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Alabama Gardening

Iris diseases, what is normal for Alabama

18 years ago

I've been in Alabama for about 8 years. For the last 2 years my iris have developed brown tips on them and are also looking very pale green. My husband says they are not sick that they just do this, can any of you shed some light on what would cause my iris to look so bad. Is this normal for this time of year?

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Comments (3)

anaturelover
18 years ago
In extreme heat like we have had, my iris do the same. Sometimes a whole leaf will turn brown. Just pull it off and discard. It's important to keep dead foliage pulled off bacause the narcissus fly lays her eggs in the foliage which then hatches into the iris borer. Iris borer hatches out and then tunnels into the rhisome and causes disgusting slimy soft rot. If this happens, apply Milky Spore, it destroys the hatching borers.
raccoon
Original Author
18 years ago
Nature Lover thank you. Where can I buy Milky Spore?
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Mine get brown tips every year. They look awful this time of the season. I don't think it is a 'sickness' per se. Probably more that the iris are not in their ideal environment. However...I have heard that it could be due to: 1. mites or 2. nutrition problems (which could also cause pale coloration) I also think it can be due to high humidity. (that is my own personal, but non scientific observation) Laetitia
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anaturelover
18 years ago
I order mine from Arbico.com but it is available thru Gardenres supply also. I like Arbico because they also have all kinds of organic natural controls for insect. Being an organic gardener as much as I can, I never use poisons to kill because it also does damage to the soil and streams. Arbico is in Tennessee.

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