Karen, I have TONS of iris. Here's what I do. Mine do bloom in the shade although about 2 weeks later than my others and not quite as well. Make sure they are not planted too deeply. I dig and divide mine about every two years. I started out with a handful around 9 years ago and now I have hundreds. Iris are TOUGH. They can handle most anything. Myself, I dig them, cut the fans (leaves) down to about 6 inches or so and replant them just so the top of the rhizome is barely covered with soil. I don't let them dry out. I usually dig, divide and replant in the span of a couple of days. If I do it in the fall they will bloom the next year, if I end up doing it in the spring then they won't, but anytime is fine with the iris...they don't care other than the bloom. I put them in a bucket with a bit of water until they are safely back in the ground (not too long or they get stinky and slimey). I have had others on this forum tell me that they have allowed their iris to dry out and then replanted them (after some unforseen delay) still having good results. As for an exchange, start one. No need for a special forum location. I offered about 80 iris to fellow Garden Webbers earlier in the summer. I counted roughly how many I had (I was conservative here), posted an offer with a photo and some basic information and some rules (ie first 5 people to respond via email would be mailed a box containing approximately 10 iris, they had to pay postage), I kept a "waiting list of folks in case I had extras to offer, and then ship away. EVERYONE was responsible about returning the postage. I was very lucky to have great traders. I mailed my iris and their checks came in the mail after, although you could do it the other way around if you are cautious. Some folks even included a trade or some seeds. I ended up with postage from every participant as well as some lovely pink iris in trade, some pink poppy seeds, some echinacea and galiardia (sp) seeds and a promise of a peony in the fall. It worked out great and everyone benefited! I dug and cleaned the iris, wrapped them in newspaper and shipped them via the postal service. That way I didn't have to throw them out and some others got to benefit from their blooms. Happy irising! Rene

Giving the rhizomes a soak won't prevent future slugs. It's hand-picking or poison. This may sound gross but it's highly effective. I do a flashlight search and squish the found slugs on the closest hard surface (if none is, place a brick beside the plant). Then I sprinkle the squished body/ies with snail poison if I'm lazy or if out of Snarol, I go out an hour later and squish all who have come to dine.

We do not have borer in Australia and we are unlikely to get it here, because it has bearded iris only as an intermediate host, and I believe temperatures play a part in it's lifecycle too. The little holes are simply the holes where the old roots used to be, and are no longer. They are not a pathological problem. New roots grow from the heel of the rhizome and from the heel of each new offset. Old rhizomes should be discarded unless they have strong new side growths showing. There may be a soil problem here that is not allowing for good strong root growth and development.

i bought some bearded iris tubers. they arrived safely today , though they have traveled for more then a week. then are neatly packed into pouches with holes with some peat material , i think its coco peat covering it . the coco peat was moist , so i took them out and placed them underneath a fan to dry out. later i came to know that bearded iris tubers need to be little moist . i am a little confused about saving them . i am going to another city on business and i would be back in four days then i would plant them . suggest me how should i keep them alive till then. should i keep them moist ? in which material i keep them ?etc etc please help . i am in sort of zone 10 and zone 11 . nowadays is spring and the temps are 26 c in the day and 15 c in night . soon to increase ....this is our spring is very short , summer would be here in days.........