Phlox paniculata Graf Zeppelin: potted-up perennials and bulbs are a quick way to produce new plants

Maths has never been my strong suit but in regard to plants, multiplication by division has been on my mind lately. Our garden club has a spring ramble coming up, at which a fundraising plant stall is customarily held. I normally have quite a few plants I have propagated to donate to the stall but because of going overseas this year, I had cleared the decks of most of my potted plants so that it wasn't a burden for other people to look after too many of them.

Rhizomatous Begonia can be divided and pieces potted up

Rhizomatous Begonia can be divided and pieces potted up

This means, however, that I have had to look for other ways to come up with some plants within a fairly short timeframe. Dividing clumps of rhizomatous perennials has been the answer! These plants already have roots, so the propagating process is expedited. Not only does the operation result in plants for the sale, it gives my clumps a new lease on life. I often neglect the job of splitting up these plants, as it seems such a bore, but they really do need to be divided and replanted into soil amended with some organic matter every so often. They are such forgiving plants, surviving and blooming quite well even when congested, that it seems the least I can do to pay them a bit of attention. The task doesn't have to be done every year - every two or three years seems about right. But it is amazing how quickly those years roll by ...

An overcrowded Farfugium japonicum Argenteum has been divided and extra pieces potted up

An overcrowded Farfugium japonicum Argenteum has been divided and extra pieces potted up

Over the past few weeks, I have been dividing herbaceous perennials such as Aster, Farfugium, some species Geranium and Phlox. At this time of year, the basal rosettes of leaves of such perennials can look so insignificant, that it is hard to imagine that they will soon develop into the robust, tall plants they will become once spring is here. When dug up, however, the sturdy root systems attached to each cluster of tiny leaves, assures me that they are indeed in good fettle. Usually, it is possible to pull the clump apart with your hands, though with bigger perennials, a knife or even a small axe may be required.

Shasta daisies can be split up now

Shasta daisies can be split up now

Old, woody pieces are discarded and for the purposes of propagation, the extra viable pieces that I don't replant into the ground are potted up straightaway into clean pots filled with good-quality potting mix, then watered with a seaweed solution. Each pot is labelled with the plant's name and the flower colour, where various colours are grown. The pots are initially kept in a fairly shady spot then gradually moved into more sun as they establish. I keep the water up to them and once they are showing signs of growth, give them regular, weak feeds of soluble plant food.

Miniature Agapanthus Storm

Miniature Agapanthus Storm

Other rhizomatous perennials I intend to tackle include daylilies, Shasta daisies, Liriope, miniature forms of Agapanthus (including an interesting new cultivar called 'Storm' that I recently acquired, which has yellow-striped foliage), Canna, Begonia, Ajuga, Bulbine, various ferns, Xanthosoma and Colocasia. Not all may establish in time for the sale but hopefully there will be some reasonable plants ready by then.

Zephyranthes minuta

Zephyranthes minuta

Overcrowded summer- and autumn-flowering bulbs and tubers, such as Dahlia, Haemanthus, Zephyranthes and Hymenocallis, can also be divided and replanted now, with extra pieces potted up, as described for the rhizomatous perennials.

Propagation can be fun, and it is a great way of ensuring that our favourite plants live on in the gardens of others, as so many of the old-fashioned stalwarts just aren't available in nurseries these days.