How and when to divide Alstroemeria

Last updated on May 4th, 2022

Because it is a perennial you want to make sure that you are dividing your Alstroemeria properly and more importantly at the right time of year. 

When to divide – April is the optimum time

These plants can be divided successfully almost anytime throughout the year, as long as you keep them well watered after the division. However, it will be most successful if you divide your Alstroemeria when it’s not actively growing. If you have a summer-flowering plant you want to divide it in the spring or the autumn when the soil is dry enough. If you have a spring flowering plant you want to divide it in the summer after flowering has completed.

For most Alstroemeria plants you will find April is the optimum time. 

How to divide your Alstroemeria

The process for dividing your plants is pretty simple. You start by gently lifting the plant out of the garden using a garden fork. To do this you want to work outwards from the crown in order to limit any damage to the roots because they are quite fragile. Once you have lifted the entire plant, shake off any excess soil so that you can clearly see all of the roots.

Again, the roots on Alstroemerias are very fragile so when you lift and divide you need to do it carefully. This means that you carefully loosen and break the root mass into different sections. In some cases, you might need a sharp knife to help you cut the root clump into separate sections, but not always.

Planting the divided sections

Once you have divided your Alstroemeria (at the appropriate time of the year) you need to plant your divisions as quickly as possible and do so carefully again, to avoid damaging to the roots. Water well as soon as it’s in a new position. You can replant them in the same spot or move them somewhere else in your garden. Alternatively, you can place them in large pots and overwinter them if you’re unsure where you want to put them and you can decide at a later date.

Potential Problems

Make sure that your plants do not dry out when you re-establish them. It’s very important that you not only water as soon as you transplant the divisions but that you water them regularly while the divisions are getting themselves established.

If you make sure that you divide your Alstroemeria at the right time and you are extremely careful to avoid damaging the roots during this process, you can enjoy multiple plants from the same parent plant on a regular basis. In fact, as you go through your process of dividing your plant and transplanting the divisions, you might find that down the line you’ll have to divide your transplant because they have grown so large. This gives you the opportunity to continue cultivating new plants year after year.