Re:Iris Diseases - Goiter


	Iris 'goiter' is a term I picked up years ago in Texas and is not
a bubba term.  I doubt that any bubba has even heard of the word.

	Many times Oregon-grown irises will come with a puffy, thick neck,
that point where the central leaf joins the rhizome.  In areas of high
humidity and heat, this neck can act as a cauldron (oops, a reference to
witches) and moisture in this neck can boil and start the rotting process.

	The person who coined the term iris 'goiter' always cut the
central leaf away from the rhizome upon receipt of irises from Oregon.  If
the neck is quite puffy, I do the same thing because I had problems with
rot starting in the neck on Oregon plants.  I have even received plants
from Oregon already rotting when I opened the box, and the rot had started
at the neck.  So, I believe that this is a definite problem.

	Phil Williams used to warn Southern gardeners to be aware of this
condition in Oregon irises, but he never used the word 'goiter.'  He
suggested drying out the plants with the puffy necks before subjecting
them to our heat and humidity.
 
	Again, I will repeat that I am not slamming Oregon irises as some
will think.  I order irises from three major suppliers there every year,
but I do take precautions with them.  Plants grown elsewhere do not
display the enlarged, puffy neck and can be planted in Southern heat and
humidity soon after they are delivered.

	Walter Moores
	Enid Lake, MS 7/8 (where the humidity can reach 100% without
raining)
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