Re: Re:beginner question no 2

Just to show how tough bearded Iris can be, but definitely not recommended.

I received a number of assorted Iris (give or take a hundred) last year in
July (AB, IB, MTB, SDB, TB) which got separated from the majority,
misplaced and never planted.  They were found much later, shrivelled, with
dead remains of aphids and mealy bugs all over them, not a trace of
anything green left.

How much later?  I potted them three weeks ago.  At least three fourths are
growing, even some of the tiniest pieces, and others look like they are
about to grow.  A number were dried beyond hope (crispy fritters), and
didn't make it.  A few rotted as soon as they got moistened, but most
swelled and put out roots and leaves almost immediately.  Oddly, most of
the failures were big fat healthy TBs (originally), but by no means were
all the big fat healthy ones failures, most grew.

This is torture to the extreme (they sat in a dry unused bedroom with a
bunch of other boxes and such, cooler than outside, but cold only in
winter).  I didn't think many would make it.  Now I don't know where I'm
going to bed them out, but I'll make room.

I'm kind'a curious if any will flower this fall after their forced extended
year-long dormancy?

Other times, years ago when in Colorado, I've had boxes of moved or free-be
Iris sit outside through winter in cardboard boxes for five or six months
(some through -30F temperatures), and those all grew.  They were probably
all old TB's, but I don't remember.  They were in part shade, dry most of
the time, and usually in attached clumps with some of the dirt still
attached, but basically bare-root.  Perhaps not as severe as the box in the
bedroom, but close.

Yes I've tortured Iris - I'm sorry - I won't do it again - promise.


Dave

---------------------------------------------------------------------
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