Divide polyanthus
When polyanthus finish flowering, it’s a good idea to split them up to rejuvenate them ready for next year. This also gives you more plants for free that you can grow on over the coming months. Carefully dig up your polyanthus or remove them from their pots. Tease individual plants apart with your hands or lever them apart with a hand fork. Trim off the large outer leaves and nip out the old flower stems. You should be left with a small rosette of fresh, inner leaves on a strong root system. The roots benefit from a trim at this stage too – snip off a third of their length.
Finally, pot up each rosette in fresh potting compost or plant back into your border. Firm in and water well.