Re: cult:Cutting Fans /Yellow leaves
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: cult:Cutting Fans /Yellow leaves
- From: G* S* <g*@loop.com>
- Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 20:37:55 -0600 (MDT)
John I Jones wrote:
>
>
> When Margaret asked about trimming back the fans, I assumed she was
> referring to the practice of cutting back the fans of an iris *in place
> in the garden* not one that had been dug up, divided and replanted.
>
> There will probably be a lot more controversy about the practice of
> trimming back the fan of an iris that has just been divided than wacking
> back fans of irises left in place.
>
> 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....
Let me be one of the first. The reason I have heard is that the
surface area of the leaves needs to be reduced because the new
roots cannot supply enough water for the original fan. It makes
sense, but I have no proof. A double-blind test might be tough
to set up.
Have you actually had leaves that looked even semi-decent two months
after being transplanted whole (with a delay of more than just a
couple days from digging)?
Gerry, eager to be proven wrong
--
gcsnyd@loop.com AIS Region 15
Warm, winterless Los Angeles
President of San Fernando Valley Iris Society
My work? Helping generate data for http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo