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When should you separate a basal?

DavyJones

Is ready to take this hobby to a whole new level
Normally I would just look the answer up in the search function, but it is a bit different. My N. Spectabilis sent up a basal a month or two ago, and now it has grown quite a bit. The mother plant is steadily declining, so I feel it is probably time to split. The leaves on the basals are growing, but the leaves on the mother are getting smaller. The question is, a week or two ago, another basal popped up next to the older one. I feel this one is yet too small to split. Do you think I can separate the bigger one and leave the little one attached safely? If I separate these basals, will I lose the possibility of the mother plant producing more in the near future? Pictures...

<a href="http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/herrkaleun7/?action=view&current=IMG_3379.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/herrkaleun7/IMG_3379.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/herrkaleun7/?action=view&current=IMG_3380.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/herrkaleun7/IMG_3380.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Maybe keep your eyes open over the next few weeks for a basal trade on the trade forum...
 
Hope so I've wanted to trade for a spectalibis for a while now =)
 
I wish I could answer your question but I don't know the answer, I will say that is a nice looking plant and if you put a basal up for trade you will hear from me ! Spectabilis is one on my wishlist :) I do hope it works out for you!
 
You can always cut the mother plant and treat it like a cutting, but since you're asking of spliting, I have no idea.
 
honestly, i would wait a little longer, but you probably could remove it now. and no it wouldnt ruin its chances of creating more basals, infact, people have told me that by removing basals, it encourages another one....My Talangensis is making 2 basals now as well.
 
A side question: do you cut the basal & treat it like a cutting, or do you remove it roots & all?

Thanks
 
If you can remove it with some root mass that would be ideal, but you can also just snip it off and treat like a cutting.

xvart.
 
My spec is doing the same thing. It's put off two basals and the mother plant is making smaller and smaller leaves. My basals are about the size of yours. I'm going to keep an eye on the mother plant, if it starts to look worse I'll probably remove them.

When removing basals, does it require uprooting the plant?

Crystal
 
DavyJones,

You can remove the basal when it is of a size which is easy to handle, around 4"-5" tall. And yes, removing the basals does encourage more basals to be produced. I have tried it on several Neps before, although I can't be definitely sure it applies to all species.
 
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