Can anyone tell me an effective way to divide or take offsets from my Strelizia reginae? I have a 2 ft. diameter clump in my front garden, and would like to spread them around a bit. I learned today that you can't simply 'move' a Pittosporum tobira that has been established for probably twenty years, even with a pick, shovel, and saw. After about an hour, I decided to backfill the trench and yield to the shrub.
How does one divide Strelizia reginae?
Dividing and moving strelitzias set them back drasticly.They reset any damage to the root zone, and since a sharp flat spade will be necessary to divide the clump, you might just wanna buy a few potted ones at the local nursery.In Calif most places have them rather cheap.I got a division of the reed leafed strelitzia afew years ago, took two years just to get back to growing at a normal pace. Just an observation.
Thank you for your input Eclipse. I know they are inexpensive to purchase, but I thought that since my clump is so large, and that I try to be as thrifty as possible (just bought my first home), I would use what I have.
Could the growing rate of your division be due to your location? I didn't know that Strelizia could live in Iowa!
i'm pretty sure he has a greenhouse! lol :-)
They don't like to be disturbed, it will set you back some time as far as growing and flowers go, but you can take a sharp shovel and slice thru the clump to make new plants to transplant. Very sharp shovel, nice clean slices are best, easier on the root system.
I used a bread knfe which I have found effective in dividing plants. I have also used a saw all.
I never worry about how long it will take to regrow roots etc.
I was unaware of the sensitivity of this plant. Is the Strelizia nicholi also sensitive? One of my divisions of this plant is really sulking after being divided in a pot of three. One of the transplants is putting up a new leaf after merely three days. I have not divided the big clump of S. reginae, but am willing to wait for the recovery, as they will be fully grown clumps of some size. I wondered if I might have to use a saw. The base of these clumps are so woody!