Re: IRIS CULTURE: Small rhizomes
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] IRIS CULTURE: Small rhizomes
- From: J* a* C* W*
- Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 18:39:00 -0600
> From: Patricia Wenham <prw@televar.com>
> Small rhizomes generally do not mean that the rhizomes will produce
> smaller plants.
> I think possibly Sharon McAlister and Jeff Walters live in areas such as
> mine so perhaps they can expand on my theory.
Patti,
My experience with rhizome size and the probability of bloom the year after
they are planted agrees with what you and Sharon McAllister have said - the
size of the rhizome at planting is not an indicator of bloom (or non-bloom)
the following year, unless small size is due to immaturity rather than
cultural or genetic factors. Different cultivars do have inherently
different sized rhizomes, a fact that was driven home for me as I was
digging irises this weekend to fill orders from the HIPS Rhizome Sale. All
the rhizomes of BLACK TAFFETA were small (almost typical IB size); all the
rhizomes of GREAT LAKES were huge (as close to yam-size as you could hope
for in a high altitude, semi-arid environment); both these cultivars
bloomed profusely this spring and produced ample increase. Of course, GL is
larger in all its parts (leaves, stalks, flowers) as well as rhizomes, than
BT, but one blooms as well as the other.
My experience does differ from yours (and Walter Moores') in that I don't
seem to have any difficulties from treating the the extra large rhizomes
supplied by some commercial growers the same as any others. I plant them
out when they arrive and have not had unusual rot problems with them
(summer (bacterial) rot is a minor nuisance here; it is winter (fungal) rot
that keeps the iris population down).
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4/5, Sunset Zone 2, AHS Zone 7)
jcwalters@bridgernet.com
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