Re: Iris Myths
From: Gullo <tgf@frontiernet.net>
Hi Dana,
I guess I've never had an inexhaustible supply of compost so I have had to go a
little easier on the amount of compost that I incorporate into my iris beds. Another
factor might be that many of my seedlings have rebloomers in their background and seem
to be a bit more resistant to rot ( currently knocking on wood ). I have on numerous
occasions transplanted young first year seedlings into pots containing pure compost
with little trouble. In the past most of my rot problems could be traced to borer
infestations or rebloom buds which escaped my detection before winter came. Murphy's
oil soap has helped me get the borers under control thus virtually eliminating cases of
borer related rot. I don't use fertilizers or chemicals for weed or pest control (
besides the oil soap ) and perhaps that helps to keep rot at a minimum.
Appreciating the solarization thread now going on the list as it is something I've
considered in the past. The many posts on the subject have been very informative.
Also I've been trying to dig up information on the use of salicylic acid to
stimulate a plant's defense mechanisms. I read an article last year ( I think ) in the
AIS bulletin on this topic and wanted to research it more thoroughly.
Have a nice one Dana.
Michael Gullo
West Walworth , NY.
Dana Brown wrote:
> From: Dana Brown <ddbro@llano.net>
>
> Gullo,
> I believe that compost is good for your soil but, if you plan to plant iris in
> it I recommend that you put it on at about 1/4 the recommended rate. Any heavier
> than this and you run the risk of inducing rot. We have seen this over and over in
> various gardens where they have composted their soil and made it so rich that the
> poor little iris died from too much love <G>
> As a matter of fact we not only add compost at 1/4 the recommended rate but we
> also add in alfalfa pellets and till the whole mess in. We have big beautiful iris
> but we have almost no rot.
>
> Gullo wrote:
>
> > From: Gullo <tgf@frontiernet.net>
> >
> > Hi Dana,
> >
> > I would have thought the compost would help restore some of the beneficial
> > soil organisms and have a positive effect.
> >
> > Michael Gullo
> > West Walworth , NY
> >
> > Dana Brown wrote:
> >
> > > From: Dana Brown <ddbro@llano.net>
> > >
> > > I agree with Mike about solarizing. I have solarized twice now, this year
> > > will be the third time. I can tell you that in Texas, there was NO rot
> > > following solarization. As a matter of fact, the soil was looser, with
> > > better tilth and the newly planted iris have shown high rates of growth. In
> > > other words it is wonderful.
> > > I also know that at least a couple of the tour gardens that I have been
> > > in that did have rot also used vast quantities of compost, which IMHO is
> > > much more likely to cause rot than the solarizing.
> > > --
> > > d*@llano.net
> > > Dana Brown
> > > Pres. South Plains Iris Society
> > > Lubbock, TX 79401
> > > Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset
> > >
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> --
> d*@llano.net
> Dana Brown
> Pres. South Plains Iris Society
> Lubbock, TX 79401
> Zone 7 USDA, Zone 10 Sunset
>
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> GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU!
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