Hetty, this is a great tip and one I've used myself from time to time. Even smaller houseplants are usually potted up three to a container and easily divided! You should add your great photo of Cordyline 'Tricolor' to the database: Ti Plant (Cordyline fruticosa 'Tricolor')

Thanks Lin, I will!

Which reminds me I should go out and take some pictures of the blooms on my Cordylines.

Well, I am going to carry out plant buying in a whole new way now. That is a great money saving tip Hetty. Thank you so much.

This is also true of miniature roses. There are usually at least three in a pot!

This is getting exciting. Can't wait to make my first trip in the spring.

Beautiful picture!!!!!

How do you divide all three plants without losing any of them?

Just take them out of the pot and shake off the soil, is how I do it.

One of my favorite things to do.

For many years now, every single plant I bring home gets removed from it's original container and then I use the garden hose to wash off all the soil from the roots, divide and re-pot in my own potting medium. If there are two, three or four plants with roots heavily entangled, I disentangle the roots and divide the plants into individual containers. I guess I should be honest though ... sometimes I'm not so gentle at untangling roots.

That is a beautiful plant, Hetty!
I have noticed multiples occasionally, but only if it's obvious. I will pay more attention from now on, thanks!

A nursery in the city nearby often has multiples of Mexican Milkweed in the early spring and that's the least expensive way to buy them. I can split them up and keep them in pots until it's warm enough to plant them in the ground. There's also six-packs or 4-packs of certain kinds of small plants that are inexpensive ways to get more bang for your buck.

I was particularly referring to 'single plants' that often turn out not to be singles at all. As opposed to six-packs etc.

Hetty your Cordyline Tri color is gorgeous. I wish I knew where to order some for myself this year. This was one of mine in 2008. Its a great plant.

Nice! And see? Three plants!

plantladylin said:For many years now, every single plant I bring home gets removed from it's original container and then I use the garden hose to wash off all the soil from the roots, divide and re-pot in my own potting medium. If there are two, three or four plants with roots heavily entangled, I disentangle the roots and divide the plants into individual containers. I guess I should be honest though ... sometimes I'm not so gentle at untangling roots.

So I take the potted plant out and after hosing it down to remove all soil, separate the three plants, pot them up into individual containers with fresh soil?! I've never did that before. I think I was afraid that I would lose some or all the plants.

Can you pot all three plants into a larger container if you wanted?

Think I'll try it this Spring and Summer!

Marilyn: I choose container size depending on the size of the root ball of the plant. Whenever I re-pot, I only go up one size larger. You can pot all three plants together in a larger container, just not too large for the root system.

The reason I un-pot and rinse all soil from any plant that I bring home is because I prefer a fast draining potting medium. I find that most nursery and garden center plants are in soil that is considerably water retentive and doesn't drain well.

Lin, I saw photos of your Cordyline tri colors at the other Plant files. Beautiful. And I wish I had separated mine as well. Well, if I find any this year, I will give it a try.

Thanks for the info Lin!