Re: definition of minumum acceptable commercial division

I have been shipping for about ten years now and can say it is difficult to
set an absolute number or size for divisions.  Some varieties produce
several small rhizomes which are hooked together and some produce larger
ones that fall apart when dug.  Tetraploids often have large rhizomes.

I like to send at least three rhizomes which are hopefully attatched.  If I
have single ones they are uusually bound together with the others and sent
out as I can't replant while I'm shipping.

If plants are lined out in the fall and then sent out the following fall
they are usually good sized divisions.   Divisions taken from second year
lineouts are also usually good.  Anything taken from a large old clump is
often smaller and is so tight that it will only come apart into single
pieces.

I line out single divisions and they do fine but don't like to receive
single pieces because of the adjustment to a new environment.  In that case
I pot one and plant one.  When transplanting from my soil to my soil it
doesn't matter how small the division.

I have not seen any correlation between size of the division and how it
grows.  Sometimes large, overfed, overwatered divisions just curl up and die
in my conditions here.  Anything with lots of long skiny roots tells me that
it has been pampered.  I like to see lots of nice feeder roots that are
searching for food and water because that is what they will have to do here.
Also Siberians, like other irises, drop their old roots after they bloom and
start to produce new roots.  It depends on when they are dug in that cycle
as to how the roots look.  When I ship plants in July they have more old
root and just the beginning of the new root system.  By the mid September
shipments there are lots of new roots and the plants are much harder to dig
and to wash. The plants shipped in September look much larger than they do
in July but hopefully the July shipments have had a chace to establish in
their new location and put their new roots down there.

This is a great topic for discussion.


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