How to Propagate a Giant Liriope

How to Propagate Giant Liriope from Seeds

• 1

  Soak the giant liriope seeds in 85 F water for 24 hours. Prepare a bed for the seeds while they soak. Drain the seeds on a sheet of paper towel when you are ready to sow them.

• 2

  Run a rotary tiller across a well-draining, partially shaded bed. Set the blades to till at a depth of eight inches to provide adequate room for the giant liriope plants to put down deep roots.

• 3

  Sow the giant liriope seeds approximately 1/2-inch deep, or at a depth equal to twice the length of the seed. Space the seeds six inches apart. Completely cover the seeds with soil so no light reaches them.

• 4

  Water the bed with a garden hose until the soil feels moist at a depth of three inches. Water every few days, or whenever the soil dries out in the top inch.

• 5

  Watch for germination in 25 to 30 days. Thin the giant liriope seedlings to one every 12 inches as soon as they grow to two inches in height.

How to Propagate Giant Liriope from Divisions

• 6

  Prepare a bed before gathering giant liriope divisions for propagation. Choose a partially shaded spot with loamy, slightly acidic soil. Work the soil to a 6-inch depth using a rotary tiller until the soil is loose.

• 7

  Dig up the giant liriope divisions during the morning hours when the weather is cool and moist. Avoid gathering divisions in the afternoon since the leaves and roots might wither in the heat.

• 8

  Measure out 3-square-inch portions from the edge of an established giant liriope plant. Dig down around each portion using a garden trowel. Press the blade of the trowel four inches deep to sever a large, productive portion of roots.

• 9

  Pry the giant liriope divisions from the soil. Crumble off approximately one-third of the soil from around the roots. Wrap the roots of the divisions in wet newspaper to keep them cool until you plant them.

• 10

  Dig a planting hole for each giant liriope division. Make the holes one inch larger in depth and diameter than the roots of the divisions. Space the holes 12 inches apart.

• 11

  Fill the bottom of each hole with loose soil. Hold the divisions in the holes so the tips of the roots touch the soil at the bottom and the base of the leaves is level with the surrounding soil. Fill in around the roots with soil.

• 12

  Water the giant liriope divisions with a garden hose until the soil is moist at a 3-inch depth. Maintain moisture at that level for two weeks after planting them, then reduce water to two inches every five to seven days.