Dear Dell, I have been growing an Ismene for many years, and a Cardiocrinum for a few, both in large deep pots with plenty of room for deep roots. I leave them outside during our very wet winters, and they don’t seem unhappy at all. The Cardiocrinum leafs out in March, getting bigger each year, and the Ismene arises at the end of April/beginning of May, increasing gradually. I divided it once some years ago. It had long thick vertical (possibly permanent) roots, so I gave it a very deep pot. Spring is certainly the correct time to divide it. In general, I think the best time to divide plants is at the end of dormancy, so that it can begin growth in its new digs rather languishing there while dormant or getting a shock while in active growth. David E. San Francisco Peninsula