Re: Why don't they bloom!
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Why don't they bloom!
- From: D* L* <g*@rogerswave.ca>
- Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 14:47:59 -0600 (MDT)
On Sun, 18 May 1997, J. Michael, Celia or Ben Storey wrote:
> >PS these
> >gardens are by the driveway, but so are most of the other iris, and they
> >seem to be doinmg fine. I planted 12 rhizomes in an approximately 3x4
> >garden.
>
> Dear Rusty,
>
> Were the rhizomes you first planted spent mothers that have had to put on
> new increases? This situation happens a lot. You plant what appears to be a
> nice fat rhizome without realizing it's already flowered and can only set
> increases for you. You will get the blooms off the increases, eventually.
> They might just have been too young to set buds this year.
> Other factors to consider:
> * Is the bed in full sun?
> * Are these non-blooming irises planted on the periphery of the bed closest
> to your lawn? If you are fertilizing your lawn with a high-nitrogen
> fertilizer, it might be seeping over onto these iris. High nitrogen favors
> foliage production rather than bloom.
> * Are they planted on the bed periphery closest to the drive? If the drive
> is concrete, it could be leaching enough to push up soil alkalinity. Your
> foliage would look sick in that case. celia storey@aristotle.net
> Little Rock, Arkansas
Rusty, Another thing might be how deep your rhizomes are planted.
They are supposed to be right on the surface in most zones. If they
are planted too deeply they won't flower.
Diana Louis <dlouis@dynamicro.on.ca> <- private email address
Zone 5 Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
AIS, CIS, SIGNA, IRIS-L, Canadian Wildflower Soc.
