Bearded iris: description of varieties, planting and care in the open field with a photo
A beautiful flower bed is an adornment of any garden plot. Choosing the right plants is half the battle. Summer residents should take a closer look at the bearded iris, an unpretentious, perennial plant that pleases with its flowers for a long time.
Characteristics and description of bearded iris
The flower got its name because it has bristly outgrowths on bent petals. On some representatives, the outgrowths are especially strongly reminiscent of a beard.
The unpretentiousness of plants allowed them to gain popularity among gardeners. When forming flower beds, summer residents use irises for the reason that they bloom between spring and autumn representatives, that is, in summer.
The rhizomes of this category of plants sometimes protrude. The root system is located shallow in the ground. The flower propagates easily. It is enough to separate the rhizome and plant it in a new place.
Flowers grow quickly, in the garden they are often planted in areas where the spread of weeds is undesirable.
Plant height depends on growing conditions, it varies from 0.2 m to 1.2 m. Colors vary.
Popular varieties
There are many representatives of this category. Summer residents divide them into classes. Based on flower height:
- high;
- petite tall;
- interlude;
- curb;
- standard dwarfs;
- miniature dwarfs.
Everyone can choose the most suitable varieties for the conditions:
- Louise. The size of the plant is over 1 m. The flower is purple, lilac or red-violet. There is a beard on the lower orange sheets.
- Crinoline. One of the highest. Reaches 1.2 m in height. The inflorescences are maroon, the middle is painted white.
- Supr. The flowers are one of the largest among the bicolors. The lower leaves are lacy, the shade is dark red, the upper leaves are yellow.
- Glamour Pence. The flowers are corrugated, the leaves are orange with gold and deep red.
- Konopatik. The flowers are brown, often characterized as mustard. For this reason, the flower is becoming more popular every year.
- Flash Diva. The aroma is especially persistent. Iris inflorescences are strongly corrugated. The peduncle grows up to 1 m. The shade of the petals is pink and cherry-purple.
- Decadence. It differs from others in the strong lacy shape of the inflorescences. The peduncle reaches a length of 95 cm. The shade of the leaves is apricot and purple.
- Wabash. Peduncles almost a meter high. The petals are white and lilac.
- Rimfire. Unusual large flowers are painted in orange and red-yellow color.
- Romantic Gentleman. Unusual aroma, persistent and sweet. The upper petals are burgundy pink. And the bottom ones consist of a transition from burgundy to dark pink.
A large number of varieties of iris allows gardeners to choose the right option. When decorating a garden or flower bed, certain types are preferred. Basically choose the height of an adult plant.
Rules for planting a plant
An important condition for successful cultivation is proper planting. A well-planted flower grows well, picks up color in time, blooms for a long time and profusely.Landing is easy to deal with. You need to follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners, and a positive result will be a reward for your efforts.
Preparation of planting material
Recommended to use one-year plant growth. When transplanting old iris bushes, do not try to plant all the rhizomes. Smaller ones will not give the same result as larger ones.
Large fans of bearded iris should consist of 5-7 leaves, then they will bloom the next year. The fewer leaves the transplanted rhizome has, the later it will bloom.
When dividing a bush, use a sharp knife or shovel. The iris is divided into several parts, the leaves are cut, leaving a length of 15 cm. The places of the cuts are sprinkled with wood ash.
Date of planting
It is recommended to transplant rhizomes in August, when the plants do not have flowers. Irises prepare for winter by collecting useful substances in the root system. In warmer regions, they plant in the spring.
Irises are so unpretentious that transplantation is possible throughout the growing season. Plants are well received, blooming and growing.
Choosing where to grow
Flowers love lighted areas, preferably protected from the wind. Soil requirements are low, but plants prefer loam. If necessary, river sand is added to the ground, it helps to better penetrate moisture.
The more sunlight, the more flowering.
It is desirable to organize drainage, the bearded iris does not tolerate stagnant water. As a result, the roots begin to rot.
Fitting technology
Growing outdoors involves following a clear sequence when planting:
- The garden is being prepared. The place is cleared of plant residues, roots, weeds. Sand, humus, peat, compost and mineral fertilizers are introduced. Level with a rake and form rows.
- Pits. They make small indentations; the roots of the iris are shallow in the ground. Small mounds are poured into the pits. Distance 30-50 cm, depending on which variety is grown.
- Landing. It is not necessary to deepen the roots. The backrest should be above the ground.
Many gardeners make the mistake of the last point, trying to dig the root as deep as possible. As a result, the bearded representative of the culture dies.
Features of bearded iris care
After landing, proper care is required. The duration of flowering and the abundance of flowers on the bush depend on this.
Temperature conditions
Irises are undemanding to the ambient temperature. Therefore, when growing, they do not attach much importance to this indicator.
Irrigation
Plants do not tolerate drought. During this period, abundant watering is required. Also, bearded iris requires a lot of water immediately after transplantation. The rest of the time, water as needed. Little by little and infrequently. Excess moisture leads to the death of the flower.
Feeding plants
Gardeners note some differences in fertilizer application during different growing seasons. These features must be taken into account, then the plant will form strong shoots and bloom for a long time.
Spring
Apply top dressing with a high content of potassium. Bring them under the root of irises. This fertilizer will help the plants form large flowers and leaves.
Summer
After the irises have faded, they are watered with fertilizers with phosphorus. During this period, the foundation is laid for the inflorescences for the next year.
Autumn
Complex potash-phosphorus fertilizers will help prepare for winter, accumulate substances necessary for flowers.
Pruning after flowering
When the plants fade and some leaves begin to dry out, pruning is carried out. By right, it is considered sanitary, as it protects irises from diseases.
In plants, all dried leaves are cut off, and those that remain green are shortened by 1/3 or 1/2.
After flowering is completed, cut the flower stalks.
How and when to transplant
Gardening beginners are wondering if bearded iris can be transplanted in September. It is advisable to do this after the plants have faded. The most suitable time is August. But even in September it is not too late to do it.
The main thing is to do everything right, then the iris will quickly take over and grow.
Preparing for winter
Rhizomes of plants are outside, so by winter they must be covered with a layer of soil or peat. It must be removed in the spring.
If necessary, organize special shelters for those types of iris that are afraid of severe frosts. Use a special covering material.
Pests, diseases and methods of dealing with them
Root rot is a common crop disease. Most often actively progresses after a rainy and slightly frosty winter. Rainy summers, damp and cool weather are favorable conditions for the spread of the disease.
Iris rhizomes are dug up, cut off the affected areas, sprinkled with special agents that stop the infection. They keep it in the sun for a while, letting it dry, then bury it in the ground again.
Pests:
- deer beetle;
- iris fly;
- bronze.
Insects damage iris flowers. There are fewer of them, flowering is not so plentiful. Summer residents practice preventive treatment in early spring. They use special chemicals.
Iris breeding
There are several ways to increase the number of flowers on the site, the most common:
- dividing the bush;
- kidneys;
- seeds.
The first way is the easiest, fastest and most common. The iris bush is dug up, divided into parts with a sharp knife, the sections are processed, planted separately.
The second way is more difficult. Take yearlings. Tubercles are found on them, these are spare axillary kidneys. The roots are divided into parts with such kidneys. Cuts are processed, planted in the ground.
Planting bearded iris seeds requires preliminary preparation. Planting material is mixed with sand and put in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. Then they are kept warm for 2 weeks and then planted in the ground.
Possible growing problems
Common problems when growing bearded iris are:
- No flowering. The reasons are different, the roots of the plant are buried, the buds freeze during the winter, there is little sunlight, the rhizomes grow strongly.
- A small number of leaves in 1 fan. The reason is developing rot, violation of planting or care technology.
Other problems arise, but they are intermittent, occurring only in isolated cases.
Growing a bearded iris in the garden is within the power of every gardener. The flower is unpretentious, undemanding. Performing standard methods of agricultural technology, they get beautiful flower beds worthy of admiration.
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