Reticulate Iris 2010

[Lesley Cox]

'Alida' and 'Pixie' are really lovely. I hope they come our way reasonably soon.
'Natascha' is out at last - terribly weedy but I'm getting there. The weather has been so wet for so long. These are last year's bulbs still in the same pot. Those I planted this year, in the garden have just a couple of flowers.

[fermi de Sousa]

And after a break of a couple of years, Iris histrio ssp aintabensis MT4501 has decided to flower again!

Well worth waiting for such a lovely Retic, Fermi, why didn't it flower last year do you think?

Hi Robin,
as you can see it is a bit crowded (by a rather prolific Tulipa clusiana) so I think I need to move it somewhere it won't have so much competition for food and water.

Lesley,
I'm sure Marcus has "Pixie" on his list - That potful of "Natasha" looks very good (weeds? what weeds?) I've only just got some bulbs of her and look forward to them making a show like that eventually.
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Lesley,
I'm sure Marcus has "Pixie" on his list - fermi

Unfortunately, we can't bring in irises, even dormant bulbs. They have to go through the full quarantine bit, plus permit to import etc etc. Thousands of dollars involved over the whole process. B....y ridiculous, especially when we could import clean bulbs from someone like Marcus, yet the wholesalers are allowed to bring in retics from designated Dutch firms, under some special arrangement and as everyone knows, most of the Dutch stock is virused. Makes you weep.

[fermi de Sousa]

Otto brought this little cherub to our meeting last week at Ferny Creek Hort Society,
Iris kolpakowskiana grown from seed!




Well done, Otto!

cheers
fermi

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You bet !  It's a beauty !

[arillady]

Otto and Fermi,
What a stunning little iris

[Hans A.]

Otto, congratulations for growing this very beautiful plant!

[David Nicholson]

Very well done Otto

[Ragged Robin]

It really has such character, congratulations on its first flowering from seed 

[Lesley Cox]

Well done indeed Otto. I suppose it won't last another week?

[PeterT]

yes well done! I hope you can get seed for another generation and secure its cultivation in Australia:D

[Guff]

I ordered the following George, Alida, Cantab, Harmony, J. S. Dijt, Joyce, Pauline and Pixie. What I am wondering is can I use straight leaf compost/worm castings or does sand need to be mixed in? These will be all planted in the ground. Thanks for info.

[Lesley Cox]

I'd be inclined to work in a quantity of sand/grit for drainage purposes, on general principle. The mixture you suggest seems quite rich. maybe add some low nitrogen/high potash fertilizer too, to encourage future flowering. Mine are all in the ground rather than in pots.

Yesterday while weeding, I was delighted to discover half a dozen seed pods developing well, on 'Cantab.'

[Guff]

Lesley thanks.

Planted them today, added sand and perlite to the leaf compost.

[Lesley Cox]

You're lucky to get 10s in your packets Guff, we only get 5s.