Re: cult:Cutting Fans
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: cult:Cutting Fans
- From: B* S* <b*@tiger.hsc.edu>
- Date: Wed, 13 Aug 1997 09:32:59 -0600 (MDT)
I would also
>think then that the practice of some folks of "drying out those fat
>California rhizomes" also falls under the category of "total nonsense"
>and would just serve to dehydrate the plant more, and that the amount of
>water in an rz is not an indicator of propensity to rot (the attributed
>reason for this practice)
There actually may be something to this, at least for some irises, and
those hybridized in California and very successful there, are good
candidates. Many of the Mediterranean species in the background (far, far
background) of our modern TB hybrids go through a distinct dormant period
during the hot summers. They may not loose their foliage, but they do stop
growing. It could be that allowing rhizomes of these varieties to dry
thoroughly (and I suspect this happens to a sufficient degree at the
nursery after they are dug) could enhance blooming and even encourage them
to become established. If true, and it's just a theory, it wouldn't work
for all, especially varieties adapted to wet summers which continue to
grow. The latter category might include most rebloomers(?).
By the way, the article by Don Spoon on reblooming in the bulletin is
excellent, with a lot of interesting speculation on the whys and wherefores
of rebloom.
The question of root-shaving is an interesting one. I've always found that
the cord-like roots on freshly purchased rhizomes quickly send out branch
roots--within a few days--as opposed to new "cord" roots which spring from
the growing end of the rhizome. These latter take up to two weeks to
appear and do not branch (i.e., produce effective absorbing tips) for
another week or so. That's why I'd advise leaving the roots on, trimming
the fans, and replanting within a week to ten days.
But other people report other experiences and if it works, do it! The real
news seems to be that TB irises are remarkably resilient plants and that
iris rhizomes can remain viable for long periods of time out of the soil.
It also appears that even fragments of rhizomes, so long as they bear one
or more lateral buds, can sprout. Years ago rather than dig up a bed of
old, outdated irises, we just built a frame around the bed and buried the
old rhizomes up to a foot deep. You guessed it: the next year the buried
rhizomes had sent up long, thin new shoots to the surface. Since that
foolish episode, I've also seen the same sprouting from chunks of old
"back" rhizomes in the compost.
You can rapidly increase Louisiana irises by splitting old rhizomes down
the center, dusting them with a fungicide, and burying them. A whole row
of new little plants will appear within a month, and with good culture can
be grown to blooming size in one year. Has anybody tried this with TBs?
How do commercial growers get maximum increase on prospective new
introductions?
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>