From my perspective as a plant, timing is everything. The ideal moment for you to undertake this division is during my dormancy period, either in the early spring just as my new, pinkish-white shoots are barely peeking above the soil, or in the late fall after my foliage has yellowed and died back completely. At these times, my energy is stored safely in my roots and rhizomes, not expended on supporting delicate flowers and leaves. This makes the process far less shocking to my system and allows me to focus my resources entirely on recovering from the division and establishing new root systems in my new locations.
Please begin by gently digging a wide circle around my base, taking care not to sever my thick, but brittle, roots. Lift my entire root clump from the earth. You will notice that my root system is a tangled mass of fleshy roots; your task is to tease these apart to find natural divisions. Look for sections with at least one growing eye (a bud from which stems will emerge). Using your hands is best, but if my roots are stubborn, a clean, sharp knife may be necessary. Make clean cuts to separate me into smaller clumps, each with several eyes and a healthy portion of roots. I must stress the importance of clean, sterilized tools to prevent introducing any disease to my fresh wounds.
Once divided, my individual sections are vulnerable. It is beneficial to dust my cut surfaces with a rooting hormone powder. This is not strictly necessary, as I am a resilient plant, but it will encourage me to quickly callous over the wounds and produce new feeder roots, giving me a stronger start. If you cannot replant me immediately, please keep my roots moist and shaded; I do not appreciate being left to dry out in the sun.
Choose a new planting site that mimics my previous conditions—dappled shade and rich, well-draining soil that stays consistently moist. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate my roots without crowding or bending them. Place me in the hole so that my crown, where my eyes are, is about an inch below the soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil, gently firming it around my roots to eliminate any large air pockets. Then, provide me with a deep, thorough watering to settle the soil around me and help alleviate the transplant shock.
After replanting, my primary focus will be on re-establishing my root system beneath the soil. I may not produce a spectacular display of flowers in the first season as I dedicate all my energy to this underground work. Consistent moisture is absolutely critical during this first growing season; please do not let my soil dry out. By the following spring, having had a full season to settle in, I will reward your careful efforts with a robust display of my characteristic heart-shaped blossoms, continuing my life cycle in a rejuvenated and expanded form.
