RE: TB: CULT: acclimation (was growth report...

<I've lost a number of the original rhizomes I purchased last year, but
there are increases coming up along side "Dead Mamma" on many of them
this fall.  I'm beginning to develop a new mind set here in Northeast
WI.  I'll buy that new TB and "borrow" it while it makes babies that
will be better adapted to my climate and clay soil......I hope!  Janet
in Denmark  WI  zone 4>

I'm starting to go that direction also & did some experiments this
year.  two reasons : (1) some of those tiny little increases that I
started last year were able to survive and grow into mature plants and
(2) so many times the Dead Mamma doesn't bloom anyway and seems to just
provide a massive source of food for rot organisms, which can't be good
for the kids, & I may be losing some opportunity for youngsters to make
those PR proteins and thrive here (well, ever an optimist...)

Last year, I experimented with removing tiny increases from club plants
where I didn't want to risk having any adverse effect on the mother
rhizome.  This year, I divided nearly all the rhizomes from my last two
orders - one from Rockytop & one from Schreiners.

Rockytop is in Tennessee, the rhizomes tend to be smaller with fewer
tiny increases, but are tougher here (less likely to have "Dead
Mamma"s).  I potted up offsets from this bunch without treatment, other
than giving them a dose or two of Schultz Starter Plus Root Stimulator
Solution.  They arrived about a month earlier (I think - take that with
a grain...) & most immediately grew new roots and started growing.

I placed the Schreiners order very late, so gave them some extra help.
Several largish offsets were shaken in a baggie of Rootone and potted in
sand, then dosed with the same Schultz solution.  They were planted
about two weeks ago (?) & had barely started to initiate new roots when
I put them in the ground Friday.

I am very curious to see how the new increases do in comparison with new
increases that form on the mommas, especially if they turn out to be
Dead Mammas.

I continue to be fascinated by roots - some of the mamma rhizomes do
not  produce new roots ever, near as I can tell.  They seem to be
totally dependent on new roots grown from increases.  It seems that for
cultivars that produce such "parasitic" mammas, it must really stress
the babies to provide all the nutrients and water, as well as most of
the food (green leaves),.  & if the mamma is unhealthy to start with, it
might just be too much for the babies.

Another experiment I'm going to do one of these days is take all the
increases off a "Parasitic Mamma" to see what she does.

--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8

Tennessee Whooping Crane Walkathon:
<http://www.whoopingcranesovertn.org>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
iris-talk/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
iris-photos/Mallorn archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>




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