Re: Lack of flowers
- Subject: Re: Lack of flowers
- From: "nmogens" n*@charter.net
- Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 11:13:49 -0000
--- In iris-talk@y..., "weelacky" <thursdayinternet8@h...> wrote:
"AS said previously my Irises are not flowering. Could this be due
to where I stay? Scotland - Or is it where I have them planted - in
a corner where it is damp."
Neil responds:
You did not say what sort of irises you have. May I assume you are
talking about bearded iris?
Considering how far north you are and the amount of overcast sky you
may typically have, I have an idea your limiting factors are two--not
enough sunlight and perhaps a fairly strongly acid soil. You did not
say how high elevation or how far north in Scotland you are. Do you
know your USDA zone equivalent?
You might try planting some of the rhizomes in the sunniest, warmest
locations you have, such as south of the house where the plants get
both direct sun and reflected light from the building behind.
Similar conditions would be found south of a fence or stone wall.
Also, addition of lime and bonemeal to your soil before you plant
will raise the pH into the neutral zone and supply nutrients on which
bearded iris thrive.
You are in an ideal area for some more climatically adapted types of
iris, especially setosa, spurias, and siberian irises. These also
need a fair amount of sun, but may be far happier in your climate
than bearded irises, which have primarily a middle or southern
European to Mediterranean origin.
Neil Mogensen z6b/7a near Asheville, NC
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
