Is it ok to saw a plant in half so I get two? Yes I know it's out of focus, I didn't check it before potting the plants, I dunno what the camera focused on, but I can't see it in the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ite4os19jh...plant.JPG?dl=0

On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 17:51:50 -0000, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Sat, 26 Nov 2016 17:41:38 -0000, "James Wilkinson Sword"
wrote:

Is it ok to saw a plant in half so I get two? Yes I know it's out of focus, I didn't check it before potting the plants, I dunno what the camera focused on, but I can't see it in the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ite4os19jh...plant.JPG?dl=0


Perfectly OK. It's the best way of dividing some plants, usually
perennials. It's not appropriate for shrubs. I have used an axe on
particularly thick roots. Just pot up the two halves in separate pots,
in a good compost, and they'll be fine.

Since this plant appears to grow seperate stalks from various parts of the roots, I thought it wouldn't mind too much. I have no gardening abilities whatsoever though!

--
In the first few days of the Olympics the Rumanians took gold, silver, bronze, copper, lead and anything else they could get their bloody hands on.

On 26/11/16 17:41, James Wilkinson Sword wrote:
Is it ok to saw a plant in half so I get two? Yes I know it's out of
focus, I didn't check it before potting the plants, I dunno what the
camera focused on, but I can't see it in the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ite4os19jh...plant.JPG?dl=0

Looks like an aspidistra to me. Yes, you can cut it up into many parts
if you so wish.

There are a few plants I would not cut in half to propagate; most of
those are bulbs, or tubers from cyclamen or begonias.

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote

James Wilkinson Sword wrote:
Is it ok to saw a plant in half so I get two? Yes I know it's out of
focus, I didn't check it before potting the plants, I dunno what the
camera focused on, but I can't see it in the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ite4os19jh...plant.JPG?dl=0

Looks like an aspidistra to me. Yes, you can cut it up into many parts if
you so wish.

There are a few plants I would not cut in half to propagate; most of those
are bulbs, or tubers from cyclamen or begonias.


I actually increase my stock of tuberous begonias by cutting or even
breaking them in half (or more) in the spring when the tubers get too big
for their normal pots, just ensure there are shoots on each bit and they
will simply grow away.


Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 16:21:18 -0000, BobHobden wrote:

"Jeff Layman" wrote

James Wilkinson Sword wrote:
Is it ok to saw a plant in half so I get two? Yes I know it's out of
focus, I didn't check it before potting the plants, I dunno what the
camera focused on, but I can't see it in the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ite4os19jh...plant.JPG?dl=0

Looks like an aspidistra to me. Yes, you can cut it up into many parts if
you so wish.

There are a few plants I would not cut in half to propagate; most of those
are bulbs, or tubers from cyclamen or begonias.


I actually increase my stock of tuberous begonias by cutting or even
breaking them in half (or more) in the spring when the tubers get too big
for their normal pots, just ensure there are shoots on each bit and they
will simply grow away.

Thanks for everybody's help. Anyone know how I can duplicate a cactus? I've got 5 of them, completely different varieties. They all have a single stem from the earth though, so cutting in half in the same way wouldn't work.

--
"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit."
- Army preventative maintainance publication

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:07:53 -0000, Chris Hogg wrote:

On Sun, 27 Nov 2016 16:34:28 -0000, "James Wilkinson Sword"
wrote:

Thanks for everybody's help. Anyone know how I can duplicate a cactus? I've got 5 of them, completely different varieties. They all have a single stem from the earth though, so cutting in half in the same way wouldn't work.

Cuttings of cacti are easy. If they have branching 'leaves' or side
shoots, just cut off one or two where they join the main stem, using a
sharp knife or Stanley knife blade. Leave the bits you've cut off
lying around for two or three days in a warmish place to let the cut
surface dry and callous over, and then pot them up into damp sand in a
pot with drainage holes, keep them in a warm place and they will
happily root. But just make sure the sand is only damp and stays that
way, never soaking wet, otherwise the cuttings will rot.

If they're just tall straight cacti with no side branches, you can
just cut off the top few inches and repeat the drying and potting, as
above, but it will disfigure the original plant.

Thanks.

--
I consider exercise vulgar, it makes people smell. -- Alec Yuill Thornton