Betty,

I think adding soil would only work if it were put in the entire bed. Otherwise I think the wind and rain would level it out and the rhizome would just end up too high as before. My soil is rocky. In heavy clay, but enough rocks and gravel that it drains rapidly. No rocky mulch.

I'm thinking it's probably not genetically based as far as the rhizomes being out of the ground. Could be on the lateness of the increases. They are all growing in the same general area and other things show signs of pushing above the soil line there as well. May be a function of rocky soil being pushed up by tree roots. The area is under two large oaks. Certainly areas close to the trees push up rocks and stones, but those don't have roots to anchor them. However I'm accustomed to planting under the oaks and it hasn't been a problem elsewhere. Soil can vary wildly in just a few feet on the sloping ground, so it still could be what's going on.

Donald

--- In i*@yahoogroups.com, Betty Wilkerson <Autmirislvr@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Donald,
>
> It would seem that the easiest answer would be to add soil to the top. Is this an option? Your soil looks a lot more rocky than mine, or is that an added rock mulch?
>
>
> <<Has anyone fiddled around with rhizomes that do this?>>
> Typically, I let them sink or swim on their own as I don't want "difficult" tendencies adding to my breeding problems. One entire cross didn't put on increases for over a year. Eventually they did but remained scarce, and they didn't bloom for something like three years. As it turned out they were a waste of time and space. A reverse cross was better in all ways.
>
>
>
> Betty W.
> KY zone 6
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donald Eaves <donald@...>
> To: iris-photos <i*@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Fri, Sep 3, 2010 9:57 pm
> Subject: [iris-photos] CULT: question
>
>
>