This is How I'm Going to Double My Houseplants in March – And it Won't Cost Me a Thing

It's not just your garden plants that are waking up in March, take a closer look at your houseplants and you'll start to spot signs of new growth. But, before they start doubling in size, there's an opportunity to propagate them by division in March.

Many of the best indoor plants can be multiplied by dividing them, rather than through cuttings, but they can't just be divided year-round, or indeed every year. If your plants have produced offsets and are looking a little cramped in their pots, early spring is the time to separate them to create multiple plants. Its particularly beneficial for clump-forming plants, like ferns, that haven't been divided in a couple of years, providing them with more room to breathe and encouraging luscious new foliage when active spring growth kicks in.

However, using the wrong method could risk you losing your plant altogether. To help you out, I've asked experts to run through seven houseplants to divide in March and explain how to do it carefully – spoiler: you'll need just one tool, a garden knife (like this one from Amazon).

7 Houseplants to Divide in March

Just like houseplants to divide in September, March provides a last window before the warmest months to split the below plants and instantly double your houseplant collection.

But, you have to follow the steps to divide houseplants carefully to ensure you don't cause harm to their health.

1. Chinese Evergreen

My Chinese evergreen, or aglaonema, is one of my most low-maintenance houseplants. That's why I always take the opportunity to divide it and multiply it – roughly every couple of years.

'These plants will often grow offsets around the base of the plant, which are new plants easy to divide,' says Julie Bawden-Davis, indoor plant expert at Healthy Houseplants.

This is actually the easiest way to propagate Chinese evergreens, separating the offsets and instantly having a new plant.

'During early spring when repotting, remove the plant from its pot and then gently remove the offsets from the mother plant to replant in fresh potting soil,' Julie describes.

It should be easy to tease apart the roots, just ensure each plant has its own robust root system.

You can prune houseplant roots if needed, for example if some of them have turned mushy. You can use these sharp pruning snips from Amazon to do this.

'Water well and keep the plant in a medium-bright location until it acclimates to the new soil,' Julie adds.

Julie Bawden-Davis

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden author and University of California Certified Master Gardener, who has written several gardening books, including Indoor Gardening The Organic Way. In addition to running HealthyHouseplants.com, she shares indoor gardening advice on her YouTube channel @HealthyHouseplants.

2. Rattlesnake Calathea

March is also a good opportunity to propagate your calatheas, and one that can quickly run out of room in its container is the rattlesnake calathea. On average, you should divide it every couple of years.

'Only divide if it already has multiple clumps, which you can identify as crowns at the base of the plant,' says houseplant expert Rosalin Ortega.

'Be gentle when separating them because calatheas will sulk if you rough up the roots,' she notes.

It's true that calatheas are sensitive plants and if their roots become damaged during division, they may show signs like discoloring foliage. For this reason, it's important to separate them slowly and carefully.

'Each division should have its own roots and at least one healthy crown for new growth,' Rosalin describes.

Calatheas thrive in higher humidity levels (around 50-60%), so you can help your divided rattlesnake calatheas settle by using methods to increase humidity for indoor plants, such as popping them on top of these pebble humidity trays from Amazon.

Rosalin Ortega

Rosalin Ortega is the founder of All About Planties, an online houseplant shop helping beginners choose plants they can actually keep alive. She shares practical, real-world guidance on indoor plant care

3. Boston Fern

Just before spring growth kicks in, you can take the opportunity to propagate your Boston fern. This is especially important if you spot your Boston fern turning brown, indicating it may be becoming rootbound.

'Boston ferns become rootbound in their pots with a mass of very tight roots,' Julie describes. 'Dividing every 2-3 years can help with this.

'Remove the plant from its pot and using a sharp, serrated knife (like this garden knife from Amazon), cut from the top of the plant through the roots to create 2-3 new plant clumps. Repot each one in fresh houseplant soil,' she advises.

This will give your Boston fern more room to breathe, encouraging luscious new fronds in spring.

You should keep your ferns somewhere bright to help them settle, but avoid direct sun which can cause leaf scorch on their delicate fronds.

4. Aspidistra

Also known as the cast iron plant, aspidistra is one of the most indestructible houseplants you can get your hands on, so dividing it in early spring when temperatures are lower and daylight may still be limited is pretty reliable.

When you remove it from its pot, you should be able to spot several rhizomes where the leaves are growing from. This is what you'll divide to create multiple plants.

Using a sharp garden knife (like this one from Burpee), you can cut the rhizomes where natural separations are.

Make sure each division has a couple of healthy, non-damaged leaves and roots to ensure it can recover.

You should then water each plant deeply and allow it to dry out before watering again.

While they establish, your aspidistra plants should be kept in bright, indirect light. But, once settled, they can be moved to a shadier final position, as they make for the best indoor low-light plants.

5. ZZ Plant

Another leafy houseplant to multiply before the warmest spring temperatures arrive is the ZZ plant.

While it is possible to propagate a ZZ plant via cuttings, you can also split the plant if its looking a little overcrowded (your ZZ plant drooping is a common sign of this, alongside its rhizomes becoming visible out of the pot's drainage holes).

'When dividing a ZZ plant, you're dividing the rhizomes, also popularly called the 'potato bulbs' because of their potato-like appearance,' says Rosalin.

'Each division needs its own rhizome, roots, and at least one healthy stem,' she describes.

You can pot up each one in its own pot with a well-draining houseplant soil, like this from Amazon.

'Water sparingly at first, as too much water is what usually causes problems for these plants after dividing as they're vulnerable and susceptible to houseplant root rot,' Rosalin advises.

With plenty of bright light and consistent moisture, the ZZ plant rhizomes should start putting out new growth and soon you'll have multiple thriving plants.

6. African Violet

You may surprised to find an indoor flowering plant on this list, but propagating African violets in early spring allows you to take advantage of the energy they've stored up and are about to use.

Be aware though, you should only propagate African violets when they aren't flowering to minimize shock. March offers a last opportunity to do this before vigorous spring blooming.

To divide, look for pups, or 'suckers,' which grow from the main stem of the your African violet. These are baby plants that can be removed and planted up as new plants.

'Removing the sucker plants from the mother plant is easy to do with a knife or houseplant pruning snips (from Amazon),' says Julie.

This will actually help the mother plant to thrive, too, as the pups can steal nutrients from it.

'Removing the sucker plants will even generate blooms in the mother plant,' Julie adds.

You should then water your African violets from the bottom because their leaves are incredibly sensitive and prone to leaf scarring if they become wet.

7. Snake Plant

Snake plants are getting ready to grow new sword-shaped foliage by the time March comes around, but those that are becoming increasingly pot-bound may start to discolor as they run out of room. This is where division comes in.

Just like ZZ plants, snake plants have rhizomes that can be easily divided to turn into multiple plants. It's a quicker way to propagate snake plants than taking cuttings.

You should gently remove it from its pot, brush away the soil, and split the rhizomes. They can be slightly tough to pull apart, so you may find cutting it with a garden knife is easier.

Each division needs a healthy, non-mushy rhizome, its own set of roots, and at least two leaves. Pot them up in a well-draining succulent potting mix (which is available at Walmart) and water consistently to help them settle.

FAQs

When Should I Start Fertilizing Houseplants in Spring?

Generally speaking, you can start fertilizing houseplants in early-mid spring when you spot new growth. However, if you have recently divided or propagated houseplants, it's best to wait until later in the season to fertilize them. Fertilizing too soon could shock the plant or cause root burn to their vulnerable root systems.

As well as these houseplants to divide in March, there's plenty to get done on the spring houseplant care checklist in the coming weeks to encourage a productive growing season.

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