Re: cult:Cutting Fans /Yellow leaves


John, I am going to jump all  over you on this one.

For ANY plant, when you disturb the roots or trim the roots, you MUST trim =
=
back the foliage proportionally.  It fine to have lots of foliage for =
photosynthesis but don't forget that the roots have to deliver the =
nutrients.  The plant that has too much foliage in proportion to its roots =
will struggle along until it gets back into balance -- this means slower =
growth.  You can experiment, fi you don't believe me.

I also do bonsai and have had lots of experience killing trees that did not=
 =
have the proper blance of roots to foliage.

Maureen Mark
Ottawa Canada -- where iris have overtaken my bonsai


 ----------
From: John I Jones
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: cult:Cutting Fans /Yellow leaves
Date: Tuesday, August 12, 1997 1:13AM

As I understand it, the practice of trimming the roots and fan of a
newly divided iris is basically to make them easier for the large
suppliers to handle and ship. I don't believe that "cutting back the fan
to give the roots more energy" has any validity. In fact, I think the
opposite (or maybe it is the converse) is true - that leaving as much of
the fan intact as possible is better for the plant because there is more
surface area for photosynthesis and thus more energy for the plant.

I know a lot of people are going to leap all over me for such heresy,
but until some good scientific knowledge comes along, I am going to
continue to keep as much fan as possible when I divide and transplant.
Yeah, I know, the nurserymen tell you to trim back the foliage on a
shrub, bush or tree when you transplant, but I am not convinced that the
same applies to all plants. IMO

I will admit that if there is not enough root structure on a divided
iris to hold the plant in place while new roots grow, I trim the fan,
but this has nothing to do with "energy to the roots."

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will jump all over this and
let us know.



John                     | "There be dragons here"
                         |  Annotation used by ancient cartographers
                         |  to indicate the edge of the known world.

John Jones, jijones@ix.netcom.com
Fremont CA, USDA zone 8/9 (coastal, bay)
Max high 95F/35C, Min Low 28F/-2C average 10 days each
Heavy clay base for my raised beds.
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