Iris and some Irids 2006-2007

[David Nicholson]

David, Iris attica is a delight and I'm sure you will enjoy it. But do you have a good reason to grow it under glass? It would be happiest out in a rock garden or potted outdoors if you want to show it, then brought under cover perhaps as the buds develop.

Lesley, I only decided to grow it under glass because of advice given in one of my books that suggested this was safer as Iris attica, as well as the other tiny species, are favourite fare of slugs and snails. I think I shall take your advice though and grow it outside but put it in the greenhouse to flower.

[Lesley Cox]

Good lad! I should have mentioned slugs and snails but I don't think about them much because - and I hate to tell you this - I don't have any. I don't know why. They just don't live where I live. Am I sorry?

[Rafa]

Hello,

I would like to show you the fabulous pictures that my friend Sergey Banketov took in Azerbaijan a few weeks ago. There are white and vanilla standars of Iris medwedewi (or Iris paradoxa subsp. choschab). I hope you enjoy it

[Maggi Young]

Fabulous pictures, indeed, Rafa. Thanks to you and to Sergey!

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Rafa
I'll second Maggi's thanks to you and Sergey! Those iris are absolutely fabulous! And wonderful to see them growing in the wild.
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

OH YES!!!

[Rafa]

just another wild Iris xiphium

[Anthony Darby]

These are very beautiful and I will add my thanks for posting these amazing pictures of amazing plants.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks Rafa !
Stunning pictures of great plants !

[Joakim B]

Here are some iris that was still blooming in the summer house in th eend of June.
It was just one iris sibirica out of several that was in flower all the others had already set sead pods so it is nice to spread the flowering time with different cultiwars I think this is called butter and cream but is not sure. I like that it was so much later then the others.
The other is a iris japonica or enseata I think also a bit later then the others nice color if I may say so.
Kind regards
Joakim

[David Nicholson]

Here's a picture of some Iris decora seedlings (seed came from Lesley) which I sowed on 9 May last. I have re-potted them once from their seed pot and am feeding and watering them. My questions please are should I continue to water or will  they eventually need a rest; will the leaves die back; and when should I start to water again? Nine thriving out of ten seeds sown, not bad really. 

[Lesley Cox]

Did I only send you 10 seeds David? That was pretty mean of me.

I'd go on watering and feeding (don't overdo it) until they die down naturally, probably around Oct, maybe a bit earlier or later. It does die right away for winter and won't come up again until well into spring, maybe as late as May, so don't panic when they don't come early. You could water from perhaps April on, but in any case, don't let them dry RIGHT out, as they'll dehydrate. They have storage roots like those of a juno but without the bulb on top of the roots. At this size and age the roots will be quite slender and vulnerable to drought.

[David Nicholson]

Lesley, thanks for your reply, just the information I needed. You did send me more than 10 seeds, I usually sow all my seeds in batches of 10 as I find they normally give me sufficient plants to manage easily as they grow. 

[Joakim B]

Hello I have just got 3 batches of seed on my tall white beardless iris and wonder what to do with them.
They are now stacked in a vitamin tube and in their open seedpods. Should I take them out and saw them directly or what?
Is there any chance7risk of hybrid with a beared garden iris (germanica?)?
It is described here http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=143.msg11730#msg11730 Could a not totally identified iris openly polinated be sent to a seed exchange or is it way to common/unspecified/unalpine?

Kind regards
Joakim

[Lesley Cox]

If you mean is there any chance of a hybrid between your beardless one and the bearded or germanica kinds, no chance at all. But if you mean between different bearded forms, very likely.

Sow your seeds now, fresh or leave them until late winter but either way, a small patch of well worked soil in the garden would be fine, or in a deepish pot with a good covering of grit. I. orientalis is easy from seed.