Re: Japanese Iris
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Japanese Iris
- From: b*@tiger.hsc.edu (Bill Shear)
- Date: Mon, 3 Mar 1997 08:57:05 -0700 (MST)
It's a good question as to whether it is alkalinity per se or calcium that
creates the JI aversion to lime.
One experience of mine suggests the former (alkalinity). Some years ago I
converted a bed that had been used for arilbreds (and hence was heavily
limed) to a JI planting, by adding abundant compost and soil sulphur. JIs
have thrived there. I would assume that the calcium is still present, even
though the alkalinity has been shifted to acidity. Perhaps however the
acid pH simply ties up calcium and makes it unavailable to poison the
plants.
MaxSteiger called his special JI's the 'Ca-Re" strain, for calcium-resistant.
Best wishes, Bill
___________________
William A. Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943 USA
phone (804) 223-6172
FAX (804) 223-6374
