Re: New iris grower...what do I do after they bloom?

How often to dig up the old mother rhizome?  Well, there are several  "right"
answers, I think, depending on your circumstances.
l. When the clump itself is getting too crowded with new rhizomes, so that
there are no longer as many or as healthy stalks being produced.
2. When the clump is crowding the one next to it, so that you are in danger of
getting the two mixed up.  That means you save a rhizome thinking you are
keeping variety A and it turns out to be variety B, so you've lost variety A.
3. When the center of your clump is open, just a dead circular area that
produces no fans or stalks, which are now just in a live circle around the
dead, non-productive center.
4. When you have several new increases that you want to plant elsewhere or to
share with others.
5. Every 3-5 years, depending on the vigor of the plant, to avoid conditions
1-3 noted above.   Just like people, some are wimpy and some are strong and
vigorous, producing new rhizomes at a rabbit-like [almost!] rate.
    I've followed any and/or all of these practices at one time or another.
Never killed the live rhizomes yet.
    Regarding treatment of the plant after bloom is over:  I've never been
successful in snapping off the dead stems instead of cutting them off (as near
the rhizome as possible), though I know some say cutting is more likely to
introduce disease.  I have never found this to be true.  The sharp shears
works best for me.  A bleach solution spray on the cut will kill bacteria, in
case one is worried about opening the way for disease.  I've never bothered,
never had a problem, but it's an easy insurance policy.

Arnold


Arnold & Carol Koekkoek
38 7th Street, NE
Sioux Center, IA 51250
e-mail  koekkoek@mtcnet.net

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