Re: OT-BIO: Lorraine
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: OT-BIO: Lorraine
- From: J* I* J* <j*@ix.netcom.com>
- Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 16:06:18 -0600 (MDT)
Hi Lorraine,
Welcome to the list, what a great set of questions. I'll try to answer
those that I can.
To start with, the absolutely best source of information is other LOCAL
iris growers, and your local iris club. General rules are good, but
variations that take into account your own environment are much better.
terzol@winthrop.edu wrote:
>
> I do have a few questions concerning their future:
>
> 1. Should I cut away any dead, brown leaves, and should they be cut once
> they have bloomed?
Yes pull off or cut off dead leaves. Dispose of them, don't put them in
a compost pile (less chance of leaf spot etc). Most don't recommend
cutting back the green foliage until winter really sets in. Break off or
cut off the bloomstalks once the flower is gone.
> 2. When should I plan to transplant?
Provbably around July or August in your area.
> 3. When uprooting the rhizome, can only the part with sprouting
leaves be
> planted. Can I also plant the part of the cut away rhizome that does
> not have any green on it, but has just roots? Should this be separated
> at each notch?
The "mother" rhizome, once it has bloomed won't bloom again. Cut off the
increases ( the new portions with fans) and plant them. A lot of people
recommend trimming the leaves to a 6-8" arch and roots to 4-6" when you
transplant, but my understanding is that that practice is more of a
convenience for growers who have to ship plants than a real necessity.
Maybe Bill Shear or another botanist will comment on the homily that you
have to trim the leaves because you have lost some of the root structure
when you dug them up. You can leave some of the mother if the increase
is particularily small, but that may provide a place for rot once the
mother part dies off.
> 4. Does the rhizome need to be exposed when planting, or can it be buried
> in a shallow position?
Generally the top of the rz should be exposed above ground. They like to
"take the sun."
> 5. What of those bulbous looking things that appear where the bloom was?
> Can they be "recycled" into anything that might grow?
Seed pods! Aren't you the lucky one! Let them ripen, turn brown and
start to split at the top. Then collect them. Someone else will have to
give you instructions on what to do next (and I'll watch the posts to
learn too).
The American Iris Society has a good booklet on how to care for you
irises. You should join.
John | "There be dragons here"
| Annotation used by ancient cartographers
| to indicate the edge of the known world.
John Jones, jijones@ix.netcom.com
Fremont CA, USDA zone 8/9 (coastal, bay)
Max high 95F/35C, Min Low 28F/-2C average 10 days each
Heavy clay base for my raised beds.
