CULT: iris rot: summary (long)
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: CULT: iris rot: summary (long)
- From: d*@tso.cin.ix.net (Dennis Kramb)
- Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 14:58:42 -0700 (MST)
Today I finished going through my iris beds and performed surgery on the
specimens that were rotting. I'm surprised by the results.
The TB's fared the worst...at least half of the rhizomes required major
surgery (meaning entire fans had to be removed and the rot scooped out
from the inside of the rhizome at the fan base).
The AB's and MDB's fared the best...none required major surgery.
The intermediates fell between the TB's and MDB's, with just a few needing
major surgery.
In total, out of the 60 rhizomes I have, about 20-25 had major surgery.
Curiously, the rhizomes with just one fan and no increases fared the best,
with no damage whatsoever. Is this because they went completely dormant
during the winter and so they had no tender new growth susceptible to the
unexpected cold spell?
Additionally, the rhizomes with a plethora of increases also fared quite
well. The leaf tips are all brown, but otherwise no damage to the plants.
I cut off anything brown, and/or slimy. And applied bleach to any areas
that had been "slimed", or to rhizomes that had been cut open.
Would anyone care to explain (or guess) why the TB's fared so poorly in
comparison to all the other varieties??? Particularly the TB's with 3-5
fans on them??? Thanks in advance!
Dennis Kramb; dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net
Cincinnati, Ohio USA; USDA Zone 6; AIS Region 6
Member of AIS, ASI, HIPS, RBIS, SIGNA, & Miami Valley Iris Society
Primary Interests: Hybridizing Arilbreds, Raising Native Ohio Species Irises
