Yes,it's true.make sure you bury a node (ring).
division is the most common method for most.

It's *a* preferred method for some species. For running timber bamboos it's a very common way of propogating for timber farms. It works with clumpers, but some are harder than others. The hard ones may take a couple years and greenhouse conditions to produce plants.

Here's the single node method that seems to be used more for clumpers:

Here is a link that might be useful: Timor propogation

Yes, you can use single or double node culm cuttings for species such as Oldhammi, Vulgaris, Beechyana, and others.

For multiplex varieties I have had greater success by burying the whole culm and leaving a few branches exposed above ground at each node.

Almost always I use a 50/50 peat/perlite mix but we did do some last year that we rooted directly in the ground with no soil additives.

I have lots of pics here...

http://www.gator-ventures.com/bamboo/propagation/

Here is a link that might be useful: Bamboo Propagation

Wow, that's impressive! One more reason to love boo...

I was floored at a Japanese nursery today with something along the lines of these posts and I'm wondering if I could do something like this without the huge cost of what I saw. The nursery had a 6" diameter yellow stalk of bamboo that was about 2' high planted in rocks. Two nodes were above 'ground' with shoots of branches emerging around those rings. The cutting extended about 2" higher than the upper node, where a hole had been drilled. It was said that one would need to keep the stalk filled with water daily but that the plant would grow and could be trimmed to keep from going too tall. The bamboo itself was described as a variegated runner type, with the mother bamboo having come from Hawaii many years ago.

Now.. is there a name for this thing for me to learn more? How long might such a thing sustain itself as an indoor plant in Southern California? Where might I be able to find such a culm to work with? Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated!