Re: OT Recovering from overfertilization
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] OT Recovering from overfertilization
- From: o*@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 5 Jul 2002 16:15:22 EDT
In a message dated 7/5/2002 1:54:03 PM Central Daylight Time,
dlouis@dynamicro.on.ca writes:
> I put 20-20-20 fertilizer on my main iris bed for 4 years previous to
> the spring of 2001. During that spring I heard that this would cause my
> irises to stop blooming and so they didn't bloom. They are not going to
> bloom this summer either. Can anyone suggest anything that I could put
> on to encourage them to start next year? The rhizomes are mostly in good
> condition and some of the fans quite large. I've got some 0-17-15 if
> anyone thinks this would help. Can anyone else suggest anything to help?
>
The nitrogen component of the initial application was either used by the
plants or had leached from the soil within 4 months of the first application.
It is doubtful that you have reached a concentration of either the phosphate
or potassium components of the initial application to have reached a
detrimental level though it is a possibility. I would suggest a soil test to
determine existing nutrient levels. If you do not wish to do a soil test I
would avoid adding the 0-17-15 until the plants began showing either weak
bloom stalks or poor root growth. The phosphate and potassium components of
fertilizers generally remain in the soil until they depleted by the plants
themselves.
This advice is based on the limited information you provided. You provided no
info concerning the initial nutrient levels prior to application of
fertilizer or the rate at which you applied the fertilizer. A soil test would
give you a base line from which to take action to correct a problem or
promote better growth/bloom.
Hope this benefits your effort.
Bill Burleson 7a/b
Old South Iris Society
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Will You Find True Love?
Will You Meet the One?
Free Love Reading by phone!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/ztNCyD/zDLEAA/Ey.GAA/2gGylB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
