HOW-TO DIVIDE & REPOT A HOUSEPLANT

The purpose of these instructions is to show you how to divide and replant a houseplant. This is a task that can be completed by any home gardener and anyone with an intermediate knowledge of plants. So long as you can read and are able to handle sharp objects, no matter your skill level, you will be able to accomplish the task with these directions and a little persistence. Children can help with this project so long as they have adult supervision and assistance with things that are sharp or heavy.

MATERIALS:
Pots/containers for planting in Knife Scissors Newspapers or other surface covering Disinfectant solution/cleaner as needed Potting Medium Trowel

PREPARATIONS:
1. Stop watering the plant that needs to be divided. This is not a necessary step but it is a helpful one. If you stop watering at least a few days prior to repotting the plant it makes it easier to handle and manipulate. Lifting the plant is easier as the soil lacks the water weight and it is easier to remove the extra soil from around the roots. 2. Determine how many divisions (or baby plants) will be made from your plant. This will give you an idea of how many pots you will need. Keep in mind, the larger the plant the more divisions youll have. This is just a rough estimate and you may find that you need to change your plans along the way. 3. Sanitize containers. If the container is new, this might not be necessary. Using a 1/10 bleach solution is a common way to clean tools, pots, and so on. Try to use the most earth-friendly options available and avoid using broad spectrum solutions. Try and clean with the appropriate supplies. For example, if there is mold then use fungicide; if dirt and debris then soap; if foreign pests then pesticide. 4. Lay down surface covering. Cover your workspace to protect it from dirt and damage. 5. Assemble and set up your materials. Bring everything you need together. Take this time and make sure you have read all the way through the directions. Think about and look up any information that is specific to you, your plant, and any other concerns unique to you.

TOTAL PROCEDURE TIME: ABOUT 45 MINUTES. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THE MORE DIVISIONS YOU PLAN TO MAKE WILL ADD ON MORE TIME INTO YOUR OVERALL PROCEDURE TIME.

PROCEDURE:
FIGURE 1 1. Loosen the plant from the pot. A nice trick to do this is to run a knife around the outside edge. You may want an additional container underneath the pot to catch soil that spills out over the lip of the pot. (See Fig.1) Sometimes, more will fall out then the newspaper can handle and if it is wet it will be particularly messy. 2. Hold the pot at an angle pointed away from you. 3. While firmly holding the base of the plant, gently pull away from you. (See Fig. 2) The plant and its rootball should pop right out. If not, go back to step 1 and try using the knife again. Be as patient and gentle as possible but do not worry about small injuries. Plants are resistant and resilient creatures, they will recover. DO NOT TAKE THIS FOR GRANTED: make sure you know if your particular plant has special needs or characteristics you need to be aware of. If your plant did not come with an identification tag, contact your local garden center, florist, or university extension FIGURE 2 office. They can help you find the information you need. 4. Divide the plant. If several plants have grown too large to cohabitate one container, then all you have to do is carefully pull them apart, taking care to damage as little of the roots as possible. (See Fig. 3) FIGURE 3

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If you have to separate plant material you may need a knife. Plantlets, or baby plants, often grow in a way that allows them to snap-off the parent. If the plant material is too thick or too large, use a sterile knife. (See Fig. 4) ALWAYS SANITIZE TOOLS USED TO CUT LIVING TISSUE. Prepare your pot. Use the trowel to scoop FIGURE 4 potting medium into the pot. No more than an inch or two at this point. A good tip for making sure that the potting medium does not spill out through the bottom of the pot is to place a coffee filter down before putting the soil in. Check the planting depth. Hold the plant in the pot. If FIGURE 5 the roots are just resting on the soil surface, or minimally folded over, with the crown of the plant no less than an inch below the lip of the pot, then you are ready to fill the dirt in around the roots. (See Fig. 5) If the roots are too cramped, then you should remove some of the soil in the bottom of the pot and try again. If you STILL are having issues fitting the plant in the container properly, you need to try a larger pot. Fill soil in around the plant roots. Once you have figured out the planting depth you can add dirt in around the roots. You may have to adjust the plants position as you add more dirt and push it firmly into place. Take your time, be gentle with the plant, and DO NOT PACK THE POTTING MEDIUM. Plant roots need water and oxygen and when a potting medium is overcompressed, it loses the pockets used to store these much needed things. Water well. If the potted plant is small enough, you may want to just place it in the sink to water it. Water it thoroughly and let it drain fully before placing it. If you are dealing with a large container, you may want to place it in its permanent location before watering, or close to it. Once watered, it will be substantially heavier, keep this in mind. If you do have to water it in place, then consider using something larger than the pots saucer to catch the water. An old storage tub that has lost its lid works really well. Let the pot drain and remove from tub. Come back and check the saucer every so often to remove excess water until it stops draining. Repeat steps 5-8 until all the divisions you made are planted.