Scorpiris Iris (Juno's) 2007

[Lesley Cox]

Those are nice Andrew, more what I would have expected from I. aucheri, but I didn't realize the height range was so great.

[Andrew]

Andrew, do you mean in South East Britain where (sometimes!) it's drier, or South West where it aint?

The book just says Southern but it was written in 1981. Have you dried out since then or become wetter ?

(Edit - I've just read that and am not impling you have any personal problems.

[Lesley Cox]

I would suggest that the article means south eastern. Tony G. should be able to grow junos outside OK. They like a prolonged summer rest, up to 4 months isn't excessive for the more difficult species and should be very dry during that period. Tony Hall at Kew (God, to all intents and purposes), grows them in pots and dries these after flowering/seeding until Sept/October then repots, gives a good single watering then no more until there is visible growth. But because of the long no-growth period, they need some feeding while in active growth to build up strength and promote next season's flowers. High potash, low nitrogen.

When there is even moisture in the air, root growth will start very early. I went to repot a couple last month and found them well into new root from the storage roots, even though they had had neither rain nor watering since late November (early summer here).

[Andrew]

Iris willmottiana

[Lesley Cox]

These are lovely Andrew and they look so healthy.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful show Andrew !
Nice blue shade.

[Andrew]

Iris warleyensis has opened in the summer(!) weather here and is the best looking in my opinion at the moment.

It may look elongated but it is in character and height range.

[David Nicholson]

Andrew, do you mean in South East Britain where (sometimes!) it's drier, or South West where it aint?

The book just says Southern but it was written in 1981. Have you dried out since then or become wetter ?

(Edit - I've just read that and am not impling you have any personal problems.

Andrew, it has, I haven't!!

[udo]

Two forms from Juno rosenbachiana

[Luc Gilgemyn]

2 beauties Dirk !
Have you ever tried any of thes Junos outside ?

[tonyg]

Dirk - once again you have some lovely plants.

All your bulbs seem to grow very strong and very healthy.  How do you grow them so well?  Perhaps you could write a few words and show a few pictures of where you grow them.  What compost do you use.  Is it the same for all bulbs?  I would be interested to know some details.

[Lesley Cox]

Superb plants and photos Dirk. The foliage on yours is what I would see as typical, very little and very short at flowering time so I was surprised to see the foliage on the same species in the pictures at the Loughborough show. Is that one a particularly vigorous form or is it overfed and etoliated? It did seem to be very healthy though.

I join with Tony in asking for some information about how and where you grow these smaller junos. My few are outside because I have no glass or alpine house but I suspect I could do better for them.

[udo]

Hello Luc,
all my bulbs growing outside with protection by rain and snow in
winter and early summer. This Junos standing in summer dry and
not to hot in a garage.

[tonyg]

Raised from seed as I warleyensis ... is this Iris bucharica?

[Lesley Cox]

Similar certainly but not quite like what I have, the "common" bucharica. Have you thought about the various clones of I. orchioides? I don't think my falls ever tuck under like that and the standards are more upright.