Re: Loss of color
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: Re: Loss of color
- From: L* P* <p*@peak.org>
- Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 16:33:00 -0700
>Bog Fagan writes
>
>:I transplanted some TB's from KY to NC. Most were from
>:stock 30 years old. Is there a change in color or fading
>:from the original parent plants in that amount of time?
>:Also, any suggestions for propping up stems when they get
>:so tall (36+ inches).
Tom writes....
>Hi Bob! No, the color of the flowers doesn't change with
>time; it's in the plant's genes.
snip.....
>Happy irising, Tom.
I would like to add an experience with flower color to Tom's reply. When we
first moved into our very overgrown place twenty years ago I noticed that
Iris and other flowers that I planted would turn out to have much more
"washed out" colors than they should. To add to the confusion, the people
who built our home had landscaped with scads of white and pastel colors. My
preference was towards nice rich "saturated" colors and deep ones also. For
awhile I thought my new plantings were flops!
A soil test revealed a mild deficiency in phosphate that is fairly typical
in volcanic soils and some lack of a diversity of other minerals and trace
elements as well. The problem was remedied with the addition of rock
phosphate and glacial rock four in addition to fertilizer needed to
counteract leaching by our copious winter rain. Iris are not heavy feeders,
but "wrong" colors can be the sign of a chemical deficiency and someone else
might have a different "deficiency" than mine. It is not a good idea to do
anything radical without a soil test. It may be possible to get one through
a university or Extension office. Even with all the cutbacks that have
occurred, some still offer inexpensive tests.
My real problem started when all the jazzy colors came out right and I kept
wanting more! Oh well, who needs a lawn anyway!
Louise H. Parsons <parsont@peak.org>
Corvallis, OR USA
USDA zone 7 , Emerald NARGS, AIS, SIGNA, SPCNI, transplanted Oregrowian
