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| Propagation, Culture, and Winter Care |
The most widely used method of propagating hardy water-lilies is by
root division. Plants have to be brought up from the bottom of the pool
every second or third spring anyway, removed from the containers, and
replanted in fresh supplies of soil and fertilizer. The roots are divided
at this time.
Propagation of the Hardies
Whether or not you want to start new plants, root division is still
necessary every two or three years. Rootstocks of some of the stronger growing forms, if left alone four or five years, become quite
cumbersome. At this stage many of them become torpid, their vitality seriously
impaired. Keep this in mind if the blooms and foliage of your plants
begin to look sickly and listless after years of faithful, vigorous production. Division usually restores health quickly.
By Root Division
Root division is a quick and simple operation. First, wash off the
roots so that you can see what you are doing. You will notice growing points, which look like the eyes of sprouted potatoes, springing from
the long, cylindrical odorata and tuberosa roots. With a sharp knife,
cut each root into 6- to 8-inch sections, making sure that each section
has a growing point or two. Plant the sections as you would rootstocks
from a dealer, and each growing point will produce a new water-lily.
The Marliac-type root, a thick, tight, shapeless tangle, seems more
difficult to divide at first glance. Wash it off and then examine it carefully. You won't have much trouble recognizing the clean and tender
growing points with bits of last season's stems clinging to them. With
a long, sharp knife or a hack saw, cut the root clump into three, four,
five, or more pieces, leaving one or two growing points on each piece.
Then set out the divisions as you would new water-lilies.
Every time you divide roots you will have more left than you can give
away. It seems a shame to throw away all that potential beauty, but
it is far better to get rid of your extra stock than to overcrowd your pool
by keeping it.
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