Bulbous irises: planting and care in the open field, is it necessary to dig for the winter

Planting and caring for bulbous irises is carried out according to special rules. In order for the selected variety of your favorite flowers to please with its lush flowering, you need to know about the timing of planting, the secrets of preparing bulbs and soil. Care is standard and involves the establishment of an irrigation regime, fertilizing, pruning and some other activities. There are three groups of bulbous irises, each of which has different characteristics.

Description and varieties of bulbous irises

There are many varieties and varieties of bulbous irises, which are often found in country beds. Attention is drawn to the diverse, sometimes even unusual color of the inflorescences.

All bulbous irises are similar in flower structure. They have three outer petals that are bent to the sides, and three inner petals stretch upwards.

Instead of a rhizome, an elongated bulb. There are several layers of leaf primordia around the bulb. They accumulate moisture and nutrients necessary for the development of the plant.

Iridodictium, or reticulated iris, iris reticulum

The name iridodictium is translated from Greek as a rainbow and a grid. The inflorescences of this type of irises are variegated. The outer shell of the bulbs looks like a mesh, so the flowers are called mesh in another way.

The variety of irises is more resistant to adverse conditions. They can be grown in regions with cold winters without digging up to 5 years in one place. The organization of shelter before winter is required.

The size of the iridodictyum is small. The diameter of the inflorescences is about 6 cm, the height of the stem does not exceed 16 cm. The leaves are dense, narrow, appear simultaneously with the buds. Iridodictium inflorescences emit a pleasant aroma. Flowers bloom 2.5 weeks after the snow melts. Flowering continues for 15 days.

Popular iridodictium varieties include: Dunford, Alida, Harmony, Claret, Joyce.

Juno, or iris pearl

This type of bulbous iris is named after the famous goddess Juno. They safely tolerate adverse weather conditions, therefore, in one selected area, without digging, they can grow up to 6 years.

Irises begin to bloom in mid-spring. The height of the stem reaches 45 cm. The leaves on the stem grow in steps. Inflorescences are formed at the top of the peduncle, and also emerge from the axils of the lateral leaves. Petals can be of different colors. Flowering lasts up to three weeks.

Xifium, or Dutch iris

This group of irises was named because of the unusual shape of the leaves. They are narrow and oblong, reminiscent of a sword (Xifium means sword in Greek).

Flowers of this group are bred for cultivation in regions with a warm climate. Therefore, they do not dig up the bulb for the winter, sometimes they only cover it with spruce branches and mulch the soil. When planting bulbous irises in areas with cold winters, it is imperative to carry out preparatory work before the onset of frost.

Iris bloom in summer. The flowers of this type of irises are large, reaching 11 cm in diameter. The height of the stem stretches up to 75 cm. The petals can have a variety of colors: from light purple to yellow. There are instances with a combination of several colors on the inflorescence.

In the store you can buy an unusual variety of Dutch iris Mix. The landing pattern and further care are standard. The difference lies in the fact that the shade of the petals will be known only after the blooming of the inflorescences.

Professor Blaau

Professor Blaau is a hybrid form obtained by crossing different varieties of xifium. The plant has a long flowering period, large petals. The diameter of the inflorescence reaches 11 cm.

Mystic Beauty

The Xifium group includes the variety Mystic Beauty. Flowering begins in early June. The height of the peduncle reaches 55 cm, on which two inflorescences with wide petals are formed. The diameter of the inflorescence is about 6 cm. Attractive color and pleasant aroma will impress any gardener.

Symphony

A well-known type of xifium is the Dutch irises Symphony. Flowering begins in April and lasts for three weeks. The height of the peduncles reaches 50 cm. The petals of the inflorescences are wide. Immediately after the end of the flowering period, the leaves begin to wither and dry.

How to plant bulbous irises: important tips

Bulbous irises are most often planted in open ground in late August or early autumn. But landing in the spring is not ruled out. In this case, the planting material is first placed for some time in a cold place.

There are some important rules to follow when planting flowers:

• make a small hill on a suitable site;
• flowerbed should be well lit and some time during the day to be in the shade;
• the land at the site is dug up, loosened and organic components are introduced;
• if the soil is characterized by high acidity, it is previously recommended to carry out its liming.

Irises can safely develop in one place for 6 years. But the flowers grow every year, and the supply of micronutrients in the soil is quickly depleted. Therefore, it is better to transplant the plant to a new site more often.

Planting bulbous irises in spring and autumn: step by step instructions

So that planting flowers does not cause problems, you need to perform a series of sequential activities:

• recesses are made on the dug up land (11 cm deep);
• river sand is poured into the bottom of the holes made;
• bulb laying depth approximately 5 cm;
• the gap between the bulbs is about 9 cm, but you can plant closer;
• bulbs are laid out in holes and slightly pressed into the ground;
• fall asleep with a layer of fertile soil;
• watered with a little water.

After planting, it is advisable to mulch with peat or compost.

Preparing bulbs for planting

Plant bulbs must be disinfected before planting. For this purpose, the bulbs are immersed for 23 minutes in a composition based on potassium permanganate or preparations such as Fundazol, Benlat. Then the bulbs must be thoroughly dried.

How to prepare the ground

The area where the flowers are supposed to be planted should have sunlight to penetrate without obstacles. The place must be protected from drafts. If groundwater passes close, then they make a hill.

For growing bulbous flowers choose a fertile, light soil with a neutral level of acidity, good water and air permeability. Previously, the land is dug up and organic components are introduced (except for fresh manure).

Planting irises

Plant processed bulbs should be on a pre-prepared site:

• At a distance of 11 cm, holes are made 14 cm deep.
• Fill up a layer of river sand.
• The bulb is deepened by 23 mm.
• A layer of sand is coming again.
• At the last stage, the hole is closed with ordinary soil.

If the bulbs have sprouted, then it is better to make not holes, but a trench 18 cm deep. This will allow you to correctly and without damage arrange the roots that appear.

Leaving immediately after landing

Caring for flowers is simple and does not require much time. After planting, the soil should not be moistened, especially if the weather is wet, and there is dew in the morning. If other flowers grow nearby that need frequent watering, then the irises are covered with polyethylene.

It is desirable to add mineral nutrients 8 days before the start of flowering.

Features of growing bulbous irises

In order for the bushes to please with bright and lush inflorescences, you should properly care for the plant. Knowing about the rules of watering, the time of top dressing and other secrets of growing will definitely come in handy.

Irrigation

Bulb irises need moderate watering. In dry, hot weather, as well as at the time of bud formation and active flowering, the soil is moistened more often. After the end of the flowering period, watering is completely stopped.

After irrigation, you need to loosen the soil to prevent the formation of a dry crust. As a result, air and nutrients will better penetrate the root branches of the plant.

Fertilizer and top dressing

Several top dressings should be done throughout the season:

• The first fertilization is carried out immediately after the snow melts. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied, which contribute to the development of greenery. May contain small amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
• When buds are formed, it is recommended to make compounds based on potassium-phosphorus components. You can apply a small amount of nitrogen.
• After the end of the flowering period, only potassium and phosphorus are added.

The last time fertilizer is applied in the last days of September. Compositions with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are useful. They will allow you to form buds and fully relax in the winter.

Cutting and shaping

When the flower begins to dry out, trim the peduncle. Do this carefully, trying not to damage the buds that have not yet opened.

After the end of the flowering period (in mid-October), you need to prune the leaves. Dried flowers and leaves become a source of infection and take away excess nutrients from the plant.

The leaves are cut in a semicircle (this type of pruning will not allow moisture to linger on the leaves), leaving a length equal to 14 cm from the ground. Cut leaves should be burned.

Preparing for winter

Whether bulbs need to be dug up for the winter depends on the region in which irises grow. If the winters are snowy and warm, then the soil is mulched and covered with pine or spruce branches. If the winters are cold, there is not always a lot of snow, then it is better to dig up the bulbs.

4 weeks after the end of flowering, the bulbs are dug up:

• they are being cleaned from the remnants of adhering earth;
• washed under running water;
• then for 3.5 weeks the bulbs are dried indoors at an air temperature of +23 degrees;
• dry bulbs are moved to a container with holes, covered with sand, sawdust, peat and cleaned in a cool, dark place.

In the spring, when the soil warms up to +11 degrees, the bulbs begin to be planted in flower beds again.

Iris bloom time

Irises begin to bloom in the second decade of April. Depending on the planted variety, the interval between the appearance of inflorescences will differ by two or three weeks.

In cool and humid spring, flowering lasts a long time. In hot, dry weather, the inflorescences quickly wither and dry.

Council. It is recommended to plant different varieties of irises in one flower bed, which differ in the timing of the onset of flowering and the color of the petals.

How to propagate bulbous irises

Bulb irises form other nests of bulbs after one season. In the summer, the rhizome should be dug up and divided into separate specimens. Large ones are thoroughly dried and stored in a cool place until autumn. Small onions are immediately planted in the ground.

Diseases and pests of bulbous irises

A lot of even leaves are formed on a he althy bush. A damaged plant does not produce more than 5 leaves:

• In spring, the flowers are threatened by the attack of caterpillars of the scoop butterfly. To fight, use the tool "Granozan".
• Thrips irises attack, from which the Karbofos solution helps to get rid of.
• Iris often damage sheet drills. Damaged leaves must be removed and all plants treated with insecticides.
• Timely application of superphosphate to the soil will help prevent the appearance of slugs.

Common diseases that affect irises are: fusarium, rust, septoria, heterosporiosis. Flower beds are treated with drugs such as Fitosporin, Quadris, Fundazol.

Preventive pest control work

Various insects can damage the plant, so preventive treatment should be carried out every 15 days. The first spraying is carried out when the leaves of the plant grow to 11 cm (use the drug "Karbofos").

Other preventive measures include: processing the bulbs before planting, loosening the soil and removing weeds. Be sure to monitor the irrigation regime and fertilization.

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