Some plants can be convinced to separate from their partners in the pot if you move your hand between them. I do this any time I'm planning on dividing and transplanting. The act of gently separating the stems and leaves seems to indicate to the plants that they should untangle their roots as well. When I do this, the act of dividing the plant is free of the trauma of separating tangled roots with a trowel or spade.

If you try this method, please let me know how it works for you.

Stay cool and happy gardening!

I will have to remember that this spring when we divide some of our perenials.

I grow a lot of succulents in my apartment in SF. Often I have plants where the new bit to be divided separates itself from the parent plant and then I just have to retrieve that bit and get it a pot of its own. I often keep them next to each other until the new plant has established itself.

That's another aspect of what I was trying to describe, Rae. It's a good idea to keep the "babies" close to the parent plant. Shows sensitivity. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi Connie, oh you don't have to wait for dividing perennials. This has worked for me every time I separated somebody (plants, anyway) whose shoes were too tight. The first time I noticed was with an ancient pot-bound spider plant. They have such fat roots I was delighted not to have to injure them by yanking or cutting. Since then, I've used the trick almost every time. The one time I missed, on my clivia, it was a frightening thing. Like major surgery.

We have planned to divide our perennials and put some in a new area. It is in the 100's here and I figure it would be to upsetting to move anything now!