Re: CULT: Parts of the iris rhizome

Sounds to me like everyone is saying the same thing.

I've always understood the terms to match the description Laurie gives--for
sixty years or so.  I wasn't aware there was any difference of usage out
there.  Have at it, Laurie.  Send your diagram to B. Filardi as a Bulletin
offering.

Hmmm "spiders."  Those lateral developing increases are some of the best.
Hormones produced by the "apical meristem" (main growing tip at the heel of
the rhizome) tend to inhibit growth of those lateral buds.

When digging--or planting incoming shipments with rhizomes having lots of side
development near the toe--I have found it helpful to slice a neat, sharp cut
across the old mother at a narrow area, planting the pieces separately.  That
solves the hormone problem--source separated from the new ones trying to
develop.

I make darned sure the "spiders" get dug with the rhizomes too--and don't
plant the new plants directly in the old rows in case I missed some.  I redo
the bed and go halfway between--in the area between the old rows.  Then, if
something comes up I can either toss it in the compost--or plant it as a NOID
until it blooms.

My problem is having pods split and shell out part of their seeds in the beds.
Ooops!  I spend a long time on hands and knees carefully moving leaves and
such to find every seed I can.  The chance I get them all is vanishingly
small.  When they germinate.....trouble.  I wish I had ground enough to fallow
a season or two between iris plantings instead of having to go back in the
same soil.

Neil Mogensen  z 7  western NC

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index