Re: Clarence Mahan's comment on Schreiner iris

In a message dated 96-08-20 18:36:43 EDT, you write:

>Clarence wrote that Schreiner's irises generally do alright in the 
>east if you let them dry out a month before planting the huge 
>rhizomes.  Clarence, can you explain why you let them dry out?  This 
>seems contrary to what one would ordinarily want to do with any plant 
>that is transplanted.  What does the drying out accomplish that makes 
>for better survival, growth or whatever?

The irises one receives from almost all the West Coast iris nurseries are
very large, which is at least in part due to fertilizer.  If we in the East
fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer, bone meal, or other similar products, we
will have rot (here in northern VA for example, we have heavy clay soil, cold
wet winters, and fairly wet summers...in other words, drainage is not the
greatest and there is lots of water, especially at the wrong time of the year
for irises, i.e summer and winter. 

In many areas of the west, drainage is good.  In much of California, there is
not a lot of moisture, and in areas of Oregon where Schreiners and Cooleys
are, drainage is very good (in some areas top soil is 40 feet deep).  Thus in
many areas of the West people can fertilize heavy and water heavy through
irrigation....the rhizomes are huge and contain a great deal of water. If we
in the East fertilize and irrigate, we will not be able to grow bearded
irises...they will all rot (with the possible exception of cold weather
rebloomers which are especially rot resistant.)
 
By letting the irises dry out, we have less chance of getting rot.  Even
better, if one has the time, planting the irises in pots with a very light
compost type soil for a couple of months and watering heavy works even
better.  Then the iris are planted in the garden...I am already an indentured
servant of irises and refuse to become a slave...so I don't do this, even
though I know my losses will be reduced.  I just let them dry out spread out
on newspapers in my Florida room.  I have some losses, but far fewer than if
I did not dry them out.  Clarence Mahan in VA
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