practices listed is after the dormant season in late summer and 
early fall (August to October in Louisiana). The other good time 
is in early spring at blooming season (March to May in Louisiana). 
The advantages of spring propagation are that it is easier to iden- 
tify plants when in bloom and there is less rotting of the rhizomes. 
However, planting may be done at any season of the year. 
(1) Rhizome Separation: Under natural conditions, single rhi- 
zomes usually multiply two- or threefold in a year, but have been 
known to multiply 21-fold, spreading radially. When a single rhi- 
zome forms a bloom stalk, it usually produces also two side shoots. 
These shoots form new rhizomes and continue the process of nat- 
ural increase. However, the original rhizome usually deteriorates 
as increased growth takes place. Similar multiplication will occur 
naturally under good garden conditions without mechanical sepa- 
ration, but the process can be speeded by man’s help. 
One clone from a two-year-old seedling plant in the writer’s 
garden developed radially into twenty-one side rhizomes. This is 
unusual, but imagine how much increase could be obtained in sev- 
eral years if a plant like this could be separated and given more 
room to develop. However, most plants will produce an average of 
three to six side rhizomes the first year or two. By this method, 
they may be increased to as many as 15 to 20 plants in one year. 
Mechanical separation is easily done by breaking off the side 
rhizome from the main one-and transplanting immediately. The 
main rhizome with the bloom stalk is then likely to sprout out 
more shoots from the dormant buds at the leaf scars. The ring-like 
scars on the rhizomes indicate where the leaves were attached. At 
each scar there is a bud or potential new plant. (See Plate I) 
(2) Rhizome Cuttings: Cuttings of two to three-inch length 
sections of rhizome should be planted in a propagating media, such 
as vermiculite or well-rotted leaf mold, peat moss and sand, or 
sphagum. Do not plant cuttings too deep. Just barely cover and 
keep moist in a cool, shady place. Be careful not to over water, or 
soak, as this may cause them to rot. As each new shoot reaches 
from 4 to 6 inches in height, it should be carefully removed and 
planted. The rhizome cutting, new shoots, and all new roots formed 
should be carefully removed from the growth media and placed in 
a bucket of water until planted. With a sharp knife separate 
the new plant with all of its new roots from the rhizome section. 
A portion of the rhizome may be sliced off in this process. The 
new plant should then be transplanted in a well-prepared fertile 
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