The tradition of sharing favorite plants with friends and family is as old as the practice of gardening itself. Plants that are tough, durable, and easy to propagate are often shared among friends and neighbors, or passed down from one generation to the next. Some plants are shared so commonly, they have come to be known as ‘passalong plants’. If you have a plant you wish to pass along to someone, fall is a great time to do so.
Divisions, Seeds, and Cuttings
Many plants can be propagated by division in fall, particularly perennials. A good rule of thumb to determine the best time to divide perennials is to do so in the season opposite of when they bloom. This means fall is a great time to divide and share many spring and summer blooming perennials. Some of the easiest perennials to divide are clump formers like garden phlox, hosta, daylilies, and cannas. To divide these plants, simply dig up the whole clump and then use a sharp spade or hatchet to cut the clump into smaller pieces. Make sure each piece has at least a few stems and leaves attached to the roots.
Perennial plants that grow from bulbs are a favorite type of passalong plant, since they are so easy to share. These include summer bloomers like rain lilies, crinums, and amaryllis as well as spring favorites such as daffodils, Spanish bluebells, and summer snowflake. All of these plants grow from clusters of bulbs that can be easily dug and separated into smaller clusters or even individual bulbs. When digging plants for division, do not allow the roots to dry out. Replant as soon as possible. Water new transplants thoroughly but wait until spring to fertilize.
Annual flowers are easier to share by seeds. To collect seeds, first allow the flowers to completely fade and the seed pods to ripen on the plant. If seed pods are still green, leave them on the plant until they turn brown, then collect and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry location. Old fashion annuals are the easiest to collect seed from and include celosia, cleome, zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds.
Other plants are best propagated by cuttings. This is particularly true for shrubs, most of which root best from cuttings taken in the summer. Plants that can be rooted from cuttings taken now include many houseplants and tropical plants commonly grown as summer annuals. These include sweet potato vines, coleus, alternanthera, begonias, impatiens, and Persian shield, all of which can be rooted in a cup of water and potted up once roots have formed. Overwinter these plants in a location that receives bright light and stays above 40 degrees.
Passalong Plant Sale
