What would you do, any help would be great please

Hi everyone, I am new and would like help with a decision please.
I have a lewisia cotyledon that i have had for about 5 years, it has 2 heads/ crowns.
The question is, should i seperate it or not, if so
1, how is the best way to do this
2, when is the best time to do it

I know plants do not last forever, but my dad bought me this plant, unfortunatly dad passed not too long back, I would hate anything to happen to this plant due to my lack of knowledge, normally I turn to dad for advice about my garden/plants, hope you do not mind me turning to you lovely people of gc now, Thank You in advance

 

Hi
Do not give up, someone with the knowledge will answer you when they visit the thread

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Hi Jack
No I won't give up,and thank you, I figure that maybe this plant is not so common, or perhaps I have just been lucky it's lasted this long.

 

I was hoping someone would answer this. I have a Lewisia but I only planted it the year before last, so not yet in this situation.
I've had a quick look on the web regarding the lewisia cotyledon and found these people mentioning splitting them, so one would assume it's possible.

 

Yes it is possible, but is it necessary? I am trying to get mine to be as big as possible and having more than one stem would be very nice.

 

Hi Sparra

Is it growing in a pot ? and if so how big.

As you probably know drainage is the key to growing this plant I have grown before many years ago on little wall I had made full sun and very well drained, what I used to do after they had flowerd was to lift off the stones and tease a small offset off, replace the stone and pot up in John innes No 1 and then add cornish grit so I had 50 / 50 mix to grow it in the pot that would stay in the greenhouse over winter then folowing very late spring I would add to the wall I also used to top dress the potwith the grit as well just thought I used a clay pot, 5 years is a good age you can feed them but a very weak solution of tomato food April May June after that I left then to toughen up for the winter

You can also do it now split them as they have started into growth but I wanted the flowers display first , so I always left until they had finished and that worked for me

Hope this helps, I have London pride it was my Grand fathers so I know its been in the family at least 70 years I try to give to family and friends just in case the vine weevil does its nasty deed

Spruce

 

Hi Everyone

Naylors Ark, I have searched the net regarding this, some suggest splitting, some don't, mine did nothing for the 1st couple of years, once I moved it to a larger pot off it went, and they do look lovely once flowered, thank you for your help.

Palustris this too has crossed my mind, I have never really had to do much with regards care for this plant, It looks healthy 2 big crowns both full of flowers, perhaps I should leave well enough alone, being very new to all this, thank you.

Spruce, wow you make it sound so easy, and Im shocked mine has lasted this long as I did wonder about drainage, my Lewisia is in a big planter, 4ft by 4ft wide, 1ft deep filled with compost, with just a layer of small stones on top ( our squirrels just love to dig) during summer months I use Miracle Gro, I don't even cover this planter during the winter, but as I am learning more and more I feel like I have neglected this little beauty, right the next dry day I get I will go and have a closer look for any offsets, and my shopping list is ready, John innes no 1 and grit.

Everyone, I think due to my lewisia looking quite well I am not going to try and seperate it, however I'm very tempted to try my luck with any offsets, ha ha this coming from a woman who failed with her aster seeds .

take care all

 

Thanks for that information Spruce.
My plant is in the top of my rockery and gets no attention.
I might look for offsets and give it go too.