My irises look awful. I feed them, I water them, I talk to them,

[cspanlovr]

they're in a great location with all the amenities. so, now what do I do?

[Imalittleteapot]

1. Wait for spring.

They will be gorgeous. They're getting ready for a long winter's nap.

Are they too crowded? It may be too late to dig and divide, but it is recommended to get greater flower production.

Make sure the rhizomes aren't planted too deep. It should be just below the soil surface.

Some of mine are losing leaves. Probably from too much water.

Google - "iris culture".

[cspanlovr]

2. Thank you. I'm not the greenest thumb on the block, but I do try.

The problem is not knowing what to expect. I'll check out the "iris culture" google. Thanks again!

[TygrBright]

3. I used to cut mine back 2x a year...

...and I always got a fabulous show of bloom.

Cut them back once after they finished blooming in spring. "Cut back" essentially means clipping off the fan of leaves to about 6" long for the larger ones and 2-3" for the small ones. At the same time, yank off the really yellow, browning leaves and clean the ground a bit. The rhizomes will thank you for a dry, clean bed with the sun on their backs over the summer.

Then again in fall (after the re-bloomers are done) repeat the process to prepare them for winter.

If they are getting crowded you can dig them up and separate and re-plant during the late spring/early summer cleaning.

They're not low-maintenance, but the show they put on is worth it and then some.

happily,
Bright

[cspanlovr]

4. Thank you so much. I do want to move a few to a better location.

How should I store them over the winter? I'm a (rank) amateur gardener. I got these lovely variegated iris two years ago and put them in different places around the yard. Some are doing well, others, not so good (as Jon Stewart would say). I want to dig up the not so good ones and put them with the good ones, but I'm nervous about it. I

[TygrBright]

5. If you dig them up before winter...

...they won't bloom at all in Spring. Still, it is the best plan if you want them to be happy in their new home. Dig them up now, and cut the fans back to 2" or so. Inspect the rhizomes carefully and discard any that have insect damage, soft- or rotten-looking spots, or other signs of ::shudder:: Iris borers. Nasty little worms that eat into the rhizomes. Just toss any that look doubtful.

Then leave them out in a dry, sunny place for a few days to let them dry completely and harden. After that you can bag them in a paper bag or a mesh bag, with or without sawdust, and put them in a cool dark place for the winter. The key is to keep them from getting damp or mildewed but don't let them freeze hard. Cool and dry, all winter. Plant them out as soon as the ground is workable in spring.

They won't bloom for you in spring, but the rebloomers might put out a late-summer show for you. And the following spring they'll be simply gorgeous. They need moisture in spring to get going and bloom, then a dry summer, then a little moisture in early fall to store up for winter. Keep them as clean as possible, let the rhizomes' backs get some sun, and divide them and re-plant every few years as they start crowding. Don't let damp litter collect around the rhizomes, that's an invitation to disease and borers.

horticulturally,
Bright

[cspanlovr]

6. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

I think I could google all day and still not find the information you just gave me. I have tried. You should write a book! I'll let you know how it works out. :hi:

[LiberalEsto]

7. Don't use any mulch on them

because mulch encourages rot and borers.


My irises seem to thrive on neglect. I don't water them, and they still keep multiplying. I tried moving them to different locations, but now I just toss them because there's noplace else to put them.