When is the best time to plant irises
If you want to know the best time to plant irises and some small gardening knowledge about iris planting methods and timing, the editor will introduce the following information for netizens.
Iris is a perennial herb of the iris family, also known as black iris, flat bamboo flower, roof iris, blue butterfly, purple butterfly, toad seven, and豆豉 leaf, etc. It is native to the central and southwestern parts of China. Iris flowers are rich in color, beautiful in posture, often slightly fragrant, and are one of the important flowers in gardens, as well as beautiful potted plants, cut flowers, and flowers for bedding.
Iris prefers a warm and humid climate with plenty of sunlight and well-drained loamy soil, and can also grow in sandy loam and clay loam. It is cold-resistant, and the underground rhizomes can safely overwinter. Iris is drought-resistant and shade-tolerant. Wild irises are distributed in provinces and regions such as Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet, growing on sunny slopes of shrub edges at altitudes of 800-1800 meters, as well as near forests and wetlands. They have been cultivated in gardens and parks for a long time.
I. Iris propagation methods: Iris is mainly propagated by division and seeding.
Division propagation: Division propagation is carried out after flowering in spring and in autumn, usually every 2-3 years. After dividing, the wounds are涂抹 with wood ash or sulfur powder and planted after slightly drying.
Seed propagation: Seed propagation can be carried out in spring and autumn. The common sowing methods are drill sowing, drill furrow broadcasting, or bed surface broadcasting. After sowing, cover the soil to keep the seeds out of sight, and use straw or plastic film to keep the soil moist. Maintain the seedbed temperature after sowing. Once the seedlings emerge, remove the covering material and gradually expose them to sunlight. After the cotyledons unfold, thin the seedlings once. When the seedlings grow 3-4 true leaves, they can be planted in the open field.
II. Iris planting: Iris is usually planted in open fields next to courtyards, parks, and streets. Choose a plot with good drainage, loose, and fertile soil. Prepare the land and apply base fertilizer, then plant in spring or autumn. For potted irises, it is best to use a clay pot with a diameter of 15 centimeters. The potting soil must be loose and fertile with a rich content of organic matter. The potting mix consists of 70% garden soil and 30% sand, mixed with an appropriate amount of bone meal. First, place broken tiles and coarse sand at the bottom of the pot, then fill in the cultivation soil, place the cultivated iris seedlings in the center of the pot, ensure the roots are spread out, fill the soil to half the pot, gently shake the iris plant to compact the soil, and plant it not too deep, keeping the rhizome level with the pot opening. If it's too shallow, it will affect survival; if it's too deep, it will affect the growth of the iris after transplanting. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep the plant in a shaded environment for about a week before moving it to a sunny area.
III. Iris management: During the growing period, regularly water to prevent the soil from drying out and keep the soil moist. Iris does not require high fertilizer, except for applying base fertilizer at planting time, apply decomposed manure and bone meal once a year in spring on one side of the plant to make the iris leaves lush and the flowers colorful. Main diseases to control during cultivation include the iris borer, iris soft rot, and flower rot.
The above information shares the best time to plant irises and all the content about iris planting methods and timing, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!