Re: Cutting blomstalks ?

In a message dated 96-09-19 04:18:33 EDT, you write:

>I saw some day ago a mail, about cutting the bloomstalk to
>redirect the energy to produce new rhizomes instead.
>What do you think??? Is this a better idea then letting them produce
>bloomstalks this year? 
>How long time does it take for 'Suky' to  grow from 20cm to full hight
>and bloom???? (how long does it get?)
>
>How big must the bloomstalk be before you can cut it and get it to
>flower indoor. ? 

First, how long does it take SUKY to grow from 20 cm to full height and
bloom? For any iris the answer is the same...it depends a good deal on the
weather.  If it is warm and sunny, a stalk can shoot up and bloom before
you've even noticed its coming...but if its cold it can drag on forever.
 Regardless of what you decide to do about your bloom stalks coming now,
before winter sets in do remove them with a knive.  Make a "V" cut into the
top of the rhizome and remove all trace of the stalk...otherwise, the stalk
will rot and can induce rot in the rhizome.

For the flowers to open inside, the buds will probably have to be showing
some color if they are to open...or at least be about to show color.  You
should be at our fall shows here in Region 4, AIS.  Exhibitors bring lots of
stalks, some of which do not yet have flowers.  Then they put them under warm
lights, set them in warm water, put them into the bathroom of the hotel with
hot water in the tub and the room heat turned up (like a sauna). All to get
the flowers open on the morning of the show. Once at a Regional Meeting in
Easton MD, I had a beautiful stalk of Lloyd Zurbrigg's beautiful GRACE
THOMAS, which looked like 3 flowers were about to open.  I worked with it all
night long, and kept putting it in warmer and warmer water.  But I went too
far! I cooked the stalk and it just folded over before the flowers would
open. The next day I returned home to find another beautiful stalk of GRACE
THOMAS had opened 3 flowers while we had been in Easton.  Iris exhibitors are
dedicated people!
Best regards good man, Clarence Mahan in VA
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