Saturday, November 14, 2009

2 bags of iris blubs?

My boyfriends grandmother just gave me 2 shopping bags of Iris Bulbs - Purple and Yellow in colour. Is there anything I need to know about these flowers before planting?

2 bags of iris blubs?
Iris are beautiful, easy to care for, and spread on their own. I have irises that belonged to my great-grandmother and that are over 60 years old; they are still blooming. Purple and yellow are the most common, and most striking, colors.





1. Plant your iris at least 6 weeks before the first frost.


2. Iris like well-drained soil and full sun (at least a half day). For the first month, keep their soil moist but not soggy.


3. Iris like compost or well-rotted manure to be added to their soil before planting. Use caution with rotted manure; iris do not like too much nitrogen.


4. Plant in shallow holes with the rhizomes (bulbs) at or just above the surface. The rhizomes need sunlight for the iris to bloom. If you plant the rhizomes too deeply, they may not bloom. The iris will not fall over. The rhizome will send roots deeply into the ground to hold it up.


5. Iris will spread via underground rhizomes, so it is best to space 3-4 rhizomes at a time, about a foot apart.


6. Iris bloom once a season. You do not have to cut back the foilage; let it remain.


7. I have read many articles about using different fertilizers on irises. I simply add, every spring, a little rotted cow manure to their soil and they thrive.
Reply:Iris bloom in the spring. They bloom one time only, but each iris may have several blooms. The foilage is beautiful all by itself after it blooms; it doesn't die away or get droopy. Report It

Reply:You would plant them in the fall, so keep them in the basement or garage until September.
Reply:NOPE just plant them and watch them grow next year!! but make sure the follage is cut at the bottom. if not just use a pair of of clipers and cut about an inch above the bulb,Then plant them so the green is coming throught the dirt
Reply:They are wonderful. Break them apart if they are in clumps. Plant them in an area where they will be able to spread. They multiply fast. Plant them in a loose soil, water good and forget about them. They may not bloom the first year you plant them, but they will come back each year. Happy planting.

Crooked Teeth

How to plant iris bulbs?

need to know how deep to plant iris bulbs also in full sun or partly sun and shade I am in Missouri Southwestern part. My yard is mostly shade and partly sun and shade.

How to plant iris bulbs?
When to Plant


For best results, Iris should be planted in July, August or September. It's imperative that the roots of newly planted Iris be well-established before the growing season ends. In areas with hot summers and mild winters, September or October planting may be preferred.





Where to Plant


Iris need at least a half day of sun. In extremely hot climates, some shade is beneficial, but in most climates Iris do best in full sun. Be sure to provide your Iris good drainage, planting either on a slope or in raised beds.





Soil Preparation


Iris will thrive in most well-drained garden soils. Planting on a slope or in raised beds helps ensure good drainage. If your soil is heavy, coarse sand or humus may be added to improve drainage. Gypsum is an excellent soil conditioner that can improve most clay soils. The ideal pH is 6.8 (slightly acidic), but Iris are tolerant in this regard. To adjust the pH of your soil, lime may be added to acidic soils or sulfur to alkaline soils. It is always best to have your soil analyzed before taking corrective measures.





Depth to Plant


Iris should be planted so the tops of the rhizomes are exposed and the roots are spread out facing downward in the soil. In very light soils or in extremely hot climates, covering the rhizome with 1 inch of soil may be desirable. Firm the soil around each rhizome and then water to help settle the soil. A common mistake is to plant Iris too deeply.





Distance Apart


Iris are generally planted 12 to 24 inches apart. Close planting gives an immediate effect, but closely planted Iris will need to be thinned often. Plants spaced further apart will need less frequent thinning.





Watering


Newly set plants need moisture to help their root systems become established. Specific watering information depends on your climate and your soil, but keep in mind that deep watering at long intervals is better than more frequent shallow waterings. Once established, Iris normally don't need to be watered except in arid areas. Overwatering is a common error.





Fertilization


Specific fertilizer recommendations depend on your soil type, but bone meal, superphosphate and 6-10-10 are all effective. A light application in the early spring and a second light application about a month after bloom will reward you with good growth and bloom. Avoid using anything high in nitrogen, as nitrogen encourages rot problems.





Thinning Old Clumps


Iris need to be thinned or divided before they become overcrowded, generally every 3-4 years. If Iris are allowed to become too crowded the bloom will suffer, some varieties may crowd others out and disease problems may be aggravated. Old clumps may be thinned by removing the old divisions at the centers of the clumps and leaving new growth in the ground. Or, you may dig up the entire clump and remove and replant the large new rhizomes.





General Garden Care


Keep your Iris beds clean and free of weeds and debris, allowing the tops of the rhizomes to bask in the sun. Bloom stems should be cut off close to the ground after blooming. Healthy green leaves should be left undisturbed, but diseased or brown leaves should be removed.





Growing Iris In Pots


Iris can be successfully grown in pots. First, select a roomy pot. A 6" to 8" pot will work for Dwarf Iris; a 12" pot will work for Tall Bearded Iris. Make sure your pot has good drainage. For soil, we recommend 45% fir bark, 20% pumice, and 35% peat moss. Leave at least one inch below the pot's rim, and leave the top of the rhizome exposed. Water only when the top two inches of soil are dry. Overwatering will cause rot. Keep the pot outdoors during the winter. When bloom buds begin to appear in the fans, bring the pot inside and place in a bright sunny window. After bloom, be sure to divide your Iris and replant outside or into more pots
Reply:I live in the same area and the most important thing to know about iris is they bloom best when the rhizomes, (large root like appendages) are just at ground level. They can also tolerate very wet, almost boggy kind of conditions. If they stop blooming but still have foliage, dig them up in the early fall, wash off the tubers, and split them up. Then replant about 2 inches below soil surface...should rebloom beautifully in the late spring the following year.....also, add lots of nitrogen rich fertilizer in early spring....good luck
Reply:The rule of thumb is: Plant in groups of three rhisomes. Position the rhisomes in a triangle with the leaves to the outside of the triangle; the skinniest part of the rhisome toward the center of the triangle--'toes touching.' This will give the mature plants a large, full display when in bloom.





The risomes themselves need the heat and light from the sun on them. Therefore you have to plant them very shallowly, with the top of the rhisome near the surface. Over time water will wash the soil away from the rhisome and it will be exposed to the light. That's perfect.





Now to get these top heavy plants to stand up when you plant them you must cut back the leaves. Here's how: using a pair of shears cut an arc smoothly across the entire width of the fan of leaves. Cut about 6 or 8 inches up from the rhisome. This lightens the load enough for new plants to stand up and become established in the soil.
Reply:HI in your area you can plant them 3 inches below the ground in part sun. They may not have the full brilliant color but they will be very nice. They will need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight to grow properly. You will have to water them every other day until you see them sprouting up, then one a week. If oit very hot where you are then every other day may be best.


How long will Iris bulbs last?

I have a ton of Iris bulbs that were dug up to be transplanted to another spot in the lawn. That area isn't ready for plants yet so I'm wondering how long the bulbs will last? ...

How long will Iris bulbs last?
That happened to me one year...I put them in paper bags and folded the tops of the bags over so nothing would get inside. I kept the bulbs dry like that and left them in the garage all winter. The following July I planted them and they were fine.





*~ Good luck ~*
Reply:Keep them cool and damp until ready to plant them. Any time before the frost is fine with irises, one of the most forgiving of plants.
Reply:Keep them in a cool damp location in your basement or garage until spring.


Can the eye iris dilate when someone sees something amazingly beautiful?

Or does the iris just dilate when the light is too intense?

Can the eye iris dilate when someone sees something amazingly beautiful?
Yes, your pupil can dialate with pleassure - it's part of your parasympathetic response. If a smoker smells a cigarette, his pupils may dialate. Same thing with romance (see above)
Reply:The Iris doesn't dilate, the pupil does. Other than that, I'm of no help.
Reply:Yes. Your pupils become larger when you are interested in something. That's why "romantic" restaurants keep their lighting low. The low light conditions cause your irises to open up, letting in more light. Conveniently, this is also how we look when we're interested in someone...so we're fooled into thinking our date finds us alluring. Thus, the stage has been set for romance.
Reply:It has been found that the iris can contract if you feel nervous, and it dilates when you feel relaxed. If you see something beautiful then your iris will dilate. This is proven for example, if a man fancies a woman (or vice versa) their iris might dilate.


How to ensure that a new iris hybrid will bloom again next year?

I (for the first time) hybridized two irises a number of years ago. As a result, one new iris appeared in 2002, a gorgeous maroon red. But it did not come back in other years. This year I have another new one which has hybridized naturally (I suppose) from that red one + the regular purple type. It is very deep burgundy-black. What do I do to get it to come back next year?

How to ensure that a new iris hybrid will bloom again next year?
As of a matter of fact your Irises are rhyzomes first.





They spread and create the little nodules you see when you dig them up. Irises are call Bi-ennials which means ever other year. The flower that blooms this summer will not bloom next year, the other ones will bloom. That is how they grow and survive their species and spread. I always enjoy new surprises and anticipate the show of beauty they create for me. Many gardening books out there FYI.

Human Teeth

Can you store Iris 'bulbs' out of the ground?

I live in th southeast corner of Washington. In the fall I divided several large clumps of Iris. (the large type - not sure of name). Before I could finish replanting them all we had an unexpected early cold snap. It hasn't warmed up past freezing much. Currently they are loosely grouped in between several layers of newspaper, in a cardboard box and in the house. Will they survive until the spring? Should I store them in the unheated basement? What can you tell me? Thanks for your time.

Can you store Iris 'bulbs' out of the ground?
dig a hole about a foot deep, put the tubers in the hole ,cover them with an upside-down flower pot. then fill in the hole. dont pack the dirt down--let it settle naturally.


the flower pot will hamper rodents from getting at the tubers, and will make it easy to locate them without cutting them with the shovel.


in the early spring dig up the tubers and replant at the appropriate depth.


dont try to save the tubers indoors over the winter--this is rarely successful unless you can provide the exact balance of humidity and air circulation(not easy to do in houses with modern heating) they will likely either rot with fungus or shrivel and dry up.
Reply:Every winter I have several types of bulbs that I have to dig up and bring in (I live in Canada). I dig them up, let them dry, then I put them in a cardboard box with a bit of peat moss, and store them in a cool, dark place. This has worked for me for many, many years.





Hope this helps.
Reply:you need to take the iris tubers and get some bedding material like the kind you put in horse trailers and losely put them in a bag like you wash delicate materials in the washer it has holes in it so the air can circulate around them or they will rot and store them in a dark warm place like near the water heater if your water heater is in a closet type area it is good if you can hang the bag up off the floor an unheated basement they could freeze
Reply:Yes, keep in a cool, dark, and very dry place like a basement or outdoor shed in paper bags--but somewhere they won't actually freeze and somewhere clever little rodents won't feast on the bonanza. Trick the bulbs into thinking there's been a frost by sticking them in the fridge for a few days right before you plant them in the spring--then they'll flower more. Make sure there isn't any ripening fruit in the fridge when you do this. Good luck.


Why are my iris flowers only 8" tall?

My gorgeous, almost black, iris hadn't bloomed for years and last year they did. The flowers, blooming now, are no higher than the leaves. Yes, they are crowded but prolific. Could this height be because they're crowded? Originally they were2-3 feet tall!

Why are my iris flowers only 8" tall?
dig it up and seperate it and you will get lots of new plants.
Reply:German bearded iris???????????
Reply:they need more sun and a little less water (but don't drouhgt it)