Re: Cult: sibs vs spuria

From: Irisborer@aol.com

In a message dated 7/26/99 4:02:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Gardenhous@aol.com writes:

<< Help.  Which do I have siberian or spuria many narrow green leaves, tall 3 
 feet, yellow slender  blossom,, apogon.  And whichever filled with 
 borer!!!!!!!  Doreen McCabe >>

Hi Doreen....

I would guess:  d)  None of the above.  

I would suggest that you have pseudacorus, aka  Borer Hotel.  Irisborer just 
find pseudacorus yummy (as you've learned), and might even be a good 
sacrificial plant to centralize them.

Pseudacorus can also tolerate such an invasion better than most irises.  My 
advice is to either dump the entire thing... or if you have the stomach for 
it.... select some non-affected rhizomes and pitch the rest.  You might try 
soaking them in a weak bleach solution - this may force out the borer.

It's important to remember that iris borer is a PEST, not a disease.  When 
you physically remove the vermin, there is no reason to discard healthy 
rhizomes.  A bad infestation of borer may leave your irises vulnerable to 
disease... but if there is healthy tissue, it's fine to replant it.

Also, it's important to remember that there is little point sloshing 
chemicals around at this point....  Cygon will be effective next spring, but 
the lifecycle of the critter is such that they're about to retire on a full 
stomach and will not trouble you again till next April.

Kathy Guest in E. Aurora, NY who has tales to tell of an out-of-season visit 
to Joe Pye Weed's (garden of Shafer/Sachs) this weekend
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