Proliferations
Last time we talked about increasing your plants by dividing the ones you already have. This week we will discuss another method called proliferation, that was brought to our attention by Lee Pickles in "The Daylily Appeal." This magazine is another perk that you receive when you join the American Hemerocallis Society. Each region has their own newsletter or magazine. The articles are sometimes humorous, and always educational.
Proliferation Methods
A proliferation is a minature plant that develops on a scape. There are some daylily plants that have naturally occurring proliferations. You can try to force a proliferation on a plant that you are particularly found of. It may not work, but it is worth a shot.
Find a young, growing scape with a bract (small leaf or leaves) on it. Take a sharp knife and split it down the middle. Remove it with a "V" shaped cut on the scape. Force a little BAP paste into the cut. If all goes well, a new plant will start to form. Check around late summer. If the scape is still green beneath the new proliferation, it is OK. If it does not have a proliferation, try, try again!
Caution: Be careful how you handle the paste as with all chemicals.
Removing Proliferations
If the scape is turning brown underneath the proliferation, use a knife to remove it. Leave a little of the scape beneath it to stabilize the plant. Insert the plant into a Dixie cup with a small amount of weak fertilizer (20-20-20) to encourage rooting.Maintain the water level by checking every day.
Using Sand as the Medium
Another method of encouraging roots is to put the plant in a mixture of sand and Perlite. Dust the crown and roots with RooTone, which has a growth stimulator and a fungicide.
Label your Proliferation
No matter how good you think your memory is, please label them for your own sanity. After the roots have developed sufficiently, plant them.
Planting the Proliferation
Put the new plant in a four-inch pot that is filled with potting soil. Leave it for at least a month, then plant it in the garden and keep moist until new growth if evident.
Next time, we will talk about some of the daylilies that the daylily robin has found to be its favorites.