Re: Winter Kill?

In a message dated 96-03-15 07:18:34 EST, you write:

>Could I get you to clarify 
>your definition of "rich porus soil"? 
>Would that be a planting mixture such as peat moss, horticultural perlite 
>and vermiculite? What do you think about keeping them growing in the pots 
>inside all winter and then planting outside the next spring?
>
>

Chris, in response to your questions: I learned about starting West Coast TBs
in pots from an article written by a soil scientist in PA, which was in some
iris publication some years ago.  I reprinted the article in Region 4
NEWSCAST when I was editor for our region.  The advice was to use soil rich
in humus and compost.  The man who wrote the article swore by his method,
saying he had reduced loses from something like 75% to about 3 or 4% (I'm
making these percentages up, because I could not find the article quickly).  
Re growing them in pots over winter, I think you would probably need near
greenhouse conditions to do this...and they would probably not bloom in
season.  Some years ago a man here in the D.C. area grew some of his
seedlings in a conservatory and brought a couple over to show me in January.
 I have no experience with trying to grow them in pots inside that have not
been disasters (we have a Florida room but the windows face North and West).
 On the other hand, Louisiana irises are quite easy to grow in our Florida
room in pots.  If I pot a few and bring them in I can have Louisiana irises
blooming in January and February.  This makes me think that some bright
person might make a mint by doing this in a big way and selling cut Louisiana
irises in winter.  :)  Clarence Mahan
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