>Propagation, Culture, And Winter Care
Best time to propagate
Propagation by Runner
Propagating the Tropicals
Viviparous reproduction
Chain Propagation From Tubers
Wintering the Tropicals
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
Plate 24. Pools situated partially or completely above ground level are attractive and have two special advantages-toddling children are safe around them, and the pool walls make a comfortable place, for the water gardener to sit and enjoy his, flowers and fish.
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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 throwaway all that potential beauty, but it is far better to get lid of your extra stock than to overcrowd your pool by keeping it.
By SEED-HYBRIDIZATION
Hardy water-lilies can be propagated by seed, but it is a slow, painstaking process, with not much assurance to the amateur hybridist of enough new plants to pay hi1n for his time and effort. The hardies, as a group, are notoriously reluctant to set seed. However, working with seeds is extremely interesting. So, to those water gardeners who play the game for the game's sake, and not alone for the prize, here is the procedure: