Miltassia Shelob Growth Habit

[Dalton]

Hello,

I have a Miltassia Shelob that I recently divided. I took the oldest 5 bulbs and potted them up, not expecting much. However, they've put out a new growth that's more vigorous than the newer bulbs are putting out.

Typically, this plant grows in a straight line and climbs out of the pot. So in a square pot, I can pot the oldest bulbs low, and in the back corner. Then it'll grow toward the opposite corner, gaining height with each new PB.

When I divided the plant, the new growth on the old plant came from the rhizome, near the base of a PB. I've noticed these small growths before when I've peeled back and trimmed off, dead outer leaves to prevent disease. Even wen they get exposed to light, however, they don't grow. It just continues in it's forward and upward progression.

I recently learned a new word while reading another of Ray's posts. Meristematic. There's your word of the day. It basically seems like stem cells for the plant and can grow into whatever the plant needs it to be, as far as I understand it.

Obviously, these little guys have already decided that they want to be PB's when they grow up, because when I peeled the outer leave back, they looked like stubby little growths.

My question is, is there someway to encourage these guys to grow, without shearing the plant in half. I don't mind it's growth habit, but I'm not in love with it either. I'd prefer if it filled a pot and sent out lots of spikes.

Will these only grow if you divide the plant or do they grow into PB's under other circumstances? Just curious. Thanks.