Bow hemp (Sansevieria) is an easy-care, visually very interesting houseplant. The exotic plant is an eye-catcher in the home with its long (up to 150 centimeters depending on the species and variety!) and shiny leaves. Although arched hemp grows very slowly and, even with good care, requires many years to reach maximum growth, large plants can then be conveniently propagated by division.
How to divide bow hemp?
To divide bow hemp, first remove the attached soil and pull apart the roots and rhizomes. Remove offshoots and daughter rosettes or divide the entire plant including the roots. Each divided part should have at least one shoot. Plant the sections in separate pots with suitable substrate.
The best time to divide bow hemp
Bow hemp can be propagated both by leaf cuttings and, especially in older and therefore larger specimens, by division. Since the plant produces offshoots and daughter rosettes, the last form of reproduction is naturally particularly easy. In principle, division is possible at any time of the year, but spring is best suited for this. When temperatures rise and solar radiation becomes more intense again, arched hemp also grows more intensively. It also makes sense to divide as part of the annual repotting. This saves the plant multiple stresses caused by frequent potting and unpotting.
Which pot size is the right one?
Sansevierias have fine roots, rhizomes that are more or less thick depending on the individual specimen and generally no particularly pronounced root ball. That's why you shouldn't use a tall, slim pot for bowed hemp - it would soon tip over as the plant becomes top-heavy with age. Instead, choose a wider planter, but not much wider than the root ball itself. Sansevierias feel more comfortable in narrower containers.
Sharing bow hemp – a step-by-step guide
After you have selected the right pot, take a sharp knife, disinfect it with alcohol and proceed as follows:
- Pot out the bow hemp to be divided.
- Carefully remove the adhered soil.
- Pull the roots and rhizomes apart slightly if the ball is too compact.
- Take a close look at the plant: Where are the offshoots and daughter rosettes?
- You should preferably remove these and, if necessary, use the knife.
- Otherwise, simply divide the entire plant including the roots.
- Each part should have at least one (preferably more) shoots.
- Now plant the sections in separate pots with suitable substrate.
Now it's time to be patient - arched hemp grows slowly and takes a few years until it grows back into a large and extensive plant.
Tip
The ideal location for the plants is bright, but not directly sunny and warm with high humidity. In many cases, a daylight bathroom is the ideal place.
