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C.I.P. - Beardless Iris Culture |
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Beardless irises will adorn your garden for years to come if you meet their cultural requirements. Upon arrival, unwrap the irises from the damp paper and plastic bag in which they were shipped and immediately SOAK THE ROOTS OVERNIGHT IN WATER BEFORE PLANTING. Soaking in a bucket of water with roots just covered in water allows the plant to replenish the water lost in transit and will get the plant off to a good start in your garden. DO NOT LET THE ROOTS DRY OUT DURING TRANSPLANTING.
WHERE TO PLANT
Most beardless irises need a sunny location for best performance and bloom. If
plants are getting less than one-half day of sun they may not bloom well.
Siberian irises like even moisture and Japanese irises like as much water as you
can give them. These types do not, however, like to have wet feet in the
wintertime. Louisiana irises and several of the beardless species will grow in
standing water year round.
WHEN TO PLANT
Beardless irises may be planted between August and October depending on your
climate. The fall usually brings rain to supplement watering and roots will grow
nicely as the weather cools. The new root growth will anchor the plants before
winter.
GARDEN SOIL
A good garden loam with added organic matter will make your beardless irises
thrive. An acid soil is preferred, but Japanese irises are the only beardless
irises that REQUIRE an acid soil. A pH of 5.0 to 6.5 will keep Japanese irises
happy.
HOW TO PLANT
Plant Louisiana and Siberian irises about one inch deep. Japanese should be
planted a little deeper, two to three inches, as they make new roots on top of
old roots. Keep newly planted rhizomes WELL WATERED until they are showing very
active new growth. Drying out at this stage is certain death. Once established,
beardless irises grow well, but extra care is needed to start them out. After
plants are showing new growth, add a mulch of three inches and leave it on year
round. This keeps out weeds and allows the roots to remain cooler. Also, it
prevents sun scalding to Louisiana rhizomes.
FERTILIZER
Apply a good balanced fertilizer in the spring when plants are a few inches
high. Japanese are heavy feeders and appreciate a second feeding before bloom
time.
GENERAL CARE
After bloom is finished, cut off the stalks before any seedpods made by bees
develop, as seeds from these would contaminate your named cultivars. Beardless
irises can grow for many years in the same location if fed on a regular basis.
Japanese irises are the exception – they must be divided every three years to
thrive. After fall frost, clip off brown foliage to discourage rodents from
nesting in it. Louisiana foliage in southern climates will remain green and
should not be cut off.