To save the pod, you may try these suggestions:

First, pour undiluted antibacterial liquid soap with tricoslan on the injured tip and stick it in the ground next to the clump it came from. You can stake it or let the fan hold it up. If it remains dry or you have just light showers as the pod matures, you are probably ok. Watch the stalk for rot. If rot starts, cut off the rot and put more soap on the end of the stalk and in the hole before you stick the stalk back in the ground. I have had success with this method.

Others swear by cutting a hole in a potato and sticking the stalk in it. I have not done this and don't know if you bury the potato or put the potato and stalk in a sunny window.

For planting seeds scroll down to other screens not shown when you first bring up Garden Web/iris. This has been discussed several times in the recent past. The threads may still be there.

Walter Moores

When this happens to me, I put the stalk in water, then change the water often.
The bottom of the stalk will rot from being in the water, so just cut off the rotten part and stick it back in.
Somebody may come along and tell you to get a potato, make a hole in it and stick the stalk in.
I like the water method, they'll be plenty of time for the pod to dry after the stalk is fully gone.
As far as successful germination, like I've said before, I soak seeds for up to 10 days changing water.
This re-hydrates them, they will swell up. It also helps to rinse off some of the inhibitor.
Many people plant in pots and don't soak and start watering which works just as well. Plant about 3/4 inch deep with soil that is heavy enough that seeds don't float to top.
The important thing is to keep the planted seeds damp until they sprout (8-12 weeks), if you let the pots go dry you'll get very little germination.

I had a similar pod on Calling (Blyth) last season, and simply shoved it in a pot of soil. Very lazy of me I know. I think some hybridisers simply harvest the stalks at this stage and stick them in a vase or bottle. Anyway, mine were fine, and did better than ones i have fussed over.
Sometimes i bring in a still slightly green pod that has broken off, and just lay it on my desk shelf besides the computer. I rarely have to throw the seeds away because the pod was too green.
I do discard them cheerfully if I don't think the cross is worth growing, and I advise others to do the same. It is certainly fun to get your first seedlings, but really not worth growing seeds just because you have them. My first crosses weren't worth the time i put into them, but were a learning process. After 8 years of growing from seed, I am yet to register and introduce anything, but getting very close. I guess I am pretty fussy.

Readyville,

This database is searchable. Go down to the bottom of the screen and find the search box. Enter a word like hybridizing or germination. You can search as far back as June of '05, nearly a year of posts.

It brought 14 posts on germination and 40+ on hybridizing.

Select the circle that says Search Iris Forum Only.

Walter Moores