Need propagation advice for Ophiopogon 'Nigrescens'

[Twospot Ladybird]

Not been active here for over a year now for various reasons but I'm back now and need to know more about propagating Ophiopogon 'Nigrescens'.

Everything I've read so far just says "easy to propagate by division" but does this mean that I can just take it out of it's pot (just bought it today) and tease it apart? Do I need to reduce the foliage after dividing? What type of soil should I re-pot it into? Does it need to be protected from frost until it re-establishes?

Hope someone can help, I don't want to do something wrong and end up paying between £10 and £20 for the four plants that I really want.

[Twospot Ladybird]

[Heldi]

I divided it and plonked it into the soil. No special treatment. Didn't cut the foliage. It's done very well.  South facing border which can be quite damp but rock hard mid summer.

Welcome back anyway ;D I've been wondering where you are!  Missing your pictures in the gallery.

[Eristic]

Yes they are easy to propagate by division but this rather depends on the size of the plant you have just bought. Each crown of leaves could be cut away to make a new plant although I prefer to have several crowns on each new plant. There is no need to cut the leaves back provided there are roots present and any loam based compost is good.

I cannot understand why these plants are so expensive as they are easy to propagate and when I grew them I could never sell them even for half the money.

[Slug_killer]

Eristic,  fashon always costs , just look at football shirts !

[Twospot Ladybird]

Thanks for the welcome back Heldi  ;D.

Going to put an "I'm back" thread in the shed to give some of the reasons for my long absence.

[Twospot Ladybird]

I cannot understand why these plants are so expensive as they are easy to propagate and when I grew them I could never sell them even for half the money.

If they're really that easy to propagate then I can't understand the high prices either. The one I bought yesterday looks like it could be divided into 5 plants (5 crowns) and cost me £4.99, another place had much smaller plants, only singular crowns, and these were £2.49 each  ::) so mine are going to work out at the equivalent of £1 a plant and I don't really need them until the place I have in mind is ready. The place I'm thinking of is going to take weeks to prepare.

[ACE]

I have found that by planting the divisions around the inside edge of a pot, they seem to spread further under the soil and the bigger the pot the more times another crown pops up. I have them in an old galvanised bath using the same system, they have been in there for a couple of years and now I just 'crop' them when I need them on a cut and come again system.

[Twospot Ladybird]

Thanks ACE, will bear that in mind when I start pulling mine to bits  ;D