Division guide
How to divide begonia 'northern lights'
How to divide begonia 'northern lights'
Lift the plant, wash enough soil off to see the rhizome clearly, then cut it into sections with a clean knife — each with roots below and a visible bud or shoot above. Discard any soft, hollow or woody old sections from the middle.
Aftercare
Pot each division into fresh compost at the same depth it was growing before, water it in well, and keep it somewhere bright but out of direct sun for two to three weeks while new roots take hold. Do not feed straight away — damaged roots take up fertiliser poorly and it can scorch them.
The mistake to avoid
Cutting sections with roots but no growing point. They will sit there and eventually rot — every piece of begonia 'northern lights' rhizome needs a bud to grow from.
More begonia 'northern lights' care
- Dividing rex begonia — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Full begonia 'northern lights' care guide
- How to prune begonia 'northern lights'
- How to propagate begonia 'northern lights'
- Growing begonia 'northern lights' in a pot
- How to overwinter begonia 'northern lights'
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Dividing begonia 'northern lights' — FAQ
Can you divide begonia 'northern lights'?
Begonia 'Northern Lights' spreads by rhizomes — horizontal underground stems that send up new shoots as they run. That makes it straightforward to divide: lift the plant and cut the rhizome into sections, making sure every piece carries both roots and at least one growing point. Dividing also rejuvenates it, because old central rhizome tends to lose vigour.
When should I divide begonia 'northern lights'?
Early spring as growth restarts is the safest window; after flowering also works for many plants.
How do you divide begonia 'northern lights'?
Lift the plant, wash enough soil off to see the rhizome clearly, then cut it into sections with a clean knife — each with roots below and a visible bud or shoot above. Discard any soft, hollow or woody old sections from the middle.
What do I do with begonia 'northern lights' after dividing it?
Pot each division into fresh compost at the same depth it was growing before, water it in well, and keep it somewhere bright but out of direct sun for two to three weeks while new roots take hold. Do not feed straight away — damaged roots take up fertiliser poorly and it can scorch them.