generation
An promiscuous , foolproof almost , means of getting more plant is to divide what you already have into smaller plants . This technique act upon on many clump or mat form perennials that die back to a crown over the winter . I always thought that the right time to divide plants was when they are abeyant , during the dark , cold month of wintertime . While there are some tough - as - old - boots plants that can hold out being rent apart and replanted in dusty cockeyed land , many wo n’t stand up for it and red are probable . I have had special success with this coming in the yesteryear . Funnily enough helenium is one of the plant that should tolerate being muck about with in the winter .
In fact there are three time of the year when industrial plant can be successfully divided .
The timing are optimal as they are in line with plant lifelike growth cycle , peculiarly of the antecedent . In fountain and summer the plant are either getting ready to spring up or are already develop well so are better able to reclaim from being labour up , split and replanted . The soil is also warmer and there is more daylight .
Since we ’re in early spring here in the south of England , I ’ve taken the opportunity to give it a brawl .
I have a clump of helenium which actually is only a twain of years old , grown from seed the yr before last . The original pigeonholing was three plants . lease ’s see how many I can get from those . Have a guess !
The clump. Clump is a good word. Clump clump clump.
First line is to labour them up . Nothing too complicated about that , it ’s a event of getting a fork in under the plant and prise it up and down , loosening the roots , move the fork around the clump until it can be lifted .
The temptation is to plunge in to the top of the cluster with the fork and start pulling it apart . I see a video recently which advised against this , to avoid damage the shoots . rather he advised twist the clunk on its side and cleave it from there .
There ’s more than one way to skin this khat , but the two forking approach is the one I care . Two forks , jammed in to the clump back to back . Then they just need wiggling rearwards and frontwards . I find that the action that provide the most leveraging is to utilize the angle of the ramification and crusade the handles together ( rather than aside ) . The metal tines then push each other aside , taking the clunk with them . But do n’t sweat it , jiggle back and off does the business . If I did n’t have two forks I ’d probably have used a spade or even a saw to split the clod .
There it is. Ready to split
I kept proceed with the crotch until the clod were modest enough to pull aside with my hands .
I took the tray into Propagation HQ ( the shed ) for further training . Some of the little clumps were baffling to separate with my hands , the crest section was too hard . luckily there ’s an easy remedy for this , an old bread knife , or saw in my case , does the job . Just chop em in two , aiming for shoots and roots in both sections . This seems drastic but is not traumatic to the plant . Mind your fingers …
As I was divide them up I removed the old woody stems , bits of crown and roots , they have no further part to run .
Going in from the side
Next , I cleaned the individual divisions . I found that theatrical role I ’d antecedently think were one potential plant often became two when I clean the clay off .
I leave them in a tray of water so I could catch the Calcutta Cup on the idiot box . perhaps I call for a tv set in the shed ?
As you’re able to see , the root are all-embracing and would be a pain to deal up , so I ’ve trimmed them to a more manageable sizing , just using my shed scissors . This should also encourage the industrial plant into a burst of new origin increase , same deal as prune top growth .
Rent asunder.
I managed to fit nearly all of them into 7 cm sight , with just a few needing a big 9 cm pot . The smallest pot for the job is always the most suitable .
After all that mucking about , from those three original plants , I have a total of 34 new flora ! jolly right return on a couple of hours investment . No special technique , equipment , potions or conditions were required . 34 ! From 3 !
In theory , all those plant can be planted directly back in the ground , but I ’ve potted them up and they can endure in the nursery for a few weeks to recover from the harm of my tender fork and see discourse .
Look at all them roots!
In the procedure of divide the clustering there was some collateral scathe , a few shoots came away without roots bond . These are effectively mini basal cuttings , if a little smaller than commonly recommended . Brucie bonus ! I ’ve plow them consequently , placing them in cuttings compost . They ’ll go in the heated bench to hopefully put on ascendent over the come few week . It will also be easygoing for me to take basal cutting from the larger group of divisions before planting them out . brainsick poppycock . Propagation square ! I ’ll do a post on basal cuttings in the next few weeks .
I ’ve got an tremendous old clump of astilbe which will get the same part discussion at some percentage point , further supply to my oversupply problem … .
I ’ll be back soon with more multiplication merriment .
I saw action in the shed…
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Woody bits useless.
Bathtime
All nice and clean
Get a haircut you scruffy urchin!
That’s better boy!
3 into 34 does go!
