To amputate or not?

[ThornyGardener]

In May of 2007 during a koi pond redo and new separate lily pond, I lifted a 20” diameter 9” high hole-less pot of Charlene Strawn and put it under a tree for what was to be a 2 week project.  Hahaha. I kept the container wet but no water was over it.  It never the less produced tiny pads on short stems. (No blooms.) I stored it in the garage for that winter, took it back out in May of 2008 where it again produced small pads, then back to the garage last winter. This spring a raccoon got in the garage and munched the tubers – it was certainly dead now. So I dumped the pot in the shade next to the pump house a month ago until I could clean it out to use for the new lilies arriving from you wonderful forum members.

Well darn if that bugger didn’t live through two pondless years and a raccoon gnawing. There are three clumps of small pads… and now there’s a lily pond to put them in. 

Question: would this clump be happier if I cut off the 'arms' and discarded the dead middle? Or should I plant it the way it is?

[Missa]

I'm no expert .... far from it actually ... but since it's a hardy (right?) I, personally, would cut the (dead?) middle out & replant the two 'arms'.
Have 2 water lilies.

That's just what I would do ... it may be the wrong thing, I don't know.

[PondmaninAL]

Divide it. It won't hurt it at all. Just be sure to fertilize it.

[Julles]

Divide it.  You're gonna have to do that eventually, anyway, so might as well do it now.  And you do want to get the dead part off, so it doesn't rot and contaminate the pot.