CULT: To Pot or Not to Pot, that is the Question

From: <HIPSource@aol.com>

Greetings,

I invariably pot any rare or long-sought bearded iris which I obtain. I am
confident that it gives them a better start, especially if they are smaller
rhizomes. I often pot up others as well, including moderns, depending upon
when they are received, and from where. 

Historic irises, especially the diploids, often have smaller rhizomes. Smaller
is always a relative term since the size of the rhizome is dependent upon the
variety of the iris and also upon the conditions in which it was grown. This
is true both of moderns and older irises. Some irises never make big rhizomes,
nor are huge rhizomes necessarily better than smaller, denser rhizomes of the
same variety. 

I usually pot things up in slightly bigger pots than Walta, l athough I select
the size of the pot to suit the rhizome and I like them to have a nice deep
root run. I use a friable wholly organic medium with a ph of 5.5, which is a
little acid but not unlike my own dirt, and I water them in with a dilute
mixture of a low nitrogen transplant fertilizer such as suggested here
previously by Rick Tasco. This solution--I use one called Upstart but there
are several out there--contains vitamin B1. I hear there is some disagreement
about the true efficacy of B1 in promoting root formation, but I use it. In a
couple of weeks strong new roots are seen peeking out the bottom of the pots.
The yellow tips are signs of active growth. In the meantime, I can move the
pots around into or out of the sun as necessary, I can water them selectively,
giving more to the really dessicated ones or the thirsty ones,  I can cover
them to protect them against crickets and critters, I can easily make the fans
stand upright without putting a stone on them, and I can plan and prepare
their places in the border. 

I have rescued tiny nubbins and cruddy unwanted discarded rhizomes of lovely
irises, potted them up and hovered over them and they have done remarkable
things. I have no doubt that they would have had very little chance in the
border. This additional survival edge is valuable for preservation work.

The only caution I would offer--and those following Walta's formula would not
have this to bear in mind to the extent that I must--is that if you have dense
soil and you use a loose mix in your pots, you must be careful that when you
transplant your iris you do not create a depression of loose material with an
iris in it. Water can collect in this and you will have drainage problems. 

I do not see any indication that transplanting the irises after rooting
distresses them provided the roots are not bruised or knocked off, and the
soil into which they are placed is decent, and they are transplanted into
their permanent locations in plenty of time to get themselves settled before
frost.

Anner Whitehead
Commercial Source Chairman
Historic Iris Preservation Society, AIS
HIPSource@aol.com 




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