Re: just joined
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] just joined
- From: P* T*
- Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 12:23:10 +1000
>
> Irises generally don't respond well to frequent
> Even moving them
> around once a year is too much for most varieties,
> although a few spread so fast that they need to
> be divided every year to keep them from getting
> overcrowded.
>
Robert,
I'd really have to disagree with these statements, particularly that MOST
varieties won't tolerate moving once a year. In the past I have sold
irises. This means that every year they got dug and divided. I would say
that MOST of them were quite happy with this, certainly not sulking. I
have around 400 varieties at the time, and there were maybe a handful that
didn't seem to like this situation (but they didn't die out or anything).
Personally, I have certainly found no general principal that irises
shouldn't be divided every year. If that was the case then iris nurseries
would not exist as they would have to have massive stocks so that they have
some growing in the ground for multiple years while lifting other clumps.
As long as a clump is divided and replanted as soon as possible (preferably
immediately I have seen no detrimental effects to dividing every year.
Drying them off every year would be a problem, but root disturbance itself
is not necessarily a problem for them, providing the roots survive.
Sorry, but I had to say that. Your email read to me that dividing hurts
the plants, and I have definitely not seen that in my own experience in the
past. It may have been in your experience, but certainly does not apply to
"MOST" irises that I've seen. I just wanted to make sure that new people
aren't scared into thinking that they aren't able to divide them as necessary.
Please don't take this as a personal attack. it isn't! I just wanted to
show that my experiences are very different to yours, so others may find
the same.
Cheers.
Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8
p*@ozemail.com.au
Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Crocus, Cyrtanthus,
Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that
doesn't move!!!!!
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