Iris cultivation and care techniques
This article introduces some experience in growing the herbaceous flower Iris, focusing on Iris cultivation and care techniques. The editor will introduce the following content for netizens.
Iris (Iriskaenpferi), also known as jade cicada flower, is a rhizomatous herbaceous plant of the Iris family. Its rhizome is thick and short, with fibrous roots like ropes and thin stripes. The basal leaves are linear, 50 to 100 cm long and 8 to 20 cm wide, with parallel veins and a prominent midrib. The scape is sturdy and erect, 50 to 100 cm tall, and accompanied by 1 to 3 degenerate leaves. The bracts are papery, ovate-lanceolate, 6 to 8 cm long, with 1 or 2 flowers, blooming from May to June, and fruiting from July to August. The capsule fruit is oblong, angular, and the seeds are brown.
Nowadays, many people think that Iris and Calamus are the same plant, but this is not the case. Calamus is a member of the Araceae family and is considered a spiritual herb that can ward off evil in traditional Chinese culture. It is known as one of the "Four Elegant Plants" along with orchids, narcissus, and chrysanthemums. During the Dragon Boat Festival, people in the south of the Yangtze River hang Calamus and mugwort on their doors and windows, drink Calamus wine to ward off evil spirits and diseases. While revering Calamus, people also humanize it, setting April 14th of the lunar calendar as its birthday, with the saying, "On April 14th, the birthday of Calamus, trim the roots and leaves, accumulate seawater to nurture it, and it will grow green and refreshing, especially beneficial for the eyes."
Growth Habits
Iris prefers a moist and well-lit environment and is suitable for planting in acidic, fertile, and organically rich sandy loam soil. It is cold-resistant. During the growing period, it requires sufficient water and moderate fertilization. It is suitable for planting in the shade and humidity of forest edges, streamsides, riverbanks, and pond sides to beautify the environment and can also be used as cut flowers. Iris is often planted in clusters or in pots to decorate flower beds, planted in shallow water areas, riverbanks, and ponds, or used as a ground cover under trees.
Cultivation Techniques
Iris is often seen planted in water, and some are planted in dry soil above the water, but they do not grow as well as those planted in water. Regardless of the cultivation method, it is best to choose a place with plenty of sunlight, with at least half a day of sunlight each day.
When planting Iris, the arrangement of the seedlings is quite important. The outer leaves should all face towards the wall of the planting container or towards the periphery of the planting area, which is beneficial for the germination and growth of new buds, preventing the seedlings from becoming crowded and ensuring a neat and beautiful arrangement.
One issue to note when planting in pots is to ensure sufficient water. Iris prefers more moisture than other rhizomatous plants, especially during the germination and flowering periods when more water is needed. Therefore, the bottom of the pot should be padded with 2 to 3 cm of sand, maintaining a water level of 1 to 2 cm above the sand, allowing the bottom of the pot to be soaked in water.
Before planting in the ground, it is first necessary to consider the water source and water storage issues. Once these are resolved, the prerequisites for planting Iris are met. Normally, it is sufficient to keep the field moist. In winter, when Iris enters dormancy, it can be slightly drier. A planting spacing of 25 cm x 30 cm is appropriate, with the planting depth being just enough to cover the roots of the plant. The water in the initial planting period should be as shallow as possible to prevent seedlings from floating and to help them root quickly.
Propagation Methods
Iris propagation methods include seeding, division, and tissue culture. Seeding can be done in spring or autumn, with seedlings emerging in 4 to 6 weeks and blooming in two years. Seeding is generally done immediately after collection but can easily lead to variation and is usually used for breeding new varieties.
Division can be done in spring, autumn, or after flowering. Dig up the mother plant, divide the rhizome, each with two or three buds, and plant separately. For robust rhizomes, it is advisable to dip them in wood ash or let them dry slightly before planting to prevent fungal infections. To facilitate work, the leaves can be cut to 30 cm long. If the attached roots are not abundant, the leaves can be cut to about 20 cm long, as the balance between roots and leaves is important. If the leaves are too long, they can easily wither, which is not conducive to seedling development; if the leaves are too short, development may be delayed.
With the advancement of technology today, it is also possible to use lateral buds on the flower stalk, leaves, and stem tips as explants, which are then disinfected and inoculated into suitable culture media to induce vegetative buds or protocorms, which can then be mass multiplied. When the protocorms have multiplied to a certain quantity, they can be cultured for differentiation, thus producing a large number of plants.
Care Management
Strengthen cultivation management measures, water and fertilize appropriately, rotate crops regularly, frequently remove withered leaves and diseased plant residues to reduce the source of pathogens. Potted Iris has fewer diseases and pests, while ground-grown seedlings have more. Ground-grown Iris grows fast and reproduces quickly, so it is necessary to divide them in time to ensure ventilation and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. The main diseases and pests of ground-grown Iris are mainly prevented, with pesticides being applied every 7 to 10 days in spring and fewer applications during the flowering period. The main diseases and pests include leaf spot, rust, leaf-rolling moths, and aphids, which can be controlled with a 40% dimethoate emulsion at a concentration of 1000 to 1500 times plus a 50% wettable powder of carbendazim at a concentration of 800 times for spraying.
For potted Iris, apply thin and frequent fertilization. If the fertilizer is too concentrated, it can cause root burn and severely affect growth. Ground-grown seedlings can be managed more loosely, with the water level best maintained at about 10 cm above the roots and not submerging the entire plant. Fertilization is mainly done in spring and after flowering, with organic fertilizer applied in autumn at a rate of 50 to 80 kg per mu, divided into two applications. Spring top-dressing is done once or twice with compound fertilizer, usually at a rate of 40 kg per mu. If not transplanted, a small amount of fertilizer should be applied after flowering.
In winter, promptly cut off the withered leaves to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests, allowing for better growth of new leaves the following year. When the tip of the Iris leaf starts to wither, do not cut off all the leaves at once because as the leaves wither, nutrients slowly transfer to the underground parts. Therefore, to ensure nutrient absorption, do not cut the leaves until they have turned completely green. Once they are completely withered, the leaves can be cut off.
The above is the specific content of Iris cultivation and care techniques, and copying is prohibited without permission!