I wouldn't. They are already going to suffer transplant shock, and dividing them now and disturbing their roots will weaken them, which isn't a good idea going into winter. I doubt they will have any significant leafing out between now and winter. I would wait and divide them in spring when they start showing vigorous growth.

Fall is a great time for dividing and transplanting with the cooler days and soil that is still warm = promotes root growth and establishment. As long as you have about 6 weeks or so until ground freeze, you're fine.

But -- those aren't what I consider big rodgersias, those are division sizes. Rodgersias are supposed to be big, beefy plants; if you further divide, it's going to be a few years before they bulk up to full effect.

I agree. There isn't much material there to divide.

imo.. they were divided when packaged for delivery to you ... i would NOT go any further .. its just getting greedy ..

and you better prey they stay dormant.. .otherwise they will waste stored energy that they will need for next spring ... if they spend said energy.. and the leaves arent active long enough in the cool fall.. they will never have time to restore said lost energy ....

but of course. you have 3 .. so why not leave 2.. and try dividing the other... you learn and retain more.. when you do it yourself ....

and.. once you bare root it.. you will surely know if it is easily divided further ... the plant will show your how and where ....... right now.. we are guessing there is material there to separate ...

ken

I ended up just planting all 3, they were pretty expensive so don’t want to lose any. I did divide a fairly small dryopteris in the spring and 3 died so I guess size is important when dividing. Last week I divided a giant clump of an aruncus aesthifolous into half and planted them right away. They still had seedheads on them so I cut them before dividing, hopefully they will be ok.

Ken, when you divide potted plants you are supposed to bare root them first?? I usually just chopped the whole plant in half with a saw whenever I divide potted plants.

I never suggest dividing recently acquired plants. They are typically never of a size that benefits from division and they are already stressed. Always plant them as-is, grow them on for at least a full season and then consider division. Even then, I typically wait until they are fully established and wait to divide in their third year.

Patience is probably the most valuable skill one learns as a gardener :-))