Re: CULT: cutting fans & pods
- To: i*@egroups.com
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CULT: cutting fans & pods
- From: i*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 05:08:45 EDT
In a message dated 5/23/2000 7:29:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
diztlw@yahoo.com writes:
<< I have a questions. In my area the blooms have been gone for about
three plus weeks. This year I left alot the the stalks on to dry up
and many have seed pods that have formed on the ends. Will they have
fertile seeds? And when can they be cut off the stalk? >>
Hi Diane:
Yes, you can harvest the seed and grow your own crop of seedlings next year.
Wait till the pods turn brown and begin to split and then cut the entire pod
off the plant. You should really keep track of what iris each pod came from
- you can write right on the pod for now with a Sharpie.... later, you can
make out a label that should remain with the seeds.
You can either plant them right away in a "community pot" (large pot where
all of one pod is planted together", or in a row in your garden.
Alternately, there's a technique whereby the seed is soaked and rinsed for 10
days (to remove a germination inhibitor), then stored in damp peat moss in a
plastic bag.... or pantyhose.... in the fridge for 10 weeks - THEN planted.
I don't really know if this is an advantage for you, but it keeps us occupied
in the winter in the north.
As far as cutting back fans..... we do not advocate cutting back healthy
foliage ever. In the north, we cut it into those cute fan shapes for only
two reasons: when they're divided in order to reduce the amount of leaf
area while the plant recovers... and as winter approaches to reduce the mess
in the spring.
Kathy Guest in E. Aurora, NY
where the talls are kicking in bigtime, but LONDONDERRY is the current star
of the garden.
One more question...Is it okay to cut the green leaf into a fan again
if I am not dividing this year? I had some leaf spot that is really
ugly and would like to clean up the whole garden. >>
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