Propagation by Division

Many plants can be propagated by means of dividing them up into smaller clumps, each with its own section of root.

Houseplants suitable for division are - Chlorophytum, Cyperus, Maranta, Saintpaulia, Sansevieraia and many ferns.

Most Herbaceous perennial border plants can be propagated in this way and it ensures that you have a continuance of plants in your garden, in fact they should be lifted, divided and replanted every few years to prevent them from forming large clumps which are poor in the centre.

Method -

Houseplants

Knock the plant out of its old pot in spring or early summer and carefully remove the compost to expose the segments. Separate these segments by gently pulling away from the clump or if necessary by cutting, leaving each segment with a section of shoot and roots. Transplant each segment into its own pot ensuring that the compost is worked well into the roots to prevent air pockets forming. Water sparingly until the plant is in full growth.

Herbaceous Perennials

The best time to carry out this operation is early in the year (March - April) when the plants are just beginning to shoot after the winter dormancy. Those plants that flower early in the year (dorinicum, symphytum, pulmonaria, primula and primroses) should be divided as soon as they finish flowering.

There are a few plants that resent being moved; these include romneya, paeony, helleborus, alstroemeria, echinops eryngium, Papaver orientalis and Japanese anenome. Plants that grow from a single stem , cannot, of course be propagated by division.

Lift the clump carefully with a fork and shake off as much soil as possible (the soil can be washed off if needed using a hosepipe).

Insert 2 garden forks back to back in the centre of the clump and gently prise it apart by pulling the fork handles outwards. Keep doing this until you have small manageable clumps of shoot and roots. Discard the tired centre of the clump and replant only the young outer parts.

Rhizomes

Plants that form rhizomes (swollen stems just below or on the soil surface) such as the iris, can be also be propagated by division. These should be divided immediately after flowering.

Lift the rhizomes and using a sharp knife cut into sections, each containing a leaf fan and a portion of rhizome with roots attached. Replant each section and trim the leaf fan to reduce damage by rocking in the wind.

Tubers

Plants that form tubers such as Dahlias can also be divided in the same way as rhizomes. Cut the tuber to contain a dormant bud on each section.

Bulbs & Corms

Bulbs such as daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, and corms, such as gladioli, form offspring around their bases. These are known as bulblets and cormlets.

If the parent bulbs and corms are dug up after the foliage has died down, the bulblets or cormlets can be removed and stored until the correct planting time; Autumn (September / October) for bulbs and late spring (March - April) for corms.