Re: TB:CULT
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] TB:CULT
- From: P* T*
- Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 23:37:44 +1000
>"" occurs when an iris produces a bloomstalk but no increase.
> Unless side shoots of the rhizome can be induced (see the archives),
> The bloomstalks are terminal structures,
> and after blooming, the main rhizome cannot grow any more.
> Subsequent bloom depends on increases or side shoots from the
> This seems to be at least partly genetic, since
> some varieties show it more consistantly than others (and no, I don't
> have a list of which are more likely to do so).
> --
Bill,
I've had this happen to me one time in the 8 odd years (some of them very
odd) that I've been growing irises. Once that has actually meant death.
Ages ago I was warned that if you had a flower spike when there were no
side shoots that you might as well rip it out as it was going to die. I
was told a number of times that once it is in flower there is no hope for
side shoots.
Thankfully I didn't get the guts up to trash the first instance of it as
soon as the flower finished. A good three weeks after the flower was over
there were suddenly shoots appearing on the sides. Since then I have had
more than a dozen produce their terminal flower without side shoots, and
then send out side shoots once the flwoer has died. Sometimes even after
the stalk has died off.
I'm mentioning this just to let people know that a flower without side
shoots is not certain death. I was assured a number of times that this was
the case, but it definitely isn't. Of the dozen cases I have had one has
died. One produced 7 shoots after the flower was well and truely gone,
with no action by me other than to leave it alone. It really heartened me
to find out that all was not lost, so I thought I;d make sure that otehrs
realised that.
Hope the Northern Hemisphere members spare a thought to those of us down
south who are heading into winter and dreaming of irises in spring
(although the Galanthus shoots, nerines and the autumn crocus flowers
hearten us a little <grin>)
All the best to everyone!!
Cheers.
Paul Tyerman
Canberra, Australia. USDA equivalent - Zone 8
p*@ozemail.com.au
Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Lilium, Aroids, Irises
plus just about anything else that doesn't move!!!!!
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
