Frequently
asked questions and answers.
● How to plant?
When planting iris, the top of the rhizome (iris
root) should be level with the surface of the soil in warm winter
areas, and about an inch below the surface in cold winter areas. Spread
out the roots facing downward on mound of soil and pack soil firmly
around the roots to eliminate air pockets. RULES: Plant
higher instead of deeper. Spacing between different varieties (names)
should be about 2 ½ to 3 feet. This will prevent overcrowding
and the possibility of losing one of the varieties.
● How Much sunlight?
Irises need 7 or more hours of direct sunlight
daily to produce good blooms. The winter and spring full sun areas
in your yard would be ideal places to plant irises. Iris can tolerate
some shade during the hot California summer days.
● What type of soil?
Irises can grow in any soil with good drainage. Water should never
stand around the base of the plants as this causes rot. Heavy clay
soils and sandy soils can be built up easily using potting soil. In
areas with poor drainage, simply build up flower beds a few inches.
● What kind of fertilizer?
Irises are heavy feeders and require fertilizing
about three times a year, using a balanced fertilizer such as 6-6-6 or
10-10-10 combination. Never give irises a high nitrogen fertilizer
(30-10-10). You can mix fertilizer into the soil at planting
time. An easy way to remember when to fertilizer is Valentine’s
Day, Labor Day, and Halloween.
● How much water?
Immediately after planting, irises should be kept
moist but never soggy or boggy. In the West, keep them damp until
the winter rains begin and then let the rain take over. After the
rains stop, water the plants once week or so through the summer months.
This is important for reblooming iris, since they will not rebloom without
summer water. Automatic sprinkler systems will be okay as long
as there is good drainage. OVERWATERING is a common error and can lead
to disease or soft smelly rot.
● How to divide and replant?
Irises can be divided and planted from mid summer
to 6 weeks before frost for best results. Dividing irises should
be every four-five years. Dig out the clump, remove soil, then
twist or cut rhizome with knife at each joint. The joints are between
each potato-like lump. Then trim back the leaves with scissors to 5-6
inches and roots to 2 inches. Sort irises and replant big healthy
looking rhizomes. Extras can go to new areas, or to friends and
family. Plant iris that are the same variety (color) about 12 inches
apart.
● General Garden Care
Very little care is needed. Remove old leaves
when they pull away without resistance.
The bees can pollinate your iris, which can form a seed pod. It
is important to remove old bloom stalks (with seed pods) to prevent your
garden from being invaded by some new unwanted iris color. Weed around
plants to provide good air circulation.
● What about disease?
Bearded irises suffer from very few serious diseases
in California.
If you have a problem, give us a call or email,
and we will assist you.
Horton Iris Garden specializes
mainly in tall bearded irises.
If you have any additional questions about iris culture
please contact us at Horton
Iris garden
● DESCRIPTIVE TERMS OF IRIS
Beard – Line
of fuzzy hairs at the top of the falls
Bicolor – Light
to medium standards, darker contrasting falls
Bitone – Two
tones of the same color
Falls – 3
lower petals of iris flower
Flounces – Appendages
extending from the tip of the beard like little petals
Hafts – Top
part of falls (area surrounding the beard)
Horns – Spears
extending from the tip of the beards
Plicata
- Stippled or stitched margin color on lighter ground color
Rebloomer – Iris
that blooms in any other season in addition to its
normal
spring bloom time; also called remontant
Self – An
iris of one color
Space
Age – Iris with flounces, horns, or spoons
Spoons – Spooned
appendages extending from beards
Standards – 3
upper petals of iris flower
Style
Arms – Small stiff segment above the beards
● IRIS CLASSIFICATION (SIZES)
TB – Tall
Bearded: over 27 ½”
BB – Border
Bearded: 16” to 27 ½”
MTB – Miniature
Tall Bearded: 16” to 27 ½”
IB – Intermediate
Bearded: 16” to 27 ½”
SDB – Standard
Dwarf Bearded: 8” to 16”
● WHO NAMES AN IRIS?
A person (hybridizer) cross pollinates two irises
and allows the seed pod to form. About 200 seeds from a pod are
collected and planted (with exact records denoting mother and father,
etc.). After two or three years, the iris will bloom and the hybridizer
decides if any are worth seeing next year. Unacceptable blooms (plants)
are destroyed. After two or three years evaluating the growing
patterns and bloom colors, acceptable plants are named and registered
with the American Iris Society. A name cannot be duplicated, and there
are a couple of pages of rules required on selecting a name. The whole
process takes 5 to 7 years.