They are now in potting soil

The larger plants have roots that are shallow and spread horizontally. They aren't very fibrous at all but rather have 1 large root, or tuber, or whatever, that will spread horizonally in a single root (with small roots going off the sides, but its mainly 1 sideways taproot). The root is .5 inch wide at its max, probably, where the plant stem shoots from.

I took chunks of roots and the tall plants sprouted from them.

What's weird is that some will sprout and look really strong and great and then poop out, wither, and die.

These are definitely shade plants. Ive fertilized fish fish solution once but am guessing they don't need much fertilization if they are growing on the forest floor of maine and massachusetts. But they must like semi-acidic conditions I assume?

Thanks in advance. They are getting sunlight on the west side of my place which isnt a lot but is some.

Some of the larger plant leaves are a little deformed, as you may notice.

FataMorgana

But for the other one -

I noticed that in the spring or early summer - it will send up this stalk and on this stalk is..well..basically a poof ball. It looks like white fireworks. Originating from 1 point you have these white flowers of some sort that go out in all directions, forming a sphere that looks like a firework that has exploded

The plants themselves only get about 1ft tall and their canopy is probably a max of 1 foot as well.

They generally only have 3 "stems" that branch from the main stem, if I recall correctly.

Mine look 1/3 the size of the fully grown ones I see in the forest.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
It's definitely some sort of low light ground dweller though.

FataMorgana

this puffball itself was on a stem that (I think) originated from the origin of where the the 3 "stems" with leaves split

these are really common forest shade plants. i see them all over in massachusetts and in maine.

but,

cardamine has only 2 leaf sets - these i have have 3
also, the flower is sort of like what i have - in that it starts from the center

but the flowers - they actually did not look like conventional flowers
and really did look like an actually ball that resembled a firework that had just exploded.

maybe I had just seen it at the point before which flowers had come out...but regardless, the flower structure looked different and more profuse to resemble fireworks

also, the leaves are not as heavily serrated. i believe they have small serrations, not large.

i wish i could help more. maybe ill take a pic. in the woods of a mature one this week.

thanks for the help! you guys and gals are always great

FataMorgana