re: RE: Francelle's biography and CULT: watering

I also live in Glendale, Arizona.  My iris bed was prepared last year using various ammendments to allow for excellent drainage and good moisture retention.  I irrigate my iris bed once a week (except during monsoon season during the summer).  The soil surface completely dries out by the end of the week, but a half inch down it is moist.  I have been fortunate not to have lost one single iris in this bed to rot.  

One KEY ammendment to the sandy-loam soil that I had added last year was spagnum moss.  This has made a world of difference in keeping the soil light and fluffy, with added moisture-retaining benefits.  I have also heard that spagnum moss has some antiseptic properties as well, but this could be just a myth.  I would be interested to hear if anyone knows any more about this.

During the summer time here it is recommended to cut watering back by half.  This puts the rhizome into dormancy.  During the late summer, the monsoons provide water during the hottest time, which is an excellent recipe for rot.  So, when we have monsoon rain, I do not irrigate the irises that week at all.  

Fortunately this method has worked wonderfully for me.  The light fluffyness of the soil has also allowed the irises to produce some wonderful looking rhizomes.  

This year I am getting ready to test more than 12 new introductions in this bed.  I feel I have finally gotten the bed prepared enough to allow irises to grow as best they can in this climate.  

This is an absolute MUST if I plan to compete with Francelle for Queen of Show next year...lol.

Patrick
Zone 9  USA


Message: 13
   Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 13:43:20 -0700
   From: "Francelle Edwards" <fjmjedwards@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: RE: Francelle's biography and CULT: watering

We have certainly had a scorching summer here in the Valley of the red hot Sun.  All our plants have suffered.  Irrigation is necessary.  I live in a subdivision of two acre ranchettes that get irrigation every two weeks.  I usually have to augment that with a hose because irises need water every week.  Marvin fixed one bed that does not get irrigation with underground plastic pipes with holes on the sides.  These we fill with a hose.  No water gets on top of the rhizomes.  We thought that would be the answer to rot problems.  It isn't.  Our soil is heavy adobe clay.  We are using a lot of silt and compost to lighten it this fall.
We are still experimenting.
Francelle Edwards,  Glendale, Arizona,  Zone 9
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: smarkley
  To: 'iris-talk@eGroups.com'
  Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2000 10:08 AM
  Subject: [iris-talk] RE: Francelle's biography and CULT: watering


  Welcome, Francelle.

  I am curious about your watering regimen in Phoenix? That subject is a big
  issue for me and
  I thought it might be interesting to see what you have to do in a REAL hot
  climate

  Steve Markley, Boise zone 5/6-ish



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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