The flowers of irises are yellow, purple, snow-white and of all colors of the rainbow - frequent guests not only in the garden plots of amateur gardeners, but also in flowerbeds or simple flower beds near the house entrances. They are loved for their long flowering, unpretentiousness in care and bright colors.
Irises got their name due to the variety of colors of buds. The word "iris" in Greek means "rainbow", and it lives up to its name.
Varieties of irises
Among the 800 species that are represented on the planet by 80 thousand varieties, there are snow-white, yellow irises and even a deep black color, as well as the entire spectrum of the rainbow.
According to legend, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Irida, was a mediator between the gods (heaven) and people (earth). Once the rainbow crumbled into many fragments, turning into beautiful flowers, which were named in her honor.
Since these flowers can interbreed independently among themselves, there is still no strict classification of their varieties. They are divided into “bearded” species, which also include aryls and arylbreds, and “bearded” ones. “Bearded” are so named in connection with the fact that they have peculiar pubescent “beards” on the outside of the perianth.
Bearded irises are divided into groups:
- tall, such as iris tall yellow;
- medium-sized varieties are divided into small-flowered and medium-sized;
- dwarf irises are divided into standard and miniature;
- Aryl and arylbreds are a separate group.
"Not bearded" irises make up the classes of "Siberian", "Japanese", "California", "Louisiana" and other varieties.
Also, irises are divided according to planting material. Some are planted with seeds or rhizome, others are bulbous. The latter are more demanding for landing and care and less common.
Iris Swamp
Swamp yellow iris is a frequent guest on the banks of ponds. Wild species are characterized by propagation by seeds that have protection in the form of a dense peel, which prevents them from “drowning” in water. Once in the river, the seeds are carried away over a considerable distance, which expands the area of sowing.
The same distribution is obtained with the help of waterfowl, which transfer seeds to new places in the river, where they sprout beautifully. In the same way, wild yellow iris grew and propagated during the Ancient World, as evidenced by the Cretan fresco dated to the second millennium BC. e. It depicts a young man surrounded by irises.
Cultivated iris yellow is propagated by rhizome, which is divided into parts, each of which has kidneys. When choosing planting material, it is the condition of the roots and their age that plays the main role, so it is better for a beginner grower to use the services of a company store or garden nursery, rather than buying hand-made delenki.
Very often, yellow iris (photo of this proof) is used to ennoble curbs and fences.
Choosing a place to plant irises
Swamp irises take root well in places where there is high humidity. If there are flooded areas on the site, then they are best suited for this variety of flowers. They calmly perceive both the shadow side and the sunny.
The main thing to do is to protect them from drafts and regularly water them in a dry summer. If there is a pond on the plot, then yellow irises (varieties both “bearded” and marsh) are preferable to plant around it.
“Bearded” irises fade under the sun's rays, and their flowering period is significantly reduced. The ideal place for them would be either a partial shade, or part of the day in the sun, and part in the shade. A permanent shadow is contraindicated for them, since they will not give color, and only leaves will grow.
Soil preparation
A huge variety of varieties of irises requires a certain approach in preparing the soil before planting. Since these flowers can "live" in the same place for 10 years or more without harm to themselves, the soil should be prepared in advance.
For example, bearded yellow irises “love” loose loamy or loamy soil. It is important that it is either slightly acidic or neutral. The structure of the earth can be changed by adding sand, peat or ash to it.
Iris categorically “does not recognize acid soil”, so it should be treated with lime before planting. In the event that the summer is most often rainy, it is necessary to put drainage in each hole. No matter how unpretentious irises may be, all of them, except for the swamp species, have a common common problem - rotting of the roots. Drainage will save them from this.
Selection of planting material
Another important point for obtaining a beautiful "iris" flower garden is a good planting material. Large, beautiful, but the old root should not be bought, as it will not produce shoots. Such a flowerbed will not “live” for a long time.
The best planting material is considered one-year-old delenki with rhizome up to 10 cm, with a kidney and a “fan” of leaves. Such a seedling will give the first, albeit a faint color, the very next year. The current period of growing up begins in the third year of growth.
If this year’s share is without a heel, then it will give the first color only in the summer. In the future, as the irises grow, planting material can be taken directly from your flower bed.
Separation of planting material from the maternal root
The time and method of planting irises also depends on the variety of flowers. For example, iris is yellow. Planting and caring for bulbous species occurs according to one technology, and for those that breed rhizomes, according to a completely different one.
After the irises bloom, a bud begins to mature in them, which will become a flower next year. The best time to propagate this plant is the period when the bud has not yet been tied, and new processes at the rhizome have grown.
A new annual element with root primordium is carefully separated from the main root without digging the plant itself, and is transplanted to a new place. Intensive growth of new roots begins in a week, and by the time the flower bud reaches the ovary stage, the plant will have completely taken root.
It is important to remember that the leaves of a young delenka should be shortened 1/3 of the length before planting.
Such a transplant is performed in the summer. If you carry out the same procedure in the fall, you should wait until the flower bud is formed up to 6 cm long, and the roots grow enough.
Autumn transplant will give a new color already next spring, provided that the time is chosen correctly. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the possibility of the onset of early frosts, therefore, the moment of formation of the bud and the readiness of the plant for propagation should coincide with still fairly warm weather.
Planting yellow irises with rhizome
Yellow irises require compliance with certain rules during planting:
- the distance between plants depends on their growth, if it reaches an adult iris up to 80 cm, then between the seedlings should be 40 cm;
- for dwarf varieties that grow to a height of only 40 cm, the gap is 15-20 cm;
- the depth of the hole is determined by the type of plant - in "bearded" varieties only roots are buried in the soil, and the rhizome itself remains at the soil level;
- in “beardless” varieties, a knoll is made in the planting fossa, on which they put the rhizome and sprinkle with earth, the hole itself is only a few centimeters deep;
- yellow iris leaves should “stand” vertically, and the earth around the delenka needs to be slightly tamped;
- immediately after planting, the plant is watered, and re-watering is carried out in 5 days.
It is important to remember that if there are hot days, then young sprouts should be shadowed by pulling fabric on pegs or sticking branches around them.
Planting bulbous yellow irises
Onion yellow iris is a fairly unpretentious plant, it can often be found in the courtyards of multi-storey buildings and in city parks. Its main requirement is the absence of low temperatures in winter.
Iris bulbs have a scaly structure. They quickly respond to the manifestation of the first heat and amicably emerge from the earth as soon as the snow begins to melt. People call this species iris snowdrops.
Bulbous yellow iris (photo confirms this) usually grows up to 60 cm, loves moist soil and partial shade. In a colder climate, he needs shelter for the winter, as the optimum temperature for the "survival" of bulbs is -6 degrees.
If the climate is quite mild, then the depth of the planting pits should be 10 cm, and in colder regions - 15 cm. In the event that yellow irises are broad-leaved, no more than 12-15 bulbs are planted on 1 m 2 . For narrow-leaved varieties, a dense landing is permissible.
The best time to plant iris bulbs is the last decade of October. It is not recommended to plant before, as new seedlings may appear immediately before the start of frost, which will destroy them.
If it was not possible to plant the bulbs on time, it is better to put them in storage in the cellar or in the refrigerator. In the spring, saved planting material can be planted in pots, and at the end of October safely transplanted into open ground.
Bulbous varieties of irises require periodic cultivation of the earth and timely watering. In no case should they be filled with water. This is fraught with decay of the plant.
Iris Care
Irises are quite “compliant” plants, but since they are perennial, some work on the flowerbed should be carried out regularly:
- watering is carried out as needed, especially if the summer is dry;
- loosening the soil (very carefully) is carried out after each rain;
- weeding of weeds is carried out manually;
- faded flowers should be cut to the ground;
- young rhizomes, as well as hybrid and bulbous varieties, are recommended to be "covered" for winter with foliage or spruce branches;
- after 3-4 years, irises must be planted, otherwise their massive coating of the soil depletes it, and gradually they degenerate.
When dealing with root yellow irises, it should be remembered that they grow on the surface of the soil, so loosening with a chopper should be carried out as accurately as possible. The same applies to weeding, which is preferably carried out manually.
After the thaw, the foliage or spruce branches are carefully removed, and the soil is loosened. Shelter roots only applies to young seedlings and bulbous varieties.
Feeding irises
The first fertilizing with fertilizers is carried out immediately after the soil has thawed and dried out. Mineral fertilizers are applied simultaneously with loosening, trying to lay them to a depth of 4-5 cm in the soil. This should be done very carefully.
The second top dressing is carried out during the formation of new shoots with the laying of flower buds. Fertilized at this time, new rhizomes will give abundant flowering next spring.
If the soil is loamy or medium loamy, then triple “feeding” with nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers is required at the rate of 10-12 g per 1 m 2 . For sandy soil, the dosage is increased to 16-18 g per 1 m 2 .
When using nitrogen, the main thing is not to “overfeed”, therefore it is better to get a little undernourished than to overdo it. When there is a lot of nitrogen, the leaves of yellow iris go to growth, and there will either be no flowers at all, or they will be small and frail.
If you cover the flowers with peat for the winter, then you can solve two issues at once - warming and fertilizing the soil. In spring, you need to gently loosen the soil around the roots after it has completely dried.
Diseases and Pests
To avoid pests, after the leaves have reached 10 cm, irises should be sprayed every two weeks with special pesticides sold in specialized flower shops. After flowering begins, spraying stops.
Rhizomes should also be checked regularly for rot. If one has appeared, then you need to carefully cut off the damaged area and burn it. Last year's foliage and wilted flowers should be burned to prevent disease.
Rare varieties
Rare, that is, less common, varieties include Siberian and Japanese. The Japanese variety of these flowers is also called xiphoid, as they have broad, sword-like leaves. These plants are very fond of water, so the preferred place for their planting is ponds. They also prefer well-lit places without being exposed to direct sunlight.
Siberian irises are well planted in regions with colder climates in well-fertilized land.
Whatever the variety, it should be remembered that yellow iris is listed in the Red Book, so its cultivation contributes to the spread and survival of this species.