Propagating Aquatic Plants in the Spring

Propagating plants is a great way to expand your water garden and to ensure the health of your plants. Plus it's easy to do as most water garden plants can be propagated in the spring simply by splitting (dividing) them.

Each year pond plants grow back in their original pot, which is filled with the previous year's root system and foliage. Over time this can lead to root rot and a pot bound root system. You can remedy this problem in your plants by propagating them every few years.

Tools:
~ More pots
~ Pruning Shears
~ Small shovel
~ Fertilizer
~ Gravel
~ Aquatic plant soil

Pruning
Before you propagate thoroughly examine the root system of your plant. Examine the roots for decayed areas, and hollow root sections. Prune them; they are not helping the plant. A healthy root will show thin, white shoots or small rootlets coming off a main tuber, indicating new growth for the season.

Try not to be overeager in your pruning. You can actually prune too much and the plant won't be able to support its beautiful foliage or it could even die on you.

Propagation
Look for an area of new growth on your plant's root system. Some plants will be tubers and you'll easily be able to split the plant where the new tuber is connected to the old tuber. Most aquatic plants will have two types of root systems, roots that only grow in one direction and roots that grow in all directions. The ones with root systems that grow in one direction tend to be tubers.

If you are propagating a plant with a root system that grows in all directions you can cut the root system right in half. Place one half back in its original pot and the other in a new pot. You can also look for small rhizomes which are knotty and elongated and place the rhizomes in separate pots to start a new plant. One rhizome per pot please.

Planting
Before putting your plants back in their pots fill the containers about a third of the way full with soil. If you are planting a tuber that grows in one direction place it so the end of the root with new shoots is pointing towards the middle of its pot, with the root bulb towards the edge of the pot. Rest your plants roots on that bed of dirt and fill in more dirt around them. Be careful not to create air pockets around the roots which can dry them out or expose them to too much water. Gently tamp down the soil.

You can add two tablets of slow release fertilizer to the soil as you are filling the pot; just make sure that the fertilizer doesn't touch the roots. The concentrated chemicals can also harm your plant roots.

Tamp down the soil when the pot is completely filled in to help keep it from floating away in the water. Place a good layer of pebbles or gravel on top of the soil as well to keep it in place.

Now with your plants freshly split and placed into their new roomier pots they are ready to be placed back in the pond. Or you can trade the extra little plants with another water gardener in exchange for a new species for your pond. Whatever you choose have fun and good splitting.