How to divide bulbs properly?
One of the features of bulbs that make them so attractive is the ability for the gardener to divide their bulb plants to
produce new growth, share with friends, or just plant in different areas of the landscape.
In addition, many bulb flowers become overgrown, and reducing the growth through dividing bulbs is the best way to
get things back under control. It is generally easy to tell when a planting of bulbs needs to be divided. One sure sign
is when a previously well blooming planting of bulbs has begun to provide only sparse blooms. Most times the culprit
is overcrowding, and the solution is to divide those bulbs. Properly dividing the bulbs will reduce the overcrowding
and allow the remaining bulbs to bloom for vibrantly.
The techniques used to divide bulbs depend on the exact type of bulb to be divided. There are actually five different
types of bulb flowers - true bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes and tuberous roots. The techniques for dividing each type
of bulb vary, so it is important to know which type you are working with. Any good gardening guide will tell you
which type of bulb you have, and that information is usually provided when you buy the bulbs as well.
True bulbs
To divide a true bulb, you should begin by carefully separating the original bulb from the smaller bulb growing at its base.
When dividing lily bulbs, you should be careful to first remove the outer scales from the basal plate. After the outer
scales are removed, the ends of the bulb should be dipped in a rooting hormone, and the bulb should be planted immediately.
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