Oncoseason 2010

[arillady]

Fred I too have this problem and I put it down to too much water and maybe cold. It doesn't seem to effect them much in their flowering and growing on unless it is too much.
We had 34mls yesterday and today will be high 20s and heating up so I am thinking about digging up some of the rarer oncos - this is my dilemma each year.

[ian mcenery]

Just to cheer myself up in this awful weather I looked through some of my photos and from six months ago I found this beauty from a friends greenhouse. Such a lovely plant don't you think. I paradoxa

[Luc Gilgemyn]

It's not just you that is being cheered up Ian - I agree, it's a beauty !!

[BULBISSIME]

First onco to flower in the greenhouse, Iris atrofusca, unfortunately it has a viral infection.....

[BULBISSIME]

Not only viruses are problems with irises, I also have one plant with soft rot, or something like that, and the plant is dead  as I haven't seen it in time.

[PeterT]

I cry for you too Fred 

[PeterT]

some chlorine might save the little bud 

[BULBISSIME]

I'l try it Peter as I'm really not sure it's soft rot : doesn't smell bad....

[PeterT]

You might save it Fred, I have saved worse ones, (and lost better).
wash it in dilute bleach and dry it for a day. Plant it frost free and give tiny amounts of water round the edge of the pot untill you get a new root.
I find they root much better coverd in 6+ cm of gravel
I recieved the onoco rhizomes in these pots 3 months ago and they were nearly dead. They get no sun and the room is cold. I have just taken the pictures now. the close up is nearly ready for the green house, but with your heated green house you could use a deep plastic pot and not water it at all.  

[BULBISSIME]

Great Peter !
But I think for mine I need a miracle.... I've checked the small bud and... it's also roted !
I'll try the bleach but with little hope 

[Hans A.]

Fred, you make illness still look beautyfull!
 
Sorry to see your problematic plants - I think there will exist no Oncogrower who does not have similar problems.
Not sure if it is Soft Rot, it looks more like something I know as "scorch" (not knowing if the name correct) - the rhizome looks healthy, but inside it is attacked (looks a bit like a sponge - in summer  whitish when dry), it does not smell and is not as soft as soft rot.
Cutting the damaged parts  and following Peters advice may help- but I have some doubts you can save the pictured plant.

This autumn I had some problems with soft rot because of heavy rain and had to lift some clumps - here two pictures of a infected plant - you see the softness - the leaves might still look ok, but the base is very soft - and as you mentioned, the rhizome really does not smell fine:

[BULBISSIME]

Peter and hans, thank's for advices.
Here is the remaining part 2 days after treatment
I'm going to pot it in the glasshouse and will wait.. and see !

[PeterT]

good luck Fred,  I  think you have a chance if you are lucky

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's Peter... I'll show you the flowers in 1 month 

[arillady]

A couple of years ago Iris susiana (if indeed it is correct as it has never flowered) was only one single piece but this last year it has increased so much - well not a lot but in my experience quite a bit. It still shows the virus in late winter early spring.
One side of the clump and the other side.
I did lose a rhizome completely to rot of another species - it was one of the Iris kirkwoodii I think.