Oncocyclus Iris - 2015

[arillady]

Yes Jamus they are extra early this year. Congratulations Lesley. Haven't tried to grow Iris grossheimii but acutiloba and iberica grow relatively easily from seed

[Jupiter]

I worked hard today on my onco iris bed which has been forming in my mind for months now. So nice to see it take shape in reality. I'll be planting the first of the irises into it tomorrow morning. 

[Jupiter]

Not oncos but regelia, Iris stolonifera, seed from Kenneth Trimmer, through the ASI seed ex. I decided to try these in a large pot.

[BULBISSIME]

Jupiter, I. stolonifera is better in the ground as it's.. stoloniferous 

[Jupiter]

Thanks Fred. Allow me one season in my pot, because I want the pleasure of seeing it bloom from my kitchen window. I'll move it into the rock garden when it fills the pot. 

[johnralphcarpenter]

Thanks Fred. Allow me on season in my pot, because I want the pleasure of seeing it bloom from my kitchen window. I'll move it into the rock garden when it fills the pot. 
[/quote


Or move it to a bigger pot - that's what I did!

[fermi de Sousa]

The first Oncocyclus Iris in flower here - two of Pat Toolan's hybrids:
Iris kirkwoodiae x Iris atropurpurea
Iris mariae x Iris haynei
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

Those are really beautiful Fermi and lovely detailed photographs. I recognise them as Pat's hybrids from my visits there. Did you do anything special to prepare the soil for planting?

[penstemon]

I've got some seeds of kirkwoodii and nigricans. Apparently they can take 13 years to germinate. 

Takes about twenty-four hours, using forced germination.....
I've been away for a while, but was there not going to be a demonstration of the in vitro method of germination?

[fermi de Sousa]

Those are really beautiful Fermi and lovely detailed photographs. I recognise them as Pat's hybrids from my visits there. Did you do anything special to prepare the soil for planting?

Hi Jamus,
Sorry, I missed your question!
The answer: not much!
They're planted in a raised bed in very gritty/sandy soil mix (coarse sand, a little compost and the "native" black "pug" clay)
cheers
fermi

[Jupiter]

I'm in a dilemma at the moment, torn between whether to water or not. My oncos are still in active growth and we're having a dry spell. The bed they are in is raised and very dry. They don't look to be suffering from drought stress, which suggests to me that they are chasing the moisture down deep and developing good deep root structure. On the other hand I want to maximise growth this season before their dormancy sets in. So... to water or not to water, that is the question... no rain forecast for the week ahead so this a decision I have to make presently. Does anyone have any advice for me?

[johnralphcarpenter]

They grow in the Negev Desert, maybe that's a clue?

[penstemon]

So... to water or not to water, that is the question... no rain forecast for the week ahead so this a decision I have to make presently. Does anyone have any advice for me?

The tips of the leaves will indicate whether or not the plants are getting enough water. Or too much.
The Levantine species do not seem to have an absolute need to go dormant during the summer; the dormancy is no doubt a response to the natural environment and not something inherent, because they can be kept green for twelve months of the year in pots, indoors.
If no one living in a similar climate offers advice, what I would do is to mist them, with a weak solution of Miracle Gro for Tomatoes, or something similar. The plants do respond to that. (I almost never fertilize anything and rarely use anything chemical, but I have found this does work with oncos, which seem to be very heavy feeders.)

[Jupiter]

Thank you Bob, great advise and very timely. I have been considering feeding. I had a sage bit of advise from a member here in Australia who I trust. They are watered and will be fed on the weekend when a cooler change is coming through.

[Jupiter]

Can anyone suggest what has made this samariae sickly? I remember some discussion somewhere about leaf tips being diagnostic of plant health generally but can't recall the details.