Tuesday, March 6, 2012

"Dividing Plants Are Free!"

  Two weekends ago I divided my hosta. I was wanting to put together something to show each of you how to do this money saving technique. I didn't get to take my own pictures as, I went, but I found this video that explains it much better. You can divide most any plant this way and add more off them to your own garden or share with family and friends. There are other forms of propagation but this is the simplest way to multiply your perennials. When I divided mine, you could just see the eyes pooping through the soil and the had already began to do what I call donuting, (dieing in the center). Many perennials tend to die out from the center if not divided on a regular basis. The roots in the center of the clump become so densely overcrowded that they can't take up enough nutrients and water from the reduced amount of available soil. Plants that have died-out in the center, as well as plants that have fewer or smaller flowers than in previous seasons, need to be divided. This rejuvenates aging plants and may extend their life span in the garden.
   The frequency recommendations listed are intended as general guidelines for maintaining the health and vigor of perennials under average growing conditions. Gardens that are watered, weeded and fertilized on a regular basis may have plants that need to be divided more frequently to keep them contained within their allotted space.

  Most plants you divide about every 3 years and there are a few plants that are recommended not to be divided Baby's Breath,Balloon Flower,Bugbane,Butterfly Weed,Clematis,Evening Primrose,False Indigo,Flax,Gentian,Lupine,Monkshood,Russian Sage. These are to be reproduced by seed but I know people that have had success with dividing some of these. 
  So get out there and get your hands dirty and have fun!

This is linked up to:
your-cozy-home-party#9 
Rural Thursday Blog Hop 

2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

27 comments:

  1. My brother is an amazing gardener. Every spring he divides his plants and repots them. Then he has a plant sale and usually makes enough to cover the trips he makes throughout the summer to different vacation spots.
    He gets a lot of repeat customers.

    I don't get the whole dividing thing. I figure everything grows how God designed it.

    Good luck and have fun!

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    1. It sounds like your brother has a good thing going there. That is how most greenhouses got started back in the old days!
      If you think about the way God designed us though. Look at Adam and Eve, He designed them to take care of the Garden of Eden. Propagating is our way of helping God with His creation.

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  2. Interesting. I've never tried to divide anything before.

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    1. It is so fun and free. You should give it a try soon. Plus you can share and trade with other gardeners. Some states have plant swaps!

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  3. Hosta. The most generous plnat in the garden. You divide them, give them away, move them away and they still grow and grow. We should all be so 'giving"

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    1. Hello, They are like the Energizer Bunny. They keep going and going! lol

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  4. I love garden tips. I know absolutely nothing, but I am about to learn! Can't wait to start my little garden.

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    1. Follow along! There are many gardeners welling to share what they know and answer questions.

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  5. So very true. Dividing and propagating are frugal and beautiful ways to expand the home garden!

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  6. Hi Clint! We grew hostas one year and the flowers were huge and gorgeous but the bugs devoured them. It was so disappointing. Thank you for sharing the information about dividing. :-) Hugs

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    1. Try sprinkling Epsom Salts around the base of them!

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  7. I love it! We get to share what we have lots of with others. It means so much more to say my friend, or mother etc. gave me this memories in the making. Also it is great to have more plants for no money.

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  8. What great information! I'm stopping over from the garden party. :)

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  9. I'm afraid I lack HORTICULTURAL patience!
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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    1. Patience is something you really don't have to have. Just a little time to relax! Glad you stopped by Roger!

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  10. Another great post Clint. Thank you.

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  11. i've never tried to divide any plant before...i'm lucky i don't kill it off anyway!

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    1. Most Perennials are very hardy and dividing only helps them!

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  12. I totally agree that dividing plants is a great way to expand the plant supply for no money. I also like to take cuttings of plants to root them. With a quick snip, I can grow more hydrangeas, spirea, rose of sharon, and other woody stemmed plants. It takes about 6 weeks for them to root, but it's almost as convenient as dividing them.

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    1. That is another great way to get more free plants!

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  13. I love sharing plants with neighbors this way...money saving too!

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  14. Great post. I have a question for you: I have an orchid that sprouted roots and a shoot from the stem. How do I separate it and repot it? Any suggestions?

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    1. The way dad always did it was, he would separate it from the roots and leave it it the original ground until fall. Then he would dig it up and pot it for one year. Then replant. He seemed to have pretty good luck with that.

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  15. Yes! I need to divide some daylilies this year. I love it when I can plant new areas of my yard with growth from plants I already have. :-)

    Look forward to seeing more of your garden at the TGP- thanks for sharing!

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    1. Hello Jami, thanks for stopping in. It is fun to get more plants isn't it?

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