AIS:REB:Judges Handbook
Strange weather conditions (when don't we have them?)often blur the lines on
rebloom. The judges handbook has the definition and breakdown for reblooming
irises on pages 142-144. For those without the book, I will attempt to
summarize.
The definition of a reblooming iris (RE) is one that blooms in the Spring and
again in the same growing season. The Reblooming Iris Society gives the
classifications based on (4) behavior patterns: Cyclic Rebloomer, Everblooming,
Repeaters, Sporadic (occasional) rebloomers.
To further define Sporadic or Occasional rebloomers, they are varieties which
unpredictably produce bloomstalks at variable times during the growing
season. Many occasional rebloomers perform well on the West coast and the Southern
areas of the US. While they are highly regarded there, they may not show
reblooming tendencies in colder climates.
Bottom page 142: 'A reblooming iris in any of these four categories should
produce enough additional bloomstalks to double the total number of days of
bloom produced annually. (What do we call those that don't quite measure up?)
Other factors (in addition to genetics) affect reblooming tendencies.
1) Cultural practices: Fertilize after spring bloom & keep the plants well
watered. (In some areas, protect from extreme heat)
2) Climate: Once rebloom is detected in a given zone it can usually be
expected to rebloom throughout that zone and higher zones. Extreme temperatures,
both hot and cold, can trigger dormancy.
There's another section on Garden Judging but this is already to long.
Betty W. in South-central KY zone 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
