Iris is a lovely plant for your garden

Divide the Plants

Dividing is one of the better solutions for many of your problems with Iris. If the plant is week for blooming and you find your plants tightly packed in beds then you should go for dividing them. Sometimes even more than three years pass by and you remain waiting for your plants bloom. In other cases when the plants have finished with blooming you need to think ahead. In all such situations dividing the plants is better option.

Collect All Essentials

Take a good shovel, a trowel, a sharp knife, a pair of 12-inch scissors, and two water buckets. Now take a pail of 10% bleach water also. Ensure that you mix bleach and water with a ration of 1:9. Having collected all these essentials tools and materials you are ready for your next step.

Take Up Sectioning

Clean your sharp knife with the help of bleach water. You can keep your knife submerged in the bleach water for some time. Take the knife out and start cutting off the selected sections of rhizomes. You must ensure that your selected sections should be completely free from any leaves and buds. You should try to make sections of healthy rhizomes which are at least 5-7 inches in size. Simultaneously you should also ensure that the sections of rhizomes have at least one good fan of leaves along with at least two or more buds that you will need the next year.

Blemish free rhizomes are the best ones. A good and healthy rhizome would be around less than 1-inch in diameter. Older ones and remaining ones must be discarded. Similarly, also discard the unproductive, thin, and week sections of rhizomes. If you can identify the diseased sections they immediately throw them away.

You should select the long, vigorous sections with foliage and buds preferably. Cut them in to multiple sections. This would help you when replanting them as it would also avoid overcrowding. Do not forget to dip your knife in to the bleach water after every cut in order to keep them protected from any possible disease.

Fans of foliages would need to be cut in to half’s. You should also remove all brown colored and dried leaves and all the discolored roots. Take another bucket of water and soak all these trimmed and divided sections till the time these are ready for replanting.

Caring for Soil and Beds

Now you should pay your attention to the soil in the bed. Turn it over or till it over in order to provide fresh air and to reduce the compaction of soil. You should have a good quality balance granular fertilizer with 10-10 portion with organic matter to mix it with the soil.

Hold your shovel again and start making ridges of soil in long way within each bed. Ensure that each ridge is at least 12-inches apart. You should preferably stagger all the rows while working from front -to-back in every bed.

Plant Them

Better do it manually. Spread the roots on each side of the soil ridge. Hill the soil around roots thereafter. Rhizome should not get covered up by the soil, ensure that. It should rather hug the side of the ridge. Now pat the roots with care so that fans remain straighten up. Water the plants immediately and thereafter keep watering every week to get them established firmly.

An ideal timing for dividing Irises would be immediately after the finish of blooming. Roots will get sufficient time to re-establish well before the onset of next season. Blooming cycle will also not be getting disturbed in any way.

Iris Flower Pictures

Blooming Iris Videos

Re-Blooming Iris	Time-Lapse Blooming of Irises in 3D
Orlando Bloom ~ Iris	Flowers for Nava

Iris Flower Question & Answers

Iris Flower Question: 1

Question about growing Irises?

I've heard that you can't grow irises in Florida, because they need a "winter" period in order to bloom. I got the idea to send my sister-in-law some of my iris rhizomes, since they are her favorite flower, but not sure if they would work out there. Does anyone know about this?

Answer: 1.
Sure you can, I'm guessing your iris are tall bearded since they are the most common rhizomes people have. Bearded iris don't need a cold period like daffodils do, but they do need a rest period. They will grow in Florida but it can be hard for the bearded iris to take the weather, they might need to be in raised beds and have their rhizomes covered a bit with light, dry mulch to avoid sun rot. You can always try sending her some, but there are also lots of species of iris that would grow for her where the tall bearded irises might not.

Japanese iris, native flags, walking iris, Siberian iris, Louisiana iris and others are all available and come in a huge assortment of colors, shapes, and bloom times.

I'd send your sister some. Dig the rhizomes, trim the leaves down into a fan shape with about 4-6" of leaf left, knock off all the dirt and send them bare rooted & dry.
Answer: 2.
Irises can be grown very successfully in Florida. Members of this plant's family, Iridaceae are quit diverse, their natural habitats range from the Arctic Tundra to the hottest deserts of central Asia. Iris are fairly tough, disease and insect resistant plants.

nfd♥
Answer: 3.
i have irises outside i just dig them up and cut the rhizomes in half and plant them and they come back every year in the summer.plant them deep and the bad weather wont get to them.
Answer: 4.
You can always dig the rhizomes up and put them in the cellar where it's cool, or even in the refrigerator--potatoes, carrots and onions all do OK in there!
Answer: 5.
Bearded Iris are long-lived perennials that produce thick underground rhizomes. They will grow and flourish nearly everywhere, from USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 10.

See source for more information

Iris Flower Question: 2

How deep do I plant bulbs?

Do I put them where the top of the bulb is on the top of the ground or do I put them all under the dirt? They are Glads. I planted 50 of the glads a few years ago and they came up but never flowered and they didnt come back the next year. I may have planted them to deep and I didnt knwo to bring them in it said nothing about that on the pack. I have also planted a bunch of iris's and they never flower but they do come up. I did put them on the top of the soil cause my aunt told me how to do them and they never flowered I was wondering if there was something I can do to them or if they just dont flower every year? I also have roses and I was wondering if I could cut them back now or I should wait. I live in a colder climate in Indiana. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Answer: 1.
Heres a bulb chart I found, sprinkle a bit of Bone Meal in the holes before planting.



http://media.wiley.com/assets/3/18/fg0-7...
fg0-7645-5130-2_0601.jpg (JPEG Image, 430x270 pixels)
Answer: 2.
Glad I could help.
Answer: 3.
2IN.
Answer: 4.
Glads usually should get planted in springtime, as opposed to fall planting. Planting should occur after the danger of frost has passed, and that's usually late April - Early May there in IN. Depth wise, about 2 inches, and be sure to watch out for deer, squirrels and chipmunks who love to much bulbs. Good luck!

Iris Flower Question: 3

flowers to plant in my garden?

i already bought some lily bulbs, and i will plant them next week.what else should i plant?i like irises, daphodils, freesias, and callaswhat type of flowers will grow best in texas conditions (centeral texas) they will be planted in a mostly sunny spot

Answer: 1.
Irises are beautiful, and if you want fragrant flowers try getting the older type and not the new hybrids.
I wish I knew what zone you live in. Maybe you could go back in and put your flower zone. Texas looks like it has several.
I live in Indiana and I love butterfly gardens. I plant cone-flower, butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa) and butterfly bushes. Garden phlox is also beautiful and has a great fragrance.
I lived in a mobile home and planted butterfly weed and had a butterfly bush. I was kind of upset when these big old caterpillars got on my butterfly weed, they didn't seem to hurt it and one day they were gone. Then I saw where they had crawled up on the side of the trailer and made a cryllis (sp). It was somewhat of a miracle to see beautiful Monarch butterflies immerge from them.
Answer: 2.
maybe some geraniums but they dont survive in cold weather so if it gets cold bring them in.
Answer: 3.
One of my favourite flowers is the Peony, even after they bloom the bush still looks nice:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

I plant Clematis next to them so that I will have a second burst of bloom as the Clematis climbs the bush

http://www.clematis.com/html-docs/homepa...

I get all kinds of compliments on these flowers and the peony has so many blooms that you can give lots of them away to friends
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Answer: 4.
If you're new to all types of gardening then I'd recommend easy gardening, I bought it a few weeks ago and I was amazed at the amount of info provided. It also came with a free audio program which I thought was fab! Really friendly guide.

Iris Flower Question: 4

What are some plants to plant with a dwarf japanese maple?

I have this flower bed in front of my house I want to turn into like a rock garden with a japanese maple, but not too sure what to get. I am thinking maybe some lilies and irises, and maybe a peony. Any suggestions?Not sure what other kinds of plants to get.......

Answer: 1.
When you plant your jap maple,,,,,be sure it's protected from wind and harsh sun....also, when planting any new tree,,,be careful planting flowers under it.....a trees water needs are very different from perennials and annuals water needs. Endless summer hydrangeas look beautiful with jap maples...also you could try stella de oro day lilies....assuming you will be planting a red jap maple.....try to pick flowers that will contrast the red well. There is a low growing perennial called Silver mound....it contrasts well with the red of the jap maples. Your options are abound....have fun choosing! And like I mentioned....be careful of your watering...jap maples are finicky,,,,,but once they get established are well worth the extra care.
Answer: 2.
talk to a local nursery -you failed to mention your zone, soil type, amount of sun and shade, size of garden, etc.
Answer: 3.
Foxgloves in the back for height along with hostas for greenery. mix some New Zealand Impatiens in and around them for more greenery and some flowers. in front of these you could add lower level plants such as regular Ipatiens and Bleeding Hearts as well as Calla Lilies. I amost forgot to have you mix in some maiden hair ferns in the middle and near the background. In the far back you might want to experiment with some taller ferns depending on the height of your Maple tree.
I hope this helps. Your local garden center can also help you with plants that will do well in your particular gardening zone.
Have fun (this is the most important ingredient in successful gardening).
Answer: 4.
a special maple needs to basically stand alone.... get too much planted around it and it might as well be a weed..... Japanese forest grass is nice.... again, as was mentioned, is it shade or sun and will your choice of tree like it in the shade or sun?... hosta is great for shady spots and goes well with both the tree and the forest grass in the shady spot.... fill in the bed with boulders or a nice little bed of fine gravel and a special rock .... plant a few small azaleas for color in spring and maybe a hydrangea..... these are all complements to the tree and found in a Japanese garden...that's shaded....
can't help you with a sunny one, cuz most of the maples I know that are special like the shade more than sun..... be sure to research before you plant one!!...here's a great site for maples...

http://www.mountainmaples.com
Answer: 5.
We planted Siberian Iris around ours. It is about 2 1/2 ft tall, so if you have a small maple, be careful. The slender iris leaves are green all summer and add a vertical element to the wider habit of the maple.
Answer: 6.
A a dwarf Maple is a beautiful ornamental. I would not put anything around it to distract from it's beauty.

Mondo grass - especially the black mondo grass - is the perfect compliment to dwarf maples. It is low growing delicate, and evergreen. It will play up the sculpted appearance of the maple in every season..and the bed will never have that 'dead' look in winter.

Be sure to have a low bench or other seating area, so you can enjoy your tree.

Hope this helps! :)

Iris Flower Question: 5

How do I look after potted irises?

In December someone gave me a little pot containing some iris bulbs and compost. I planted the bulbs in the pot, and they've just started flowering. How do I look after them, and how long are they likely to last? Also, some have sprouted (sorry if that isn't the correct term!) but not flowered. Are they likely to do so later? I don't know a thing about plants!

Answer: 1.
Dutch Iris needs to be placed where they will receive full day sun. After planting, water well, thoroughly soaking the area. In warmer climates foliage will form in the autumn, winter will bring taller growth and flowers will develop in the spring. In colder regions foliage and flowers will wait until winter's cold has passed and will develop in the spring.

After blooming has finished for the season, leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year's show. Water as needed during active growth periods.

At the end of the summer the leaves will yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Dutch iris prefer not to be watered while dormant. Your iris will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle.
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp...

If you are growing Iris Reticulata, these dwarf bulbous iris perform best when the bulbs enjoy a warm dry summer dormancy and a wet winter and spring. They do not need marked winter chilling. They will multiply most rapidly if the winter and spring temperatures are relatively low. Planting in a 30cm terracotta pot with well drained compost is a good idea.
http://www.vdqbulbs.com.au/growing_hints...

They return each year. Treating Iris Reticulata like any other iris will do them harm, because they don't like a lot of dampness, & because they require quite a dry dormant period in summer.
http://www.paghat.com/irisreticulata.htm...

It's important to find out what type of Iris bulbs it is that you have planted, because different varieties need different requirements in order to survive.

Good Luck! Hope this is helpful.
Answer: 2.
You're welcome! Thanks for voting :)
Answer: 3.
Make sure the the compost in the pot don't dry out and give them a little feed now and then,flower may last week or so.
Answer: 4.
I would assume that the Iris you have are from the Iris reticulata group. They grow to about 10cms high.

After flowering they generally split up into smaller bulblets and take a few years to reach flowering size again.

If you have a garden plant them out at the front of a border after they have finished flowering in the pot.

Here is a link to some Iris reticulata images to help you identify them.

http://images.google.com/images?q=iris+r...