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Streptocarpus: Divide and Conquer
By Terri Vicenzi Bloomington, Indiana First published in the African Violet Society of America magazine |
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Streptocarpus plants are beautiful and showy members of the gesneriad family, and many hybrids grow vigorously and can become quite sizable. For growers new to Streptocarpus, it's not always clear when and how to go about dividing them. Doing so helps keep them healthy — streps can be particularly susceptible to root rot and sudden decline if not divided carefully.
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When to Divide Streps
First off, I encourage growers to let their plants grow large if they have the space. Each of the "crowns," or individual plants, is a source of successive bloom stalks and flowers. A larger plant translates to more eye-catching blooms and show-worthy specimens. Typically, I would not divide a strep until it is at least a year old and has three or more crowns. For vigorous hybrids, this could be sooner, but in any case, it is always best to wait until the roots have filled the pot and the plant is in good health. If the plant you are dividing has not been repotted in a while, leach fertilizer salts from the plant a few days ahead of dividing. This is accomplished by pouring several cups of warm water over the surface of the soil and allowing the plant to drain thoroughly and dry out a bit. Next, remove any older leaves from the plant that are beginning to yellow or are not likely to produce more bloom stalks. Although it might seem intimidating, don't be afraid to handle the plant with a firm hand, similar to how you might divide a perennial in your garden. I have found that a serrated knife works well to cut through the fibrous root ball and foliage. |
Approaches to Division
One approach to dividing a large strep is simply to split the plant in half. With each divided piece, remove about a third of the root ball from the sides and bottom, and then repot each section into an appropriately sized pot (see Photos 1 and 2). Alter-natively, you can divide the strep into individual crowns, and trim each crown down so that it has two to three healthy leaves. In this situation, I like to transplant the divisions into 3-ounce Solo cups. |
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Whatever container you choose to use, make sure it is small, only slightly larger than the crown itself. It is important to place the crowns slightly above the rim of the pot and above the surrounding soil line. Emerging foliage can rot if the crowns are buried too deeply in the soil (see Photos 3 and 4). Water the plants with a light hand so that the media is damp but not overly wet.
Let the Plants Recover It is important to note that in either scenario, when you divide streps, you are massively disturbing the roots. This relative of African violets is much more vulnerable to transplant shock. I recommend that divided plants recover for a week or two in a bag or under a dome, away from the bright light of a growing stand or windowsill. Gradually open the bag or dome over 3 to 4 days to acclimate the plant to ambient room conditions. If the strep wilts after removal, place it back in the bag or dome and allow additional time for the plant to recover. Once you move the streps to their growing area, continue to water carefully until the repotted plants show signs of new growth. |