Oncoseason 2010

[PeterT]

Does anybody have measured the Onco roots length in culture ?
And check if most of them will die in the summer or remain dormant and still alive, to elongate more next season ?

I'm not sure what you are asking ??you grow these plants so well - the roots stay live through the summer and sustain the plant, then it grows new roots below each growing tip as soon as there is some moisture and some cold nights. Then the old roots die off. As soon as the top growth begins the new roots develop smaller feeder roots and this continues after any winter dormancy untill the summer dormancy. With lifted rhizomes early replanting allows more time to grow the missing root system.
 The plants can be divided and /or replanted at any time if the roots are not allowed to dry and are kept COOL and moist -automnal but frost free, to stimulate regeneration. Surely it is the same as for bearded iris.
All my oncos are in pots, about 15 varieties, and I never let the bottom of the plunge get dry below the pots, I repot every plant the 2nd week of August, the new roots start then, and the old ones are fading.

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's all for your observations !
I'll check it with some plants this year as I don't replant them every year but only every 4 or 5 years.

[PeterT]

Fred, Luc and Peter - thanks for showing such wonderful pictures of stunning plants - Fred the quality of your pictures is out of this world.  

Luc, do not know how Freds I. sari manissadjani looks like, but also this I am growing (ex Ruksans) is different to yours - darker and much smaller. I envy your results with Iris iberica ssp. elegantissima - here it is a delicate plant and very shy flowering.

Peter - I normally tend to agree with Fred , but I am not sure about your Iris jordana - without reading the name my first thought was Iris iberica ssp lycotis.

Thanks Hans, I think you are right with your guess of lycotis, the falls are too big to fit the pictures of jordana and they are concave. unfortunately the label seems to be burried below the plant. If it is lycotis it is the first time it has flowerd since I bought it some years ago. I will have to check invoices. More recently I bought Iris jordana, so I assumed this was I jordana.
Here are two more oncos which opend today
 
 

[LucS]

Nice iris barnumae. My plants are too small to flower yet. It's worth the wait.

[PeterT]

Thanks Luc, I bought this one last year, two clones, this is half of one of them. so I can't claim too much credit. I always divide if I can since I lost a big clump of I stenophylla and one of persica to virus

[BULBISSIME]

One of the last species to flower here this year is Iris cedretii, with studio black or white background 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Bravissimo Fred !!

[Hans A.]

Great pictures, Fred!

A Iris kirkwoodii clone flowered here for the first time, the shape of the falls is interesting.
Also one the latest Oncos, Iris gatesii,  started with the first flower on my largest clump - 21 more to come.

[BULBISSIME]

Both are fantastic plants ans pictures Hans !
How old is your I. gatesii clump ? Only one clone or several to get seeds... 

[PeterT]

Congratulations on cedrettii Fred , wish I could see your clumps of gatesii and kirkwoodii forms for real Hans
 I think this is I darwasica, which opend today . kirkwoodii and gatesii will be in about a week

[BULBISSIME]

Peter, if it's really I. darwasica, it's a fantatstic clone !

[arilnut]

Hi Peter. I don't think it is darwasica.  Looks like an RC hybrid to me.

John B

Congratulations on cedrettii Fred , wish I could see your clumps of gatesii and kirkwoodii forms for real Hans
 I think this is I darwasica, which opend today . kirkwoodii and gatesii will be in about a week

[Regelian]

Peter,

I have to agree with John, the species should have a non-marked stand, no veining.  I suspect that it was one of the parents, though.  The foliage is correct for the species.

[Hans A.]

Thanks Fred and Peter
Fred, I have several clones of Iris gatesii, but looks the other will not bloom this year.
Here a picture of the plant.

Peter, your Iris could be Tubergens 'Thor'.

[BULBISSIME]

I remember this clump with the stone wall !

It's getting bigger and bigger every year, congratulations