I had wanted to repeat the cross that gave CLOWN PANTS (Iris variegata
(Beardsley clone) X Iris suaveolens var. mellita) but didn't have Iris
suaveolens var. mellita anymore. I did have the very similar Iris suaveolens
var. rubromarginata, so... I currently have four seedlings from the cross Iris
variegata (Beardsley clone) X Iris suaveolens var. rubromarginata that
germinated Spring 2009 indoors under lights. I never got these planted
outside, so they're still in the basement. Two of the bigger seedlings have
each got two increase fans started. And now one of those bigger seedlings also
has a flower bud emerging from the original fan.
For the bloom/rebloom
trigger crowd... these seedlings have been under a relatively stable
temperature and lighting regimen. The basement stays around 65 degrees
Fahrenheit year round and the shoplights are timed to come on at 7AM and turn
off at 10PM. I do occasionally go downstairs after 10 o'clock to water and
have to turn the lights on manually. I'm know that some of these times I've
probably forgotten to turn the lights back off. So, there could have been an
occasional REALLY long day of lighting.
I'll post more as this flower
opens.
