Iris's

[ninnymary]

I have had iris's for a number of years but it seems that when I divide them they don't seem to bloom very much. I leave about 5 leaves in each piece, trim the leaves, and bury them kind of shallow. This year I moved them to a different spot and I can already tell that they won't give me very many blooms.

What am I doing wrong?

Mary

 

[patandchickens]

Well, you will typically not get as many blooms the year after a division, that is kind of normal, just because there are few growing points per plant and you only get 1-2 stems of flowers per growing point (leaf fan). I dont' know if your problem is just that, or more serious?

When are you dividing them? They want to be done about 4-6 wks after flowering, for typical bearded irises. (Or 4-6 wks after the first flowering of the year, for rebloomers).

Are they blooming well for you BEFORE you divide them, or are they simply not doing well for you at all in that site? I wonder whether you may be burying them a bit too deep (I've always planted irises so that the top half of the rhizome is exposed above the soil, although that may be different in different areas/soils I suppose), or if they are getting too much shade or have issues with your soil?

When you say you are leaving 'about five leaves', how many separate growing points are you leaving? I've had best luck giving each division 2 growing points (fans). (e.t.a. - I know other people sometimes have success with dividing into just-fan pieces, but when I do that they often sulk). Point them so that future growth (which proceeds horizontally over the surface of the ground) is going to go in the direction you want the plant to expand.

Just trying to cover all the bases, do any of those ring any bells?, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ninnymary]

Hi Pat,

The only thing that I am probably doing wrong is that I usually divide them in the fall when I'm cleaning my beds and moving them around. Since they bloom around May here, that may be the problem.

I divide them into only 1 fan (about 5 leaves). I'll try to remember to divide them into 2. I'm not sure I understand "growing points".

They are bearded iris and in full sun.

Mary

 

[mothergoose]

I have some bearded Iris's that I got a few years ago. I get some green leaves but they never flower. I have then in areas were they are in part shade some of the day,

do they need moved to full sun?

Do you think they will bloom if I move them?

They are just sending up leaves now, is it too late to move then this year?

Thanks,
Christie

 

[ducks4you]

I agree with Pat. BTW, MY "black" (really deep purple) bearded iris and my purple striped bearded iris live about 3 foot north of my garage, in partial shade and they have multiplied SO MUCH that the minimal division I did last year is NOT enough!! I get lots of blooms every spring but it's ALWAYS a couple of weeks after everybody else's who has their iris in full sun. Don't worry about them--just plant them where you want them to be, and sooner or later they'll fill in and bloom like they look "in your mind's eye." I moved some to a corner of the yard that needed some color. I'll probably see some nice blooms there from them NEXT year.

 

[rebbetzin]

I was surprised to get blooms on some Iris I transplanted a few weeks ago. (March 10, 2010)I thought it would be next year before they bloomed at all. I was quite nice to have them bloom so quickly!


Here is my very first Iris!!

 

[seedcorn]

My iris's got over run w/crab grass. Daughter pulled everything out, we tilled, then replanted them. They look good so far. I took the extras and went to an area behind the house that won't even grow weeds, planted them........they are up and growing. It will be interesting to see if they bloom.

I also took some to put around church building. All I did was push the shovel in dirt, pull back enough space to put the roots in, heeled soil back in, done. They looked like crap, some didn't even send foliage up. This spring, all survived and look great.

Iris's are truly a hardy plant.

 

[vfem]

I got about 12 in a trade last spring, those 12 became 20+. Only 2 have bloomed this year though...here's the first of the colors. None of the other fans have blooms? :/

 

[ninnymary]

Well...I told you my iris's don't bloom well after I transplant/separate them. This spring I only have ONE bloom of perhaps 20-25 fans.!

Mary

 

[lesa]

Are they in full sun, ninny? That makes quite a difference. How long ago did you transplant. Give them time....Good luck!