 |
Division
Division involves pulling up large, overgrown plants and breaking them apart
at the roots to produce several plants. Spring is the best time to divide
indoor plants. Since it is the beginning of the growing season plants will
just be coming out of a rest period into a huge growth spurt and could use
the extra space in their pots. The best way to prepare for division is to
water the plant the day before so that the soil is compact and easy to
extract from the container. The following day, carefully remove the plant
from the pot onto a surface covered with newspaper or sheeting. Smaller
plants can be pulled apart by holding the plant in both hands and gently
separating the stems and roots that have become entangled in one another. If
the plant will not divide through gentle tugging it is better to use a knife
or pruning shears to get the job done. Torn stems and roots can introduce
diseases into the plant and prevent a quick recovery. Remember that
propagation is similar to a delicate surgical operation. Open wounds can
invite all sorts of diseases and pathogens into a plant that has just
undergone a sensitive procedure.
Mid summer is the right time of year to divide garden plants such as irises
after they have finished blooming, or spring flowering bulbs with exhausted
foliage. Fall is the best time to divide most other garden plants. Perennial
plants have had a full growing season to expand and become too large for
their space, and the cool fall air is a relief from the scorching summer
sun. The procedure for dividing outdoor plants is similar to indoor plants
with the exception that you will need to dig the plant out of the soil
instead of simply tilting a pot. Be sure to dig around the plant, taking
care to avoid cutting off roots and hurting the plant. If a plant is really
large, use a shovel to cut through and divide the roots instead of a pair of
shears. Once you are through dividing the plant, put one piece back into the
original hole and plant the rest elsewhere or put into pots to give to
friends. Fertilize and liberally water the new plants to ensure that the
plant settles in with strong root growth before the cold weather sets in.
|
