How to divide bulbs for propagation

Photo by Dotties Flower Farm

 You will find that lots of bulbs will easily divide if you leave them on their own. But, if you want, you can do this yourself with a few simple methods.

Top left tubers (theheartofdoingstuff), top right righzomes (bhg), bottom left corms (gardeningknowhow), bottom right bulbs (via ehow)

First of all, I will quickly go through the different types of ‘bulbs’ that you will find:

• Tubers – underground stem that stores food. As they are perennating, they will regrow during the next growing season
• Rhizomes – thick underground stem that grows horizontally. Rhizomes grow roots and shoots from nodes
• Corms – underground stem that stores food. No layers when you cut it in half, and cormels grow from the basal plate
• Bulbs – collection of underground leaves that store food for the plant. If you cut it in half, there will be visible layers

Photo by robin98

Method 1: Division

Here you will break (divide) the bulb into pieces, creating multiple smaller bulbs.

• Dig up once the foliage has died back
• Gently break off the smaller bulbs on the side with your fingers
• Check the main bulb’s health. If it feels squishy, is shriveled, or damaged, toss it. If not, you can re plant it or store it

TIP: planting the smaller bulbs in a small space (separate to a permanent spot) for a couple of years will allow them to mature

• You can store your bulbs somewhere dark and dry, and plant in the autumn

Photo by abranchinthepath

Method 2: Scales

Some bulbs appear to have layers like onions, you can cut these layers off to propagate!

• Dig up bulbs in late summer – early autumn
• Peel off the scales and make sure you scale still has the basal plate (bottom of the bulb). Ensure this by peeling carefully, or cutting them with a sharp clean knife

• Place the scales in a plastic bag with 50:50 peat substitute and perlite

TIP: if you want to avoid infection or disease, you can dip the base in a fungicide before placing them in the bag

• Shake them around in the bag. Then blow air into it and seal it
• Leave in a dark place for around 6 weeks
• Once bulblets (small bulbs) form, plant the scales indoors until they mature
  

Photo by Vojtech.dostal

Method 3: Bubils

Bubils look a lot like bulbs, and grow from where the leaf of a plant meets the stem.

• Collect the bubil once they can be easily picked off. If not, wait a couple days until they are ready
• Then plant in soil and water well

Photo by Dave's Garden

Method 4: Chipping

Some bulbs grow too tightly to easily break apart. This method allows you to cut the bulb into pieces for propagation

• Cut off and remove all the roots, tunic (papery layer over the bulb), growing tip, and ‘nose’
• Hold with the basal plate at the top and cut in 8-16 sections
• Treat with fungicide and allow them to dry
• Place the chips in a plastic bag with 50:50 peat substitute and perlite
• Shake them around in the bag. Then blow air into it and seal it
• Leave in a dark place for around 12 weeks and remove any rotting chips
• Once bulblets form, plant with chips exposed (they will die off as bulblets develop)

 

--> Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, Nate