It's been less than a year since we last divided the papyrus but both types had moved out of the pots and were enormous. We got motivated yesterday because a friend is putting in a new pond and we told her she could have some papyrus and fish on Sunday. So, Saturday morning we got to it. Because it had broken a couple of other pots, I have both of them in concrete pots now. It helps keep them from blowing over when there is wind as well. Let me tell you though, huffing those concrete pots full of roots and water up and out of the pond is not easy.
Then we couldn't get them out of the pots they were wedged in there so tightly. Before, the pot was cracked and we could pull it off but... these are concrete. It took Mimi slicing for half an hour and then both of us pulling the opposite direction and wiggling it and rolling it, it was hard. We got it done though, cut both in half and repotted them with some fertilizer and heavy soil. I considered not putting in the fert and hoping they wouldn't grow as fast but it didn't seem right.
We were going to give her some of the Canna too but we couldn't get the one I wanted to divide out of the pond. It was originally in a plastic pot that I wedged down between a couple of rocks that are concreted into the side of the pond. It has completely jumped the pot now and grown around the rocks and we just couldn't get it out. I couldn't even feel the pot under the mass of roots down there. So, we chopped off all the old canes and moved the rocks we could move so it has more room and left it. It blooms all year and I didn't want to destroy it getting it out which seemed the only option.
Our friend came by and we had two huge garbage bags with enormous chunks in each. She was thrilled. I'm happy that they look more controlled and sedate now. I wonder how long that will last.
Here is the pond before the division. The Canna I wanted to divide is the one on the left.
Here's one of the pots finally out of the pond. There was a bunch of lava rock in there and it kept us from using the saw. Mimi is working it out of the roots.
Trying to saw around the outside to get the roots that are glued to the concrete.
Now the pry bar.
We had some help
Success!!
The second one was easier although it was just as hard to get it out of the pond the root ball came out with a lot less hassle.
Here's a pic with the smaller sections back in the pond and the Canna opened up. I think we need to do this more often so it isn't so tough.
I've got another 15 bags of dirt coming tomorrow morning and 2 guys to haul and plant. I hope to have the new garden pretty much planted after tomorrow.
