Re: First bloom...
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: Re: First bloom...
- From: C*@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 11:40:14 -0400
In a message dated 96-04-15 19:57:08 EDT, you write:
> Do you have the June 96 issue of National GArdening Mag? Came today.
>Has an article about RebloomingIris. seems to be thorough. There's an
>extensive list of cultivars proported to rebloom. The extraordinary vigor,
>this article says, comes from the fast maturation of increases! Interesting
>point. Since the rebloom has to be on the increases, to cultivate for that
>is the trick. What modifications to regular practises would you suggest,
>Clarence. How to make iris grow faster ... or in the case of these, provide
>conditions so that they will do their normal thing?
The best advice for getting rebloomers to rebloom consistently is to make
sure they are in full sun and to water in the hot summer months...water once
a week and deeply unless you have good rains. The summer watering will do
more to bring on rebloom than anything else. Use superphosphate in the
spring...I just throw it on the beds BUT DON''T fertilize with bonemeal or
nitrogen fertilizers (unless you reallyhave a nitrogen deficiency). If you
fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers you will get lush growth (and maybe rot),
but not necessarily bloom. As for reblooming cultivars that I recommend, I
love CHAMPANE ELEGANCE but it is not a consistent rebloomer here in northern
VA....(but in other areas it appears to be so). My recommendations for
likely rebloom in the north are JULY SUNSHINE, CORN HARVEST, HARVEST OF
MEMORIES, GOLDEN ENCORE and SUNNY DISPOSITION....all yellow. IMMORTALITY and
I DO in the white category. PINK ATTRACTION, CORAL CHARMER and JEAN GUYMER
in the pink and peaches. FEEDBACK, VIOLET MUSIC, AUTUMN BUGLER, and VIOLET
RETURNS in the violets and purples. QUEEN DOROTHY and NORTHWARD HO in the
plicatas. And CLARENCE, which Zurbrigg calls an near amoena-luminata, is an
outstanding rebloomer here. Oh, also ROSALIE FIGGE, deep purple is one of
the most prolific. The most dependable rebloomer for me is the SDB BABY
BLESSED. LADY EMMA registered as an MTB is very strong in rebloom, as is the
old IB TWICE BLESSED. Hope this answers your second question. Clarence
Mahan, in VA.
