Cut the wee roots off ( no pun intended ). They will only shrivel in the winter anyway.

I tend to keep the rhizomes together until they start sprouting. Then I can readily see which ones are viable. At that point, I cut them, dust with a fungicide, let dry a wee while, and then plant in the spring.

What fungicide do you recommend?

Jroot - thank you for this info. But I'm still a bit confused, there are big roots and tiny roots. Do I cut off all the big roots?

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving,
Maureen

Sorry about that. It is the Scot in me ( or as my wife says "the scotch in" me). LOL Wee means small.

Cut off the small roots. If they are really huge, the larger ones CAN be cut after cleaning. IF you cut, the wound should be dusted with some sort of bulb and tuber dust ( a fungicide), as well as the rest of the rhizome. Personally, I like to keep the stock together, and divide in the spring, as I mentioned because I can more readily see which are viable sprouts.

Store them in a dark, dry place about 55 degrees F. They don't like to be cold or they rot (I found that out the hard way), and they don't like to be hot or they sprout. The rest period is necessary though.

By the way, the trimming of the roots, I usually do in the fall as it is easier to clean. However, many folks dig it up, and "park" the clump in the cool, dry spot until spring, and then do the trimming. Either time works well, but trimming in the fall allows for less space being used, if space is at a premium. It is definitely at a premium in my wee house, as I need space for my dahlia, and my 20 + brugmansia trees.

What fungicide do you recommend?