| The Iris Society of Dallas | |
| an Affiliated Society of the American Iris
Society in Region 17 (Texas) About Iris |
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Growing Iris in our area - 
In our area, we have seen many old iris blooming
in March and April. Many of these that
grow like "weeds" are old varieties, and don't need any care.
The modern hybrid varieties are very fancy, and need more care. We who grow many varieties have great fun and a longer blooming season, with early, mid and late blooming iris giving us beautiful blossoms from about mid March through early May. A few varieties rebloom, in late May or during the fall season. In general, irises are hardy and can be transplanted anytime. The best time for planting is in late summer when they are semi-dormant. This gives them time to establish through the fall and winter, with higher probability for blooming the following spring. Below is some general information about iris varieties classification and iris planting and growing. For more local information, please visit some of our events and ask questions.
Iris Classifications
Bearded iris:
Bearded iris need some cool winter time to be happy for
spring growing and blooming.
Beardless iris: Planting and Growing Bearded Iris After receiving bearded iris, it is better to plant as soon as possible. If not, store them is a cool dry area until planting time is available. They can survive easily being dry and cool. When to Plant: Best time is August through late September. Where to Plant: Bearded iris need at least 4 hours of sun, and more is better. Some afternoon shade is okay in a hot climate. They need well drained soil, such as raised beds, and neutral pH soil. Soil Preparation: Iris will thrive in garden soils. Heavy clay soil must be improved by adding course sandy material (e.g. play sand, washed sand, etc.) and compost. Some sulfur powder will help neutralize alkaline. Prepare the soil by tilling or turning over the soil with a garden fork to a depth of at least 10 inches. Also some fertilizer may be added in tilling of the soil. Depth to Plant: Plant iris so the tops of the rhizomes are at the surface, or barely covered, and the roots spread out and down on each side of a slight planting mound. Distance Apart: Iris are generally planted 12 to 24 inches apart. They may be planted closer for immediate effect, but will need to be thinned out every other year. Watering: Newly planted iris need some moisture to begin to establish their root system. But it should never be soggy, since it will increase possible iris rot. Let the soil dry before next watering. Periodic deep watering is more beneficial than frequent sprinkling. Rebloomers will like to have a little more watering to prepare for their rebloom. Fertilizing: For iris in our area, we suggest a light feeding in mid October and mid February. Bearded iris don't like excess nitrogen fertilizer, since it will promote rot. Some suggested fertilizers are 10-20-10, or 13-13-13, or balanced organic fertilizer. Some other fertilizer recipes are also suggested by experts. The fertilizer is applied as a light top dressing, and possibly stirred a little into the top soil. Iris will respond well to a minimum of attention, while they may not thrive with no attention. Thinning: Generally, iris need to be thinned and divided
about every 3 to 4 years. Crowded clumps may slow down blooming. Iris Problems: (1) Bacterial soft rot: this is mushy and
smelly disease at the base of the plant, or sometimes on the bloom stalk.
Cut out and clean out the soft parts, and spray with a 10% bleach solution
and maybe a powder, such as Ajax, on the infected area. Also adding some sulfur powder may suppress bacteria.
(2) Fungal leaf spot: this starts as small brown spots on the new spring leaves.
It occurs generally in the spring when there may be some fungus in the
ground and the air gets warmer and humid. For this problem, spray with Daconil a
few times to stop fungus growing. Later in the season as the
humidity goes down, the fungus stops growing. To prevent this problem,
spray with Daconil a few times early in the spring, or use a little bit of
sprinkling fungicide with the fertilizer in February.
Planting and Growing Louisiana Iris They need at least 4 hours of sun. Louisiana iris grow well in wet soil, such as a pond, so they don't need well drained soil. That's why they were once called "swamp iris". They prefer slightly acid soil, and they can accept more fertilizer than bearded iris. But they actually tolerate a range of soil types, so they may be planted with some other flowers, such as daisies, daylilies, etc., as long as they can get regular watering, about an inch a week. For more growing information, go to: SLI Culture of Louisiana Irises | Home | About ISD | About Iris | Iris Show Photos | LA Iris Photos | Photo Gallery | Texas Growers | |
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