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OT: Any iris expets, I have a question

3 years ago

I used to grow an awful lot of iris. The problem with them is that while they are so lovely, they won't tolerate being mulched and they thus have to be weeded since they will rot on you pretty easily if the rhizomes are covered, they won't bloom.

This Is what I was told, and what I found to be true when I had three large beds of them. I usually attempt to keep the iris clear of debris, but this year, after we had the virus in June and wound up so fatigued, last year was like a lost year for gardening.

I am digging out from it now, but the iris have only bloomed a very moderate amount over the last couple of years. I told Kate that I didn't expect blooms this year.

These iris with leaves and weeds and their leaves covering them and their rizpmes up are blooming like crazy! Why? I did everything wrong and they are blooming better than they have in several years. Any ideas?

kay

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Comments (6)

Nancy 6b
3 years ago
Maybe a colder winter with the right amount of moisture? Some years mine just do better than others, and never get as much cleaned up as they need, but unless we have a really hard late freeze, they still do well. I do have some that bloom only every other year, frustrating.

I have grown iris in mulch before, but I actually planted them in the mulch, leaving the rhizome above ground. Much easier to weed. The mulch composted into rich soil. I think if I did not have a lot of iris I would replace the compost as needed, digging and dividing the iris at the same time. Possibly with the mulch heating up, your area might cook them?
dick_in_ohio
3 years ago
We have moved iris in the last two autumns. They did not bloom much last year but look like they will bloom a lot this year. Who knows why.
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shive
3 years ago
I'm certainly no iris expert, but I'm thinking the weeds around them probably held in the moisture. The more moisture, the greater the buds.

Debra
organic_kitten
Original Author
3 years ago
That may be because there were weds all around them.

kay
Brad KY 6b
3 years ago
I found Iris to be too erratic. I moved almost all of mine out of the beds last year and into peripheral places around the yard where I will never plant anything else. If they bloom, fine. If not, oh well. I left the 2 blue ones Karen gave me in a bed. One has done well, the other not. If the one that hasn't doesn't shape up this year, it too goes to a peripheral place.
signet_gw(6b)
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I used to buy iris from growers in our local iris society . Every year they would dig their plants remove any damage/rot , divide and then replant . This was standard practice evidently . It also helps to prevent damage from the iris borer I was told . Anyway here is a link with great info on iris https://www.irises.org/gardeners/care-classification/care/ Lots of good info here .

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