants are wonderful plants to grow in pots. Many varieties are invasive when planted in the ground, so growing them in pots is a great solution, but they will grow pretty quickly and can be a challenge to repot.
How to Divide Large Potted Bamboo
Let’s go over how to repot bamboo. Be sure to have the following tools available before you start: a knife, pruning saw, good pair of scissors or pruning shears, and one or more new pots.
Large bamboo division can be awkward and difficult if done alone, so you may want to have a friend help you out too.
If your potted bamboo needs splitting, here is what you can do:
- First of all, how do you know when to split potted bamboo? Getting the timing correct is important. The best time timeframe for dividing potted bamboo and repotting is late winter. You’ll want to avoid the active growing season, spring and summer, when you can disturb the root ball too much.
- Give your potted bamboo a good watering to hydrate the root ball. Next, you’ll want to run a knife around the perimeter of the pot in order to help loosen the root ball. Bamboo plants have very vigorous, dense root systems so this step is important!
- Then tip the pot over gently, with the help of a friend, if needed, and remove the plant from the pot. If the bottom of the root ball has thick matted roots, cut off the bottom inch (2.5 cm.) or so with a pruning saw.
- Next, return the plant to an upright position and use the pruning saw to divide the root ball into two or more pieces. Simply saw right through the root ball into as many divisions as you’d like. As you are doing this, you may want to test if the division can be teased away from the main root ball using your hands. Otherwise, keep sawing until each division breaks loose.
- For each division, be sure to remove any dead, rotten, or severely damaged roots. Remove any soil that is loose. Repot each of the divisions into their new pots. Be sure to give the divisions a good watering and monitor carefully until they become more established.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free copy of our e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes".
-
Should You Really Move Houseplants Outdoors In Summer? Learn The Truth To Help Them Thrive
Many of us move houseplants outside during the summer months. Explore the benefits and how to best care for houseplants outdoors so they flourish.
-
Best Climbing Roses For Every Garden: 12 Stunning Varieties For Pergolas, Arches & Walls
Discover the best climbing roses to plant in your garden to ensure a long summer of glorious blooms.
-
Bamboo Winter Care – How To Winterize Bamboo Plants
Winterizing bamboo is important to facilitate continued growth again in spring. Click here to get some tips for your bamboo during winter.
-
Toxic Berries To Birds – Do Nandina Berries Kill Birds
Are nandina berries of heavenly bamboo poisonous? Yes! The berries contain cyanide and can be toxic berries to birds. Learn more here.
-
Desert Bamboo Varieties – Growing Bamboo In The Desert
Growing bamboo in the desert or finding one desert climates starts with the right plant selection. Click here for choices that do well in arid climates.
-
Heavenly Bamboo Control – How To Get Rid Of Heavenly Bamboo Bushes
Many gardeners want to learn about heavenly bamboo management. Click here for tips on how to get rid of Nandina in the landscape.
-
Native Nandina Alternatives: Heavenly Bamboo Replacement Plants
-
Bamboo Mite Information – Learn How To Kill Bamboo Spider Mites
What are bamboo mites? Native to Japan, bamboo mites are troublesome little pests that feed on bamboo and a few grasses in the bamboo family. Managing bamboo mites isn?t easy, but it?s possible. You can learn more about bamboo mite control in the following article.
-
Nandina Plant Pruning: Tips For Cutting Back Heavenly Bamboo Shrubs
Nandina plants can get leggy as they grow taller. Pruning heavenly bamboo plants keeps these foundation shrubs dense and bushy. If you want to learn how to prune nandina, we?ll give you the top tips on cutting back heavenly bamboo in this article.
-
Black Bamboo Info: Tips On Growing Black Bamboo
While bamboo provides the instant gratification of being a fast grower, some varieties of bamboo can become very invasive and grow out of control. Is black bamboo invasive? Click on this article for the answer and learn how to care for black bamboo.