Re: Tigridia - (#1 of 4)

 
----- Original Message -----
From: d*@badbear.com
To: i*@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 4:07 PM
Subject: [iris-species] Tigridia - (#1 of 4)
 
Dennis, it is a real pleasure to see *Tigridia* photos.  Like Will Warner's experience, I too have purchased Tigridias on several occasions.  I didn't do as well as Will did.  I never even saw evidence of leaves.  Not a thing-none-nada.  Was it the source?  My methods?  My soil?  I tried in Idaho and here in NC both.  I wrote *Tigridia* off as a lost cause in this location.  Maybe soil critters or voles ate them?
 
*Montbrecia* emerge and survive here, but bloom sparsely.  They appear even to increase.  I have them planted in an area with less "overhead watering" than most of the garden--an area in which I hope to be able to grow some arils and OGB+.  The house eves above have gutters that only overflow in very heavy downpours--which do occur on occasion.  Growing dry-summer loving plants here is a challenge.
 
*Acidanthera* also do not do well.  They will bloom the first year, then fade away rather rapidly. 
 
In fact, the only irid types that really thrive are the moisture loving sorts such as the native *Sysrincium,* and among the Iris the Evansias,  LA's, *Pseudacorus* and some JI's.  This past winter I lost quite a bit of JI rhizomes to voles as I was not able to do adequate fall cleanup and pest control.  In dry years I am not able to supply as much supplemental water as they would thrive, but last year and this there has been surplus rain.
 
Siberians seem generally happy also except in the dryest years.  I am appalled at the rot losses among TB's.  Stalk rot, pod rot and outer foliage rotting off from rhizomes have plagued us here in the past two years.  It is tempting either to move away from here or to give up my first love in irises.
 
Oddly, the SDB's and IB's do better.  I find that curious.  I would have expected their behavior to be similar to TB's.  Not so.....
 
Neil Mogensen  z 7 western NC

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