Have you ever heard of Japanese irises? In its homeland, the "samurai flower" is considered an unpretentious and hardy plant, which is why it got such an unusual name.
Feature of Japanese irises
Japanese iris is not a water culture, and therefore needs watering only during the flowering period. The rest of the time, this culture calmly tolerates drought. This makes the plant the best "inhabitant" of suburban areas. However, for all its unpretentiousness, it’s still worthwhile to understand the nuances of planting and maintenance if you want to grow such a plant and achieve its flowering.
The appearance of the plant
Japanese iris is of interest primarily because of the large flowers, whose diameter reaches 14-25 centimeters. It consists of three external lobes and perianth, as well as small internal lobes. The leaves of the plant can reach sizes from 25 to 60 centimeters. Their color varies from yellow-green to dark green.
Irises (photo is given in the article) in the natural environment grow on swampy meadows and forest edges in China, Myanmar and Japan. For a very long time, due to its eastern origin, the plant was practically unknown in other countries. And now, with the efforts of botanists from Russia and the USA, a whole collection of Japanese irises has been created, which has about a thousand varieties. In the arsenal there are varieties with varying degrees of frost resistance, different flowering times, multi-colored flowers of various shades. Bred in the USA and Japan, the varieties are less frost-resistant, and therefore they can be grown only in warm regions. In a temperate climate, thermophilic varieties either do not bloom or freeze.
At home, they try to plant Japanese iris in such a way that the stunning beauty of huge flowers can be admired from a certain height: in lowlands and in old rice fields. Since the plant is quite hygrophilous, albeit drought tolerant, it is much easier to keep the soil moist with this method of planting. Very often in the photographs you can see how the irises are right in the water. However, this does not mean at all that the plant can be grown in this way. Japanese iris requires the greatest amount of moisture during the laying of buds and flowering. Only during these periods, to improve the appearance of the plant, fill with water. Sometimes, out of ignorance, amateur gardeners try to repeat such actions, which eventually lead to rotting of the rhizomes, which excessive moisture is contraindicated.
Which landing site to choose?
If you want to plant Japanese iris on your plot, then first of all you need to choose the right place. The area should be well lit. Tolerant plant belongs to light partial shade. Under the trees and in full shade, irises grow very poorly and do not bloom at all. It is worth paying attention to the composition of the soil. For the plant, light loam is preferred, which has a slightly acidic reaction. Before planting, you can moderately fertilize the soil with compost. Irises categorically do not tolerate an excess of calcium, so they are not recommended to be planted in the ground into which lime was added.
If your site has hard water, it is better to use a milder rainwater for irrigation. Around the plant, you can make a small hole out of the ground to restrain moisture during rains. But at the same time, after flowering is completed, it is necessary to provide for the removal of excess water, since during this period its excess is harmful to the plant.
Irises (photos are given in the article) are not recommended to be transplanted more often than once every five to seven years. Plants look great in separate group compositions. But on the other hand, they can also be placed surrounded by bathing pools, primroses, gypsophila and woodcutters.
Planting irises
If you plan to plant Japanese iris on the site, then first you should choose the right variety that is most adapted to cultivation in your region. Now there is a wide variety of varieties, among which you can choose the most suitable option.
You can transplant the plant in the spring (this is acceptable for central Russia), but it is preferable to do this after the end of the flowering period, for example, in the first week of autumn.
Landing is performed as follows:
- Preparation of planting materials.
- Rhizomes with leaves are divided into parts.
- Pits are prepared at a distance of at least 35 centimeters from each other. If you make group plantings, then the distance can be slightly reduced.
- Planted plants are buried in the soil by three to five centimeters and sprinkled with soil. After that, the iris must be watered.
The use of fertilizing
It is necessary to feed the plants two to three times a year. In addition, it is worth remembering that fertilizers must be applied during the vegetative period. Experts recommend using complex fertilizers for these purposes, since they contain the right amount of all trace elements. Plants also respond well to mullein solution (10%). Japanese iris has some peculiarity.
It does not grow horizontally, but simply rises up, forming a hummock. Therefore, it makes sense to mulch and sprinkle the earth around the plant. Such care will provide an opportunity to develop young roots. Very often you can see the yellowing of the foliage of irises. In this case, the plant needs to be watered and sprayed with iron chelate.
Preparing for the winter
Does Japanese iris need preparation for wintering? Planting and caring for the plant are not particularly difficult, as you can see. But with regard to wintering, the iris must be prepared for the cold season. To do this, cut off all the leaves in such a way that only 10-15 centimeters remain above the ground. Then rhizomes and fall asleep with nutritious soil mixture and cover with dry leaves on top. In such a shelter, the iris should winter. In the spring it can be opened only when steady heat sets in.
The most heat-loving varieties make sense in the fall and spring to cover with a film. Shelter can protect the plant until it begins to interfere with the growth of foliage. If you want to see a blooming iris on your plot, then you need to ensure proper care and timely proper watering. Only in this case you can achieve abundant flowering.
Diseases and Pests
When planting a plant, drainage can be provided. This will help prevent stagnation of water and acidification of the soil. Excess moisture can lead to the development of rot, although in general Japanese irises are not predisposed to them.
Of the insects, only thrips can do the most harm to plants. To combat such pests can only be with the help of insecticides. After the autumn pruning of plants, it is better to burn foliage, thereby destroying the egg masonry. Leaves need to be cut after frosts, because too early pruning can adversely affect flowering.
Plant propagation
Irises can be propagated by dividing rhizomes, which are perfectly regenerated. They must be divided in such a way that several leaves are present on each part. In this case, the foliage is trimmed (their height should be no more than 10 centimeters). The divided parts must dry for a couple of days, and you can sprinkle the slices with charcoal.
Such care will prevent decay of the root system. After the roots are dried and processed, they can be planted in the soil. Planted plant must be well watered. After shrinkage of the soil, the upper part of the rhizomes can be exposed. Therefore, you have to add soil.
Seed propagation
If desired, irises can be propagated even by seeds. To collect them, you need to leave after flowering several inflorescences in which the boxes ripen. In autumn, it will be possible to extract prepared seeds from them, which are subsequently sown in pots. For planting you will need a sandy substrate. Pots can be put all winter in an unheated greenhouse. Seeds will sprout only with the advent of spring, when the heat comes. Shoots should remain in the greenhouse until they get stronger, only after that they can be transplanted into the open ground.
Artificial pollination
The main feature of the plant is the structure of its flower. The lower part of the perianth acts as a landing platform for insects. Under their weight, the road opens to anthers. Insects cannot pollinate the plant collected by pollen, since the stigma ripens only the next day. But at the same time, the bumblebee perfectly pollinates another flower, in which pollen showered and the stigma was opened. If the grower has a desire to produce artificial pollination, then he needs to remove the anthers from the flower (mother plant). This is done on the first day of flowering to prevent unwanted pollination. On the second day, from the father’s flower (just blossomed), you need to take pollen with a brush and apply it to the stigmas of the mother plant. In this case, pollination can be considered completed.
When choosing plants for pollination, it must be borne in mind that varietal properties are transmitted, as a rule, through the maternal line. In addition, only species with the same number of petals need to be crossed. So, for example, plants with three petals can not be pollinated with six-petal. To carry out the process, you should take the very first flower on the peduncle, and all the rest will have to be removed.
After pollination, ovaries should appear, which must be removed, leaving only one. Such measures are necessary so that the mother plant does not weaken. If the seed bolls do not have time to ripen before frosts, then the peduncles are cut and placed in a vase with water until fully ripened.
Japanese irises: varieties
Currently, there are a variety of varieties of Japanese irises. They all have completely different characteristics. Among them, you can choose exactly the variety that is most suitable for growing in your region.
Iris Japanese Vine Ruffles reaches a height of 80-120 centimeters. The plant has xiphoid leaves narrowed towards the end. Iris has large purple-violet flowers that live from three to five days. This variety is incredibly resistant to bacteriosis. The plant should winter only in shelter, otherwise it may just freeze. For its landing, it is better to choose open sunny areas. For good development and growth, the soil must be rich in humus, well drained. With proper care, the plant pleases with numerous wine-red double flowers.
No less beautiful inhabitants of the garden are the Japanese irises Kayyun Kapers. They prefer well-lit areas of the garden. The variety of colors of this variety make it quite popular among amateur gardeners.
Japanese iris Variegata is another representative of the family with beautiful large flowers of lilac-violet shades. Plant height reaches 80-120 centimeters. Plants of this variety prefer very sunny places. Like other Japanese irises, Variegata prefers well-drained humus soils. Each flower reaches 12 centimeters in diameter and lives from three to five days. The plant is not susceptible to bacteriosis.
Japanese iris Momogasumi reaches a height of 75 centimeters. The flowers of the plant are light pink in color (up to 17 centimeters in diameter). Go away and planting this variety is no different from other varieties of Japanese iris.
The disadvantages and advantages of irises
For all its beauty, Japanese irises have low frost resistance, which is not very convenient for our regions. In addition, the flowers of the plant are odorless.
Among the advantages of the plant: resistance to various diseases, large sizes of flowers and a long period of their life (3-5 days).
It is worth noting that in the Japanese classification there is a separate group called Higo. The number of plants included in it exceeds 3,000 names. All of them have very large flowers. Such plants are intended for growing in containers. They can become a decoration not only of the garden, but also of your home. Of course, they will need careful care, as well as any other kind of Japanese iris, but they can become the best decoration at home.