QuestionDarlene:
we have a really big lace tree philo, that has 5 good size (4" or so) diameter trunks. It is nearly 30 years old and has lived in three different states during it's lifetime. It has become unruly, but of course has a special place in our family history. We want to split it up amongst several family members. Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Jim
AnswerJim,
You have 3 options:
1. Just take a very large knife and cut down through the rootball cutting it in sections with at least 1 trunk in each section. Then pot each section in a separate pot with good potting soil that you have addded extra perlite to. Two parts soil to one part perlite. This will damage the roots of the plant but Phillodenddron selloum's are pretty rsilient and it should come back. This would be best done in the spring when the days are getting longer and the roots are actively growing. Do not cut too close to any trunk or it will not have enough roots to survive.
2. Take the plant outside and use a hose to wash most of the soil off the roots and carefully try to separate them without causing too much damage to the roots. Also best done in spring and follow instructions above for repotting.
3. Try air layering each trunk off. That would establish roots before you remove each plant and pot it in separate pots. It could be started now and the separate plants would have new roots in 2-3 months and could be cut off for potting. Complete instructions for air layering are at:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/airlayer/airlayer.html
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM268.pdf
This would give you 5 separate plants and the original pot with 5 plants would, after you cut off the 5 tops, send out new growth on all 5 trunks and you would still have 5 plants in that pot but they would be smaller for awhile. They could eventually be air layered off again.
Good luck at whichever you decide to do. If you have more specific questions about either of the 3 suggestions feel free to write again.
Darlene
