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Newbie iris question

17 years ago

Last year I purchased 2 Iris plants at the local nursery (I am guessing it was after blooming season, as that is what they told me) as I liked the foliage. I planted and the foliage looked very nice the whole summer. I also planted some iris bulbs in the fall. This year all the bulbs I planted are about to bloom - but those two plants - although there is that nice foliage - there isn't a flower (or even a spike) to be seen.

What am I doing wrong? (Sorry to ask such a simple question of all you experts)

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Comments (4)

laurief_gw
17 years ago
There are many different types of irises. Some grow from bulbs (rounded, buried several inches below the soil surface), and some grow from rhizomes (potato-looking things that should be at or close to the surface of the soil).

When you say you purchased and planted iris bulbs last fall, were these actual, rounded bulbs, or were they rhizomes? I've never grown bulbous irises (Dutch, reticulata, English, etc.), but I believe they all bloom very early in the season.

I am guessing that the potted irises you purchased are rhizomatous bearded irises. Do you happen to know for sure what type of irises they are? If they are beardeds, it's possible that it's just too early in your season for them to have developed bloom stalks yet. Where do you live? Are the irises still in their pots, or did you plant them in-ground? If you planted them, how deeply did you plant them?

We're going to need more information in order to answer your questions accurately. In the meantime, you might find some useful information in the FAQs (link at top of forum page).

Laurie
jessie12
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you for such a thorough reply - the rhizomes were "pagan dance" - I am in zone 6. The plants that are not blooming were planted in the ground - not pots - I planted so that the root part was totally covered - I am thinking maybe I planted them too deeply - The instructions with the ones that are blooming had me plant them shallow. Thank you so much for any info - Do you think I should just plant the others less shallow??
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Hard clay - death! Usually this equals poor drainage. They may survive and even bloom. Blooms will be smaller and increases will be less. Those with less vigor may succumb. I have had success with my adobe by removing 3" and digging in lots of organic matter. I love finding gallon nursery pots with a dead plant - the inorganic light weight material used is perfect to lighten my soil. Perlite is quite expensive here. Stay away from peat moss. Water - allow the soil to dry out between soakings. Proximity - 2' ought to be fine, especially if you have one cultivar. A reason for planting 2'-3' apart is to keep different cultivars separate from one another. I have a small garden and plant closer. Colors - some pastels are as vigorous as deeper colors. Disease resistance is not a significant factor. Aphids can go after all. Iris leaf spot may like certain ones more than others. In bad years it seems to equally disfigure all in my garden. I usually never need to spray. Slug bait yes. Crowded buckets - hmmm, I'd look at the rhizomes. Are they firm? I'd tend to go for more fans if the rhizomes look well. Remember a mother rhizome withers away after producing babies. So the one perfect rhizome is going to be toast in another year. When you transplant the crowded rhizomes can be separated. Online sellers do not ship in gallon containers to my knowlege. Postage would be prohibitive. Local nurseries sometimes have a few available that way. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.irises.org/ais600localiris.htm
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laurief_gw
17 years ago
Pagan Dance is a tall bearded iris, and it should be planted so that the top of the rhizome is level with or slightly below the soil surface (no more than 1/2"). If you planted it deeper than that, it will tend to grow foliage but refuse to bloom.

Check around your neighborhood and see if there are other tall bearded irises in bloom. If so, and if yours has no sign of a bloom stalk or swelling in the leaf fan, it probably won't be blooming this year, and you can go ahead and adjust its planting depth now. If the other tall beardeds in your area haven't bloomed yet this season, leave you plant as it is until after bloom, then adjust its planting depth.

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randy_ca
17 years ago
It just may be a simple case of being to early in your season for them to bloom yet, give them some time.
Our TB iris don't do much until the weather really begins to warm up.

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