Irises are incredibly beautiful flowers, whose name translates as "rainbow". They have more than 700 species and a huge number of all kinds of shades. Farmers grow irises to decorate their garden. In addition, this flower is used to create essences that are indispensable for the perfume industry. For a plant to grow strong and healthy, you need to know when to plant an iris and how to care for it.
Plant description
Irises are rhizome plants. The roots are cord-shaped, and the leaves are thin, with a slight waxy coating. They are collected at the base of the peduncle in small bundles in the shape of a fan. Iris flowers are very rarely seen in inflorescences, most of them solitary. They are distinguished by a pleasant aroma, interesting shape and many shades of the rainbow. For this reason, the reproduction of irises is now very popular among gardeners. Nothing decorates the garden like bright, elegant and easy-care flowers.
Irises begin to bloom in May, and most often end in July. However, with proper care, this time can be slightly extended.
Varieties and types of flower
What are irises:
- Bearded. The variety got such an interesting name for the reason that the hairs on the petals are hairy. They look very interesting in the garden, combined with other species.
- German iris. This is the most common bearded iris variety. Corrugated petals of various shades do not leave indifferent any gardener.
- Non-bearded irises are a classic flower.
- Japanese iris. It has large flowers, a bit like an orchid.
- Iris swamp. This type of plant is different in that it loves water and can grow only in moist soil. Very often used as a decor for artificially created ponds.
Color irises
- Solid - all lobes have the same hue.
- Two-tone. The top is one color, and the bottom is another.
- Variaegata. When the top of the flower is bright yellow and the bottom is brown-red.
- Amena. Such a flower has a white top, the shades of the bottom may vary.
- Plikata - the presence of contrast.
- Iridescent. One shade flows smoothly into another.
Growing Features
Many gardeners do not know how to plant irises, so they prefer not to do this. It seems to them that this is a very complex process that takes a lot of time and energy. This opinion is erroneous. Knowing a few subtleties of caring for these magnificent flowers, you can easily plant them in your garden.
What you need to know:
- The most important thing to remember is that plant rhizomes are very often exposed, because they grow horizontally. It may turn out that they just come to the surface. It is for this reason that in the winter period it is very important to constantly sprinkle them with peat, otherwise the flower will simply freeze. And in the spring you can carefully remove this coating.
- Irises are very cunning, they like to move around. Do not be surprised if the next year after planting you notice that the flower has shifted to the side by a few centimeters. To make the garden look neat, plant the plants with a fan of leaves along the row, but not across.
- If you decide to plant a bearded iris, then sandy soil is needed, otherwise the plant simply will not bloom.
- Irises do not like organic fertilizers. The best fertilizing is fertilizers of mineral origin, which are added to the soil in liquid form.
When and where to plant flowers
Transplanting irises in the fall immediately after they began to bloom is the best option. You need to do this every few years, so that they continue to delight you with their flowering and grow.
The plant loves well-lit places with good drainage, where there are no drafts. If the soil in your garden is not suitable for the plant, add compost and phosphate fertilizers to it in the spring. If the soil is acidic, add wood ash. In no case can manure be used as fertilizer.
Before planting irises in the spring, the area must be degreased, for this it is watered with fungicide. Till the soil with herbicides to protect against weeds.
Landing in spring time
In spring, plants are planted in the same way as in autumn. The sooner you do this, the more likely they will take root before the summer. We prepare a bed and note in advance at what distance the flowers will be located.
If they are stunted irises, the optimal distance between them is 15 cm, for medium-sized irises - 20 cm, and for tall ones - 50 cm. To make the garden look more vibrant and vibrant, you can combine different varieties and shades. Now you know, it’s not so difficult to figure out how to plant irises in spring.
Do not forget that plants need to be transplanted from time to time. For this, it is also important to choose a suitable period of time. Very often gardeners are interested in when to transplant irises in the fall, in what weather to do it. Since the plant loves light, then you need to look at the weather forecast in advance and choose the most sunny days.
Flower care
- Irises love moisture, but very often they cannot be watered, otherwise they will begin to rot. Watch the soil, add water only when it is already completely dry. It is especially important to pay attention to this when the irises begin to bloom.
- Feeding irises. The fertilizers that you added to the soil in the spring when preparing the site will be quite enough. But if you notice that the plants need feeding, then the iris can be fed before flowering in the form of a liquid solution, which is added under the root.
- Weeds. Unfortunately, you will have to fight them throughout the flowering period. Loosen the soil, weed, only carefully so as not to damage the plant. Clean wilted flowers on time because they can just become a real nursery of pests.
We plant irises correctly
So, when planting iris, we already figured out. It remains only to understand how to do it right so that the flower delights you with its bright colors for more than one year.
Brief Instruction:
- We select a well-lit place where drafts will not penetrate.
- We prepare kidneys and pits where we will plant irises.
- A small mound is made in the center of the fossa.
- We put the rhizome on the mound, and very carefully straighten the roots on the sides.
- It is recommended that the rhizome be planted to a depth of not more than 3 centimeters.
- We take into account the distance between the flowers (15 cm for short, 50 - for tall).
Interested in the question of when to plant iris? You can do this both in the spring and in the deep summer. The main thing is that the weather be sunny.
Time for transplant
A flower transplant can only begin when the flowering has come to an end. Or when the growing season ends. This is a great time, because just in this period, the roots and leaves resume their growth. If you miss this moment, then the plants may simply die. For this reason, it is very important to know how to plant bulbous irises and when they can be transplanted.
Begin preparing for a transplant from around mid-August. In the event that you get the planting material later, it is better to put the rhizomes in the pots for the time being. They can be transplanted into the ground only next spring. By the way, it is worth noting that the most magnificent flowering of irises can be seen in the second or even third year after planting.
Plant propagation by the kidney method
It is the kidney method that is most effective for propagating irises. If you act correctly, you will get at least 50 landing units.
- We select the most developed instance of iris.
- We clean it from the ground, wash it and let it dry a little.
- The rhizome is divided into 8 parts.
- We make small grooves in the soil.
- We put there pieces of rhizomes together and fill it with earth.
How to plant irises during reproduction, you understand. This is best done in July, then the very next year you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Pests and diseases
The more variegated and more beautiful the variety of iris on your flower bed, the more likely it is that the flower will be affected by the disease. It is very important to always monitor the condition of the plants. If you suddenly notice a problem, it must be eliminated immediately so that the disease does not spread to the rest of the flowers.
The most common problem is infection with fusarium. If this happens, immediately remove the rotten specimen and look through the remaining flowers well. If they have not yet had time to get infected, prepare a solution of foundationazole and water the roots. This drug is an excellent tool for the prevention and control of flower diseases.
Varietal irises require special attention. They are often hit by pests called scoops. The flower immediately loses its color and dies.
In the summer, the risk of thrips increases. To avoid this problem, sometimes try to spray the flower bed with infusion of shag with laundry soap. If you plan on further breeding of irises, then try to do everything possible to avoid the attack of pests and the defeat of diseases. Spray flowers in time and monitor the condition of the soil.
Now you know exactly when to plant the iris and how to do it right. Use the tips provided, take proper care of the flowers. Next year, your garden will be full of bright, elegant irises, the beauty of which will not leave you indifferent.