With the popular ground cover Dickmännchen, also available commercially under the name Ysander or Pachysandra terminalis, you can green up shady corners in the garden. The ornamental perennial can be easily propagated yourself. This is how propagation is guaranteed to succeed.
How do you propagate fat men in the garden?
To propagate fat men (Ysander) in the garden, dig up a few plants in spring or autumn, divide the root ball and plant the sections in loose, nutrient-rich soil. Alternatively, cut off runners and plant them in the desired location. Make sure to water regularly until established.
Fat male forms many underground runners
Dickmännchen or Ysander is such a popular ground cover because you don't actually have to worry about propagation.
Once the plant has grown properly, it forms underground shoots from which offshoots emerge.
You should remove the runners at the edges regularly so that the garden does not become overgrown in a very short time.
How to propagate Ysander
The best time for propagating fat males is spring or autumn.
Simply dig up some of the existing plants and use a spade to divide the root ball in two. It is important that there are enough eyes on both parts.
Propagation is even easier if you simply cut off a few runners and replant them in the desired location.
How to plant offshoots from the fat man
- Cut off the tails
- Prune sections and runners slightly
- place in loose, slightly nutritious soil
- pour well
- water regularly until established
You should shorten the cuttings or sections slightly before planting. Cut off roots that are too long and remove any additional runners that may already be present.
Plant the new Ysander in permeable garden soil that you have previously improved with some mature compost or horn shavings.
Make sure that the plants are not placed too deep in the soil.
The newly propagated plants need some care
While ingrown fat males in the garden require almost no care, you have to take a little more care of the offshoots in the beginning.
This includes watering them regularly until the fat man can feed himself via the roots.
Waterlogging must be avoided at all costs, as the plants can then rot or fungal diseases can spread.
Tip
Pachysandra terminalis is one of the few plants that only thrives in the shade. In the sun the leaves turn yellowish and the plants become less dense. The soil must be well-drained to prevent waterlogging.
