Re: Questions on Siberians and Japanese Irises.
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Questions on Siberians and Japanese Irises.
- From: C* M* <c*@tiac.net>
- Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 05:47:54 -0700 (MST)
At 10:37 PM 2/13/98 -0700, you wrote:
>william b. cook wrote:
>>
>> Griff's message about his Irises staying green all winter reminded me
>> to ask this. On all the Siberian and Japanese Irises (about four of each)
>> I brought to Florida with me, all of the foliage is brown. (The lowest
>> temperature was 25 F on Jan. 1). So far, I cannot detect any new growth at
>> the base of the plants, but when I tug the dead leaves, the plants feel
>> firmly in place. We are still frequently having night temperatures dipping
>> into the mid to high 30's F (1 C to 4 C), so I guess this could slow them
>> down.
>> My questions are:
>> 1. Are the plants dead?
>> 2. Should I cut back the dead leaves and then feed them with Miracid?
>> 3. Should I cut back the dead leaves (has to be done anyway) and wait and
>> see what happens?
>> I know that there is significant chance that these Irises will not
>> last here anyway.
>
Most of the Massachusetts group cut their Siberians and Japanese *way* back
(to 1" or so) in the fall and burn or bag the foliage. This is done so that
any possible borer eggs will be destroyed. I also do this with the few
beardeds I have on the same principle.
---------
Kathy Marble
Harvard, MA zone 5
c*@tiac.net
