Iris is a perfect plant to grow, for both novice gardeners and more experienced "green thumbs"! This sturdy flower is not difficult to manage and adapts to a wide range of climates, being quite drought tolerant and requiring little care. When it blooms, it features beautiful flowers, ranging from a shaded shade of purple to a fantasy of white and yellow. Iris is one of the simplest perennials to grow and maintain, so start planting it today to get long-lasting blooms.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting a New Iris
Step 1. Choose a variety of iris suited to your specific environment
Although almost all irises are quite hardy and require little care, some are better suited to certain climatic conditions than others. Depending on the climate and conditions in which you want to plant your iris, a certain variety may be better than others. Here is some information on the most common ones.
- Iris Siberiana: Despite its name, it is native to Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey. It is one of the most adaptable varieties of iris - it is very easy to grow and maintain. It prefers temperate climates.
- Louisiana Iris: Native to the hot, humid climate of the southeastern United States. Despite this, it thrives in a wide variety of conditions. However, it doesn't flower well if it gets less than 2.5cm of water during the hot months of peak growth.
- Iris Tuberosa: native to central and southern Europe. It grows well in environments with at least half a day of full sun. It can also survive constant sunshine, but this situation is best avoided.
Step 2. Plant the iris in late summer
This is the ideal time to bury most of these plants (at the latest in early autumn). By doing so, it can stabilize the roots while there is still enough sunlight to help it develop, so that it can survive the winter period. For most varieties, July and August are the best months for planting.
Keep in mind, however, that in areas with long summers and mild winters it is possible to plant it even later, in September or even October; in these cases, there is usually still enough sunlight to help the plant develop roots before winter
Step 3. Choose a place where there is about 6-8 hours of full sun each day
Most varieties thrive well if they can get plenty of sunlight. The plant does not necessarily have to be in full and constant sun (although it also adapts well in these situations), but it is much more resistant than plants with similar flowers. If you can, plant the iris in a flower bed that receives the shade of a tree at the end of the day, or on a side of the house lit by the sun during the afternoon, where it can get a good amount of light.
Step 4. Choose slightly acidic soil with good drainage
Iris develops best in neutral or slightly acid soils; the ideal is a pH of about 6.8-7.0. In addition, it prefers well-ventilated soil with good drainage. This is important to prevent root rot, to which iris is quite susceptible, especially if it is watered excessively.
- If the soil is heavy and very clayey with poor drainage, try adding humus or organic matter to improve its permeability.
- If you plant the flower on a slope or in a raised flowerbed you can facilitate drainage; in this way the water naturally moves away from the iris.
Step 5. Plant the rhizome so that the top is exposed
A common beginner mistake is to plant the iris too deep. Unlike many other plants, this one develops best when the rhizome, the brown root structure at its potato-like base, is slightly exposed to the air. The roots must be arranged so that they spread downwards, under the rhizome.
In very hot climates it is advisable to cover the rhizomes with a thin layer of soil (no more than 2-3 centimeters) to protect the plant from dehydration
Step 6. Plant the rhizomes so that they are spaced apart
More than other flowers, irises tend to grow at the same rate when planted close together. When this happens, they can compete for the same water and nutrients from the soil, hindering each other. To avoid this, try to plant the rhizomes at a distance of about 60 cm from each other.
Even with this preventative measure, after a few years the irises can grow together anyway. If this happens, don't worry, you can solve the problem by simply removing some rhizomes and planting them further away to "thin out" the flowers
Step 7. If the growing conditions are unfavorable, plant the iris in the pots
Depending on the environment you live in and the time of year, outdoor conditions are not always suitable for growing new plants. In this case, instead of planting irises in the garden when you know the climate is not suitable, grow them in a pot. This allows you to control the time the plants are exposed to the elements until the weather improves and you can then move them back to the garden. If conditions are bad, such as in the case of severe frosts, you can decide to keep the plants constantly indoors.
- For almost all of these flowers, a 30cm diameter pot is fine. Exceptionally, in the case of a particularly small variety, you can take a 15-20 cm pot.
- Regardless of the size of the pot you use, make sure it has good drainage, and at least one large hole in the bottom (or smaller ones) so the water can flow easily.
Part 2 of 3: Taking Care of Iris in the Growth Phase
Step 1. Water the newly planted flower abundantly
Once the iris is buried, be sure to provide it with a generous amount of water. If the weather is dry, water every 7-10 days and, if necessary, in the morning or in the evening. If you planted it in late summer or early autumn, you can stop watering as soon as the temperatures drop and it starts to rain.
A common mistake to avoid is overwatering. If the rhizome or roots remain in contact with moisture without allowing the water to drain, root rot may form; potentially fatal fungi develop as a result, as well as easily spreading to neighboring plants, so prevention is key
Step 2. Reduce the amount of water as the iris stabilizes
As it develops, the plant requires less and less water. When the weather begins to change and the autumn days become cooler, you can stop irrigating until the new growing season returns the following summer. In general, the iris needs less and less water with each successive season; in climates with mild summers, this is even more true.
The exception is in areas with very hot and dry summers. In these cases, it is necessary to water during the summer to avoid dehydration. Even though it is a fairly hardy plant, it cannot survive in extreme conditions without help
Step 3. Keep the rhizomes and uncovered roots well ventilated
During the growth phase of the flower, you should periodically check that the rhizome is not filling with earth, dirt, organic matter or other debris. In this case, gently brush the surface without moving the plant itself or disturbing its roots. Also, check that the soil maintains good aeration and optimal drainage; if not, add humus or organic matter as needed.
Step 4. Cut off any leaves and stems that appear brown or dying
Unlike garden plants that require a lot of care, iris leaves do not need to be pruned or cut to ensure good growth. In fact, leaving the leaves undisturbed even after the growing season allows the plant to obtain more nutrients from photosynthesis and thus favor the development of the following year. In general, the only type of cutting you should do is to remove the leaves and brown parts that are already dead and are not benefiting the plant.
Know that, before winter, it may also be necessary to cut the flower stem at the base. If the flower dies during the winter and falls at the base of the plant, it can spread rot to the rhizome causing it to die
Part 3 of 3: Maintain Iris Throughout the Year
Step 1. Protect the plant for the arrival of winter
As the roots settle in late summer and early fall, you need to start thinking about how to protect the flowers when the weather gets colder, especially if you live in an area with particularly cold winters. Snow can naturally protect the soil from cracking and freezing that can occur when temperatures are very low and the climate is very harsh, causing the rhizomes to dislodge.
- If your area is at risk of snowfall, you should apply a light layer of mulch to the soil to protect the plant from the cold. Do not apply too much, however, because it could prevent the soil from receiving the necessary air and cause rot.
- Discard the plant if it has been exposed to severe frosts; if you let it rot, it can become the ideal refuge for the eggs of the infesting moths.
Step 2. Defend the iris from weeds and pests in the spring
When the climate begins to get milder, you can let the snow melt naturally and / or remove any protective mulch. When the new plant begins to sprout, pay attention to any weeds sprouting near the flower and remove them as soon as possible. Use ecological herbicides or herbicides to eliminate weeds and weeds from the base of the flower.
Also pay attention to any intrusive parasites, especially snails. There are so many ways to capture them, from commercial products to makeshift solutions at home. A very simple way to do this is to create a trap with beer: half fill a jar with a wide opening with beer and bury it in the ground up to the top edge. Snails are attracted to beer, so they will fall into the container and drown
Step 3. Monitor growth and feed the plant in the spring
You can encourage the development of iris by occasionally applying a light fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. Don't put one that is high in nitrogen, as it can cause excessive foliage (and root) growth. Water after applying the fertilizer to prevent it from "burning" the plant. Here are some fertilizers you can use without any problems:
- Generic "5-10-10" fertilizer.
- Generic "5-10-5" fertilizer.
- Bone flour.
- Superphosphate.
Step 4. Repeat the control and supervision process if necessary
As the iris grows and becomes more mature, the time devoted to care should decrease dramatically. Still, even when the plant has been stabilized for years, it's a good idea to have a general checkup every 2-3 weeks just to make sure no problems arise. As long as it gets a good amount of sunshine during the growing season, occasional rainwater and nutrients from the soil, it should be more than enough. It is a perennial and the roots should gradually spread into the soil with each new growing season.
