Re: Iris

>I have Irises in the ground for two years now but they have not 
>flowered.  Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.

I compiled many of the reasons for non-bloom in bearded irises that I have learned from the folks here on iris-talk over the last couple of years and put them into a FAQ.  I'll post it here:

Here are a few reasons why bearded irises may not bloom: 

       Not adequately established 
              Some iris cultivars need a year or more to fully establish in their new
              locations before blooming. If you relocate them frequently, they may never
              become well enough established to bloom. Plant irises far enough apart to
              allow for several yearsŐ growth before requiring division. 
       Inadequate sun 
              Bearded irises need at least 6 hrs of direct sun a day to bloom well. 
       Nutrient deficiencies 
              Consider having a soil test run to make sure your soil provides all
              necessary plant nutrients in appropriate amounts and fertilize according to
              the recommendations returned with the soil analysis. Soil that has been
              growing irises for many years without amendments or fertilization is
              probably nutritionally depleted. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. If bearded
              irises are fed high-nitrogen fertilizers, they may grow lush foliage with
              little or no bloom. 
       Inappropriate watering 
              Bearded irises might not bloom well if they experience periods of extended
              drought, though the plants themselves are quite drought-tolerant.
              Conversely, bearded irises that are overwatered are often susceptible to
              bacterial soft rot and fungal leaf spot infections. If you provide
              supplemental water, water deeply no more than once a week. Soaker hoses
              are preferable to overhead watering to avoid spreading leaf diseases from
              plant to plant. 
       Planted too deeply 
              Bearded iris rhizomes should be planted so the tops of the rhizomes are at
              or slightly below the soil surface. If planted too deeply, bearded irises will
              grow leaves but may not flower. Be careful, also, not to allow mulch to
              cover the rhizomes. Make sure any mulch is pushed away from the
              rhizomes. 
       Overcrowding 
              Overcrowded clumps often quit blooming until they are divided, OR irises
              closely planted with other plants may not bloom well (or at all) if they are
              struggling to compete for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. 
       Weeds 
              There are certain weeds and grasses that are so aggressive they can inhibit
              the performance or even survival of plants they invade (Canada thistle
              being one of them). Keep the weeds and grasses away from your irises. 
       Ill health 
              Irises that are diseased or under insect attack may not be able to bloom until
              the problem is eliminated. 
       Late freezes 
              If a late freeze occurs when flower stalk development has already started,
              the stalk may abort. 
       Immature rhizome 
              Rhizomes will not bloom until they are mature. If you have planted smaller
              rzs, you probably need only wait for them to grow a bit before they'll
              bloom. 
       Irregular bloomer 
              All irises are not created equal. While some irises may bloom very
              regularly in your garden once established, others may never do any better
              than blooming once every several years ... or perhaps never blooming at
              all. The same cultivars that bloom beautifully and reliably for a neighbor
              down the road or a friend across the country may do nothing more than
              sulk in your own garden. The only way to discover which irises will
              perform best for you is to keep trying different cultivars, growing them
              properly, and replacing those that don't meet expectations within 2-3 years
              after planting.


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
clay soil


 

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