RE: CULT: Miracle Gro & germination notes

Hello, Betty and All,
Several years ago, I used Miracle Gro on a large iris bed.  I applied it
through pipes that my husband had put in buried four inches under ground.
The irises grew enormously until mid-summer when they all started to rot.  I
fought rot the rest of the year and saved about three fourths of them.
Since then I wouldn't use the stuff.  About three weeks ago, I noticed that
the guest irises that I am growing for the Region 15 trek on April 17 were
not growing well.  I followed everybody's suggestions and put Miracle Gro on
them at half strength with a sprinkling can.  They have perked up
considerably.  The rhizomes will be dug and distributed before rot season,
so I can't do them very much harm.

Francelle Edwards  Glendale, AZ  Zone 9


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
autmirislvr@aol.com
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 6:08 AM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: Re: [iris] CULT: Miracle Gro & germination notes

I guess my main question is . . . how do you reduce or regulate strength??
Using soaker hoses as I've done in the past, I've put the container inline.?
Since you are doing foliar watering, I'm guessing you don't use soaker
hoses??


I spray half-strength in spring, quarter strength about
once a month afterwards, until mid-August.

I've been using MG water soluble since I moved out here, but even more in
the last couple of years.? Recently, an iris friend insisted that MG was
terrible for irises.? Then, I remembered I'd read that it was?bad for
irises?back in 1980's.? Thought I'd ask others.?

When I can get it, I use Peter's Professional bloom booster 10-50-10 with
micro-nutrients.?

Much as I hate to do it, I have to go back to hand watering and sprinkler
watering/feeding.? At least for now.?

You've moved 587 seedlings outside and then have to move them back indoors??
How many pots?? That sounds like some serious time.?

Hope this goes through.?

Betty W.?

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary Swann-Young <MryL1@msn.com>
To: iris <iris@hort.net>
Sent: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 10:37 pm
Subject: [iris] CULT: Miracle Gro & germination notes



Works great here.  I spray half-strength in spring, quarter strength about
once a month afterwards, until mid-August.  No control group, but seems
to help resistance to leaf spot through general plant health.

Currently tickled by a new personal record in length of time to sprout.
>From a pod of 17 seeds of Pond Lily X Again And Again from the 07 seed
crop, chilling since 8/10/07, 12 sprouted from 10/31/07 to 3/19/08.  One
rotted.  Have had 4 sitting in the crisper ever since.  Left them at room
temperature for 4 days starting 1/1/09, then back in the fridge.  Today
2 of the 4 had sprouted.  That's nineteen months.

Mary Lou, near Indianapolis, Z5 - 587 seedlings in pots soaking up sun &
rain
outdoors until Wednesday

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