raising seedlings faster

 

My technique for raising Iris seedlings is pretty basic. I sow my seeds in pots in winter & set them outside on my back porch to stratify. They receive whatever precipitation & temperatures that Zone 6 gives them. In most cases germination occurs the first season, roughly 4 months after sowing. But sometimes I have to over-winter the pots a second time.

To cut to the chase, my technique results in seedlings that bloom 2.5 or 3.5 years after sowing. Usually it's 3.5 years. Sometimes I have to wait 4.5 or 5.5 years if weather has been uncooperative or if I've done something stupid to stunt their growth. My results are similar for everything: bearded, Louisianas, tectorum, versicolor, arilbreds, etc.

About 5 years ago I got interested in cold-hardy carnivorous Sarracenia pitcher plants. Anyone who grows Iris will be immediately comfortable with Sarracenia as they're so similar in every possible way. They grow from rhizomes with clusters of tall leafs. They benefit from regular division every few years. They require cold dormancy to maintain vigor & encourage bloom. They grow in conditions favorable to native irises like Iris tridentata or Louisianas. I grow my Sarracenia together with Iris fulva and Iris tridentata.

So imagine my surprise to read about Sarracenia hybridizers cheating nature by raising seedlings faster indoors under lights for the first 2 years. Bypassing the first winter dormancy and accelerating the seedlings growth rate has no negative impact on the plants, and it results in plants that bloom 1 to 2 years sooner than outdoor seedlings. I soooooooo very badly want to try this with Irises.

Does anyone already follow this technique with Iris seedlings? I suspect it would work great for Louisianas, so that's what I'm going to try first.

I'll post some links to Sarracenia sites in a follow-up message.

Happy New Year!
Dennis in sub-zero Cincinnati



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