Harold,
Your recent comment that iris are heavy calcium and sulfur feeders is new
and interesting information for me. I use gypsum for my clay soil as you
do. I knew that it didn't have an effect on soil pH, but what I didn't
know was the low solubility and, thus, availability to the plants.
Thinking back I realize that it does not dissolve well in rain, for
instance. I had heard that calcium was beneficial to iris, but nothing
about sulfur. I would like very much to get more information on
nutritional requirements for iris.
thanks,
Chuck Bunnell
Lafayette, IN
Region 6
Zone 5a-5b
P.S. I'm sending this thread to the Iris Talk forum too.
----- Original Message -----
From:
h*@directcon.net
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 7:48 AM
Subject: RE: [iris-photos] gypsum
Irises are heavy feeders including both
calcium and sulfur. Plant nutrients have to be dissolved in water for the
plant to be able to adsorb the nutrient. Since gypsum (calcium sulfate) has a
very low solubility, neither the calcium nor the sulfate are readily available
to the plant. The low solubility also means gypsum has a very minor effect on
pH. The gypsum package gives the application rate for loosening the clay. The
rate is high enough that the ground is white before tilling it in.
Harold Peters
Beautiful View Iris Garden
2048 Hickok Road
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
h*@directcon.net
www.beautiful-view-iris.com
Oh, and I was blaming it for the poor growth in that bed the first
year. I though I had put too much. What
about the sulfate part could that have any bearing ?
Sandra
----- Original Message -----
From:
h*@directcon.net
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 9:38
PM
Subject: [iris-photos] gypsum
My understanding of gypsum is
that it is good for loosening clay soil but of minimal value as a
source of calcium because of its very low solubility. I have clay so use
gypsum routinely when rototilling beds.
Harold Peters
Beautiful View Iris Garden
2048 Hickok Road
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
That's what I had added to the soil, too - gypsum, several years
ago. Hmmm, perhaps an experiment is in
order.
Sandra
----- Original Message -----
From:
w*@mintel.net
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 5:59
PM
Subject: Re: [iris-photos] RE: IB
Agatha Christie
Sandra, Sharon, et al.,
Agatha looks more like Sandra's version. In fact, that's
exactly the way I remeber it colorwise. That grew in pretty good
soil which may have had some gysum (calcium sulfate) added several
years ago, but I can't really say that the soil was calcium
rich. Don't know.
Chuck Bunnell
Lafayette, IN
Region 6
Zone
5a-5b
----- Original Message -----
From:
s*@aol.com
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004
12:04 AM
Subject: [iris-photos] RE: IB
Agatha Christie
Sandra, et al
Attached is a combo of my Agatha Christie, top left and yours,
bottom right. There really is a difference, probably soil
conditions.
Sharon
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