Hi moussecasey, Welcome to Garden Web and The Seed Exchange! Please see addressing newbie and newer member issues for instructions on getting your Member Page email link set up so that you can easily be reached for trading. Happy Trading! chemocurl...aka Sue

I never even knew that water lilies produced seed. So I knew if they did they had to be really tiny since I have never even seen any seed on mine. I wouldn't even know how to begin. I remember as a child putting a cotton ball in a little cup and after pouring in some water, sprinkle bird seed on top and watching them sprout and grow. I would probably try some this way. But maybe someone will answer that probably have actually planted water lily seed.. Glenda

Taken for this website; How to Start a Wild Iris From Seeds By Meg Butler Wild iris grown from seed must grow for at least two years before it will flower. Starting wild iris from seed is a simple task, but it requires patience. Wild iris seed is sown in September and must spend the winter underground before it germinates in spring. Once wild iris germinates, it must grow for two to four seasons before the plant is mature enough to flower. When the wild iris does flower, however, it will produce three to four flowers per stalk for most of the month of June. Read more: How to Start a Wild Iris From Seeds : eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_7339031_start-wild-iris-seeds.html#ixzz2TYgip6GF Water your iris seeds and surrounding soil frequently enough to keep the seeds and soil constantly moist, but not soaking wet, from the time of planting through sprouting in the spring. Local rainfall and weather, planting location and soil texture will impact how frequently you need to water. Warmer climates with little rainfall and fast-draining soil will require more frequent, even daily watering. Cooler, rainy or humid climates with humus-rich or clay soils will require less frequent watering. Moisten the seeds and soil slowly with a very gentle mist so as not to displace the seeds or disturb nascent roots. A hose attachment set on a mist or light rain setting will help to keep the seeds and soil in place. Set automatic commercial mist irrigation systems to provide your iris seeds with a regimen of 10 seconds of active misting during each 15 minutes of sunlight or artificial daylight hours.

You do seem to have a nice surprise there :) I couldn't say why...if these are i. ensata, they shouldn't really germinate any differently than other iris and not in their pod - before a warm moist, cold moist, followed by warm moist sowing! Your seeds are germinating and need to be sown. Don't completely cover those newly emerging green shoots, and if you can't tell which end is up on all of them, laying them on their sides for them to find their own way is safe. You'll need to keep your flat moist (not soggy) so depending on your own local weather, you'll have to decide whether carport or in the open. I can't tell you which iris from your foliage picture but if you posted it on the Name that Plant forum, someone there might be able to. And congratulations on your seedlings! Here is a link that might be useful: