Bearded and Siberian irises - planting and care. Iris Blue Magic bulbous Dutch: planting and care Small bulbous irises

Planting irises has become very popular with florists since the benefits of this iridescent flower and rich color range were revealed. The perennial is able to decorate the garden for a long time, without causing the owner significant trouble with care. They decorate not only flower beds, but also the adjacent territory, the entrances to the entrances. If anyone has a dacha, then rainbow flowers will certainly settle there. Flowers are planted not only in spring, but also in autumn. At the same time, the places for landing cockerels should be well lit, without stagnation of excess moisture.

General information

Before planting irises in your area, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of their cultivation and care. Flowers are perennial plants belonging to the rhizomatous genus. To date, more than 700 species of this rainbow flower are presented to the attention of florists, impressive not only in the shape and size of the buds, but also in the variety of colors. In this case, the color can be not only monophonic. One flower is painted in several tones, and also has unusual patterns on the lower petals.

There are many different types of irises

Irises delight with their flowering from mid-May to early July, certain varieties also capture August. Some of them, with proper care, bloom a second time, around the end of August or early September. The distribution area of ​​\u200b\u200bthis culture is very wide, certain varieties can be seen even in the harsh northern climate. Not only the rhizomatous type of irises is already known, but also the bulbous one. It is almost impossible to distinguish them by external signs.

On a note. Bulb varieties require more care and attention, while rhizomatous types are famous for their unpretentiousness and undemanding care. They are frost-resistant and able to winter without shelter in open ground.

Best time to land

When is it recommended to plant irises outdoors? The best time for planting bearded varieties in open ground is the very end of summer. Practicing gardeners claim that it is possible to plant plants both during flowering and after it is completed.

Xifium, or bulbous irises, are transplanted at the very beginning of autumn, when the plant finishes flowering and is preparing for a dormant state. You can plant flowers in the spring, but for this the soil must warm up well, and if the roots are not threatened with hypothermia. As a rule, this time comes in April or May (Moscow region, Moscow region and region).

Planting irises in the fall is not ruled out. When and how to plant them in order to see the first flowering faster? The advantage of planting in the autumn is that next spring they will already bloom. But in the northern regions, flowers are no longer planted at this time, since a quick and rapid cold snap will not allow them to take root properly. Here, only spring and summer are reserved for planting.

Preparation for planting seeds and places

iris seeds

Sometimes iris seeds are used for planting. Not everyone knows how they look, and experienced florists do not recommend using this method. Firstly, it will take a long time to wait for flowering, and secondly, the properties of the mother flower may not be transferred to the daughter plant, and the owner will be disappointed. This method of growing planting material is used mainly by breeders.

A detailed instruction on planting and propagating rainbow flowers contains a lot of recommendations. Before proceeding with the design of the flower garden, you need to understand what kind of soil irises love, and in what place they are best placed so that the flowering is lush and colorful. It directly depends on the chosen variety. Bulbous varieties prefer flower beds located in an open sunny place. It should be protected from drafts and moderately warm, but extreme heat is also undesirable for flowers.

Rhizome species of irises love the sun, but they may well delight in flowering in partial shade. For normal growth and development, their root system needs at least half a meter of free space. All varieties and types of this plant prefer nutrient-rich, oily and loose soil. Before planting irises, the flower bed is filled with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and compost.

As for the moisture content of the land on the site, then for each variety the choice should be individual. Bearded species should be planted on slopes, where a good outflow of melt and rain moisture is ensured. Siberian and marsh varieties allow cultivation in places where there is always high humidity: in partial shade of trees or near water bodies.

Before planting irises in a flower bed, it should be dug up on a shovel bayonet, treated with herbicides that prevent the appearance of weeds, and fungicides that protect against fungal infections. The soil for rhizomatous irises should be neutral in terms of acidity. If this figure is too high, then you need to add chalk or ash.

How to plant irises

Proper planting of iris bulbs

How to plant irises in order to achieve the best decorative qualities from them? When planting the roots, the upper kidney should not be deepened much, it should protrude slightly under the soil level. The distance between two adjacent plants is left from 20 cm to half a meter, depending on the variety chosen. Bulbous flowers require less space, rhizomatous (especially bearded) ones need more space.

Planting bulbous varieties of irises has its own characteristics. Work is carried out in early spring or autumn, but it is necessary to manage before the onset of the first frost. So that the bulb does not freeze, the soil temperature must be at least + 11 ° C. A small trench should be dug into which irises are planted to a depth of 3.5 cm. In general, the planting depth should not exceed 12 cm. The excavated soil is mixed with fatty garden soil, crushed coal, a small amount of river sand and double superphosphate. The dug trenches are disinfected by watering with a solution of potassium permanganate and a growth stimulator. Bulbs are placed at a distance of 20 cm from each other, without deepening too much. After this, the trench is filled up, the soil is lightly tamped.

The scheme of planting root irises

Planting rhizomatous irises is as follows. For the root, a small hole is dug, in the center of it a small mound of earth is poured. The central root is laid on it, the lateral processes are distributed evenly along the edges of the tubercle. The plant is covered with soil, sprinkled with a small amount of river sand on top, after which the soil is tamped.

Attention! You can not deepen the roots of irises, they should go a little to the surface of the soil.

Forms of planting irises

When planning the location of planting irises in the garden, you need to know and be sure to take into account some features. Tall varieties should be placed in the background of landscape compositions. Irises look great in compositions with conifers, other flowers or fruit bushes. They are suitable for planting in rock gardens, multi-color or one-color flower beds. Siberian varieties or swamp varieties are able to fill a damp area and even shallow water. Flowers look great against the background of forged elements, wild stones.

Forms of planting iris

As a decorative addition, irises are used in mixed flower beds, consisting of dwarf varieties of conifers, flowers and shrubs. Landscape designers plant them on lawns in small clusters. Since the plant is not aggressive, it can be planted along with poppies, lilies or lupins. Irises and daylilies are the perfect composition. Since the latter have a longer flowering period, the flower bed will not lose its decorative effect for a long time. In addition, the roots of daylilies lie deeper, so they will in no way compete for moisture and nutrients.

If there is a reservoir on the plot, irises are used to decorate it. You can even not combine them with anything, which will look quite natural. If there is a desire to combine them with other colors, then they must be combined in color. Otherwise, the flower bed will not look harmonious.

When planting several varieties of irises in one flower bed, varieties with a monochromatic color should be combined with variegated ones. Dark shades will look great with light ones. Several variegated or multi-color varieties in one flower bed look ridiculous, because when the buds open at the same time, it starts to ripple in the eyes.

Attention! When planning a flower bed, it is important that the planted flowers and plants do not obscure each other.

The root system of irises is located extremely close to the surface of the soil, so the rest of the plants should be selected in such a way that their roots go deep. It is also necessary to observe a certain distance between the flowers.

Despite their unpretentiousness, irises require timely removal of weeds and loosening of the soil, so plantings should not be placed too close to each other. You should also select flowers in such a way that the flower garden is pleasing to the eye throughout the season. You can even recreate such a miracle with the help of irises. After all, some varieties are able to bloom twice a year, there are also such species, the flowering period of which falls almost in the middle of summer.

Planting irises in the Moscow region and Siberia

For cultivation in the harsh and unfavorable climatic conditions of the Moscow region and Siberia, the choice of hardy, unpretentious and capable of rapidly growing irises is expected. For the most part, bearded varieties are not able to grow in such extreme conditions, only some of their varieties have adapted to develop and bloom in this climate:

  • Ruby Morne;
  • hang glider;
  • Just Crazy;
  • White moth;
  • Wish upon a star.

Iris Ruby-Morn

Far more unpretentious and hardy were the Siberian varieties of irises, well adapted to the continental climate. They are distinguished by large and beautiful flowers, as well as a complete lack of aroma. Previously, their color scheme was monotonous and appeared only in violet-blue hues, but now breeders have corrected this and presented a much larger assortment to the attention of gardeners. The best varieties suitable for regions such as the Moscow region and Siberia are the following:

  • Hubbard;
  • Queen Show;
  • Teal Velvet;
  • Rikugi Sakura.

Of the bulbous irises, mesh irises are suitable for this climate, which begin to bloom as soon as the snow melts. They can decorate alpine slides, since such flowers have a small stature and a short growing season.

Attention! In order for irises not to degenerate, they need periodic transplantation to a new place.

It is undesirable to choose Japanese varieties of the rainbow flower for cultivation in a cold and harsh climate. The exception is those that were bred in Russia and adapted to weather conditions. Otherwise, the plant will either not bloom or die from frost in winter. If other varieties of foreign selection are chosen for cultivation on the site, then at least in the first year they must be covered in the fall to prevent freezing.

Irises are amazing flowers that amaze the imagination with a variety of colors, duration of flowering and unpretentious care. The shape of the inflorescences itself can also be varied. It is difficult now to find a summer resident or owner of a private plot who would not grow at least a couple of varieties of this flower. Every year the range is replenished with novelties of domestic and foreign selection with improved characteristics and beautiful shades. Having spent a little effort, time and money on the purchase, planting and care of the roots, the florist will receive, in gratitude, buds of unearthly beauty that delight the eye for a long period.

This flower is called the most romantic bulbous plant. It looks like a fabulous butterfly that accidentally sat down on a green stalk and decided to soak up a little in the warm sunshine. This amazing flower is called iris. We decided to tell lovers of garden flowers about him today. Consider one of the types of this magnificent flower - Dutch bulbous iris: planting and care.

Secrets of Growing Dutch Bulb Irises

Iris (translated from Latin) - rainbow. In Russia, lovers of these flowers affectionately call them "irises" or "cockerels". Since ancient times, essential oil has been extracted from the rhizomes of this flower, which had a pleasant aroma and was used in cosmetology and cooking.

Basically, irises are planted along garden paths and along the edges of flower beds, but we advise you not to go in cycles in stereotypes, let your imagination run wild.

Iris differs from any other garden culture in its rich color. One of the species of these wonderful flowers - Dutch iris - perfectly tolerates the neighborhood with other inhabitants of the flower bed, without requiring individual care.

Here is an example of creating a simple flower bed with iris: 1 - Purple Voice hyacinth; 2 - tulip Flashpoint; 3 - narcissus New Baby; 4 - iris net Kantab; 5 - Scylla Siberian Alba

What you need to know about Dutch irises

The Dutch iris belongs to small-bulbous plants, that is, it propagates with the help of small bulbs.

Tip: Bulbs should be bought in specialized stores, in packs of 3-5 pieces. The color of the material should be golden, free from dark spots, mold and soft spots.

  • These flowers are very sensitive to excess moisture. At home, the bulbs, after flowering, are in the dry ground all summer. We, on the other hand, often have rainy seasons and wet soils. If you do not take action, the iris bulb can rot in the ground.
  • Irises are dug up immediately after flowering.
  • These flowers have a fairly short growing season. They bloom early and stop flowering already in the second half of May or at the very beginning of the summer season.
  • Irises love dry and bright places.

Landing Features

To get started, watch the landing video:

Irises are intended for growing in borders and flower beds, which are located in well-lit open areas.

It is better not to delay the planting of iris bulbs. If ordinary bulbous flowers can be planted at the end of September, then Dutch irises require planting in early August. Such an early landing for wintering is necessary, since the bulbs of these plants do not tolerate autumn cold snaps in September - early October.

It is better to plant irises in front of the house, along the paths and in open flower beds, so that the flowers are constantly “before your eyes” and delight their owners.

Planting irises in a bulb basket

First, let's look at the method of planting bulbous irises in a special basket.

A basket for onion bulbs looks like this (its cost, as a rule, does not exceed 50 rubles). We put our basket on the ground and circle it with a shovel or other tools

According to the contour that we made, we remove the sod. And we should get a hole with a depth of 12 - 14 centimeters

At the bottom of our pit, it is desirable to apply fertilizers, for example, superphosphate. Then set up a basket, fill it with earth mixed with compost. Now planting our bulbs

We carefully fill our bulbs with earth and wait for the emergence of these beautiful flowers.

Planting Dutch Irises: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Preparing the Bulbs

Before planting, it is advisable to dip or soak the bulbs for half an hour in a solution of manganese or a fungicide. This is necessary to stimulate the planting material and disinfect the bulbs. Before processing, old dried roots should be cut off.

Step 2: Preparing the Landing Site

The soil for irises can not be chosen oily and wet. If your beds have a similar soil, you should raise the level of the flower bed by 10-15 cm, using dry soil with compost and fertilizer.

While our bulbs are soaked, we have time to prepare the landing site. It is recommended to plant irises in bouquets. To do this, allocate round sections with a diameter of 30-40 cm. We dig up the earth with compost and mineral fertilizers. It is advisable to prepare the seats in advance, but it is not scary if the ground is prepared during the planting process.

Note: since irises are dug up already in May and, at the latest, early June, their place of residence can be filled with other flowers that bloom all summer. For example, plant a velvet, which takes root very quickly.

Step 3: Planting bulbs

We deepen the iris bulbs into the prepared and loosened soil. It is recommended to plant to a depth of 3 bulbs. Between the landing holes should be 5-10 cm.

Tip: to enhance the decorative effect of the iris flower garden, you can plant several flowers in one circle. It turns out a beautiful multi-colored bouquet.

Step 4: Mulching

After deepening the bulbs of iris, it is necessary to mulch with fertile soil. We prepare the backfill mixture in advance from compost with mineral fertilizers (0.5 cups of fertilizer per meter plot). We make the backfill in a layer of 5-10 cm.

In addition to Dutch varieties of irises, there are still a large number of them, for example, Siberian irises - they are highly frost-resistant, therefore they are suitable for northern regions

Care of seedlings and flowering irises

  • After planting, irises do not need to be watered, especially if the area is damp and there is often morning dew. If the summer is very dry, you can water the seedlings not too abundantly.
  • When other flowers around need watering more frequently, cover the bulb site with plastic or something else to keep water out of the holes.
  • Irises should be fertilized before flowering for about a week, when future buds begin to form (seals appear between the leaves). We use mineral mixtures as fertilizer. It is advantageous to take ready-made dressings with calculated doses and instructions.

If you do not want to buy fertilizers in specialized stores, then you can easily make them yourself

After flowering, the bulbs are dug up and must be stored in dry places until the autumn planting for the winter. If the winter cold is too harsh in your area, the bulbs should be well insulated or even stored in the sand in a balcony, basement, or refrigerator.

Iris is a very beautiful and original flower, so gardeners have long accepted it among the favorites of their flower beds. Known for over 2000 years, the iris never ceases to inspire breeders to develop more and more new varieties. If at least once you decide to plant these flowers in your flower bed, you will forever fall in love with their delicate and exquisite flowering. Good luck!

Dutch irises are considered one of the most romantic and beautiful plants. The iris flower resembles a tropical butterfly ready to take flight. With its beauty, he has long conquered gardeners. In almost all personal plots, you can now see a flower bed with these amazing plants. Let's talk in more detail about bulbous irises, planting and care in the open field.

Description of the Dutch variety

Dutch iris is one of the varieties of irises. This is xifium. In flower shops, you can buy flowers in the form of bulbs, which are covered with multiple layers of scales. On average, plants reach a height of 0.6 m. Some varieties, for example, Casablanca, Blue Diamond, grow within 0.5 m. They do not require support if they were planted in a place not blown by the winds.

The plant tolerates frost well, but requires shelter at very low temperatures to prevent freezing. Bulbous irises bloom in the last week of May, bloom until early June. Iris flowers can be of a wide variety of colors: white, blue, purple, orange. After flowering, the foliage begins to dry, and at the end of August it dries up completely. Dutch irises are widely used in gardening, they decorate flower beds, garden beds, they are used to create beautiful flower arrangements and bouquets. For many, irises are the best flowers, harbingers of warmth, because they bloom very early.

Features of planting irises

Planting bulbous irises includes several mandatory procedures. This is the preparation of bulbs, drainage and top dressing of the soil, mulching. Knowing all the secrets of growing Dutch bulbous iris, the features of planting and care, you can achieve a wonderful decorative effect.

Preparing bulbs for planting

Bulb plants are prone to fungal diseases, so Dutch iris bulbs require special preparation before planting. Planting material must be purchased at trusted flower shops and gardening stores. When buying, you should inspect the bulbs, there should not be any damage.

If the bulbs were stored at home, they also need to be carefully examined. Bulbs that have rot, painful spots, it is better to immediately set aside and discard. Good specimens should be treated with antifungal drugs. For these purposes, fungicides "Maxim", "Fundazol" are used. Many gardeners use a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Iris bulbs are placed in such a solution for 30-40 minutes. After drying, the bulbs are ready for planting.

How to choose a place and prepare the soil

Irises do not create much trouble when growing, but it is necessary to reckon with some preferences of this plant. Irises do not like shade, poor soil, waterlogged soil. When choosing a place for planting these flowers, you need to give preference to a sunny place, and in order to prevent moisture stagnation, you can place them on an artificially created slope.

To do this, make a small elevation with a slope, equip a good drainage system. When planting irises in flower beds 20 cm high, rainwater can be naturally drained. No matter how close the groundwater is to the surface, it cannot pose a danger to the roots.

Irises are very fond of light, but they do not need abundant hours of sun, it is preferable if the plant is in the shade for some part of the day. An area with partial blackout is ideal.

The soil before planting should be filled with nutrients. For this, organic fertilizers are applied. Then the earth is carefully dug up and loosened. If you start preparing the soil in advance, about a year in advance, you can apply manure. Limey soils are best suited for bulb crops. If the soil does not match, you can add eggshells, chalk or lime to it. Humus is added to sandy soil. It is useful to add superphosphate or ash at the rate of 40 g / 1 sq. meter. Clay soils are enriched with coarse sand, a small amount of compost or humus.

Hybrid varieties of irises can grow in one place for five to ten years, depending on the variety. Irises grow very quickly, it quickly depletes the soil, you have to choose new places for planting these flowers.

A hole is dug under each bulb, for the northern regions it is necessary to make a depth of about 14 cm, for the southern regions - about 10 cm. A gap of 15 centimeters is left between the holes, under such conditions the plants will develop adequately.

When and how to plant irises

Many experienced flower growers recommend planting iris tubers in the fall. Planting features depend on the selected variety. If the climate is temperate, you can plant the bulbs at a shallow depth. We plant the tubers in the holes, lightly tamp the soil.

If we plant a bulb that has already sprouted, it must be placed so that the border of the green arrow is at the level of the soil. It is not necessary to deepen it strongly. Hands need to gently crush the soil around the bulb. Mulch the surface with peat to protect against weeds. This planting takes place in early spring.

After planting, irises are not watered, they should have enough moisture from the soil. During the growing season and during flowering, plants need watering, but it should not be frequent.

Experienced flower growers recommend planting iris in a greenhouse in early autumn. Already in November, you can get garden flowers suitable for cutting. The time for planting bulbs for distillation is the first decade of February. For the rapid formation of buds and the growth of stems, a constant temperature of 15 degrees is required. Plants need bright light, top dressing and moderate watering.

You can use a special bulb basket for planting Dutch irises. This is a plastic container in which there are a lot of holes for the outflow of water and air access. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at a garden store. The basket is placed on the ground and circled around the contour. Then the sod is removed along this contour to make a planting hole with a depth of about 16 cm. The necessary fertilizers are added to it, and a basket is placed on top.

Soil is poured into the basket, which is mixed with compost. The bulbs are planted in a basket, covered with a layer of earth on top. As soon as the irises stop blooming, the container is dug out. It is very good to clean it so that in a secluded place in the garden the leaves dry out and the bulbs ripen. After the end of the season, the bulbs are dug up to store.

Iris Care

Iris is a modest plant that does not like excesses. Do not water it too abundantly, or overload it with fertilizers. Moderation in care is the key to success. How to properly care for irises? Proper care of irises includes:

  • watering;
  • soil loosening;
  • weed removal;
  • soil fertilizer;
  • control of diseases and pests.

It is necessary to remove weeds around the planting manually so as not to damage the plant. After the flower grows, weeding can be stopped. In autumn, young plantings must be covered with foliage to protect them from frost. Adult landings no longer need shelter. In the spring, after the snow melts, the leaves are removed.

Fertilization of the soil must be done in the spring, when the topsoil has dried up after the snow has melted. It is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers, to carry out loosening. Just do it carefully so as not to damage the roots of the tubers. At the age of three years, spring top dressing should consist of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus (1: 2: 1). At the time of bud formation, the proportion is increased (1:3:3). A month after the buds fall, potassium and phosphorus 1: 1 are applied to the soil. Such a triple top dressing will make the flowers hardier.

It is necessary to protect irises from pests and ailments. From the moment when the leaves of the flower grow to 10 cm, spraying should be carried out every two weeks using Malathion and pesticides. This is done before the appearance of the peduncle. Most often, leaf borers attack irises. They damage the leaves, which must be cut immediately. The plant is treated with insecticides.

As a preventive work to protect against pests, it is imperative to remove last year's foliage. If it has been infected, burn it immediately. The earth needs to be dug up. Of the diseases for irises, various forms of leaf spot are dangerous.

bulb storage

When the bulbous irises have already faded, and the foliage has dried up, it is necessary to dig out the bulbs. Novice flower growers will be pleasantly surprised, because in the place where one bulb was planted, a large number of young bulbs are formed. Each of them must be planted separately next year. Preference should be given to large bulbs, small ones are also suitable, but they will grow for several seasons.

Bulbs of Dutch irises are thoroughly dried. They must be stored until the beginning of autumn in a dry place. In the midst of Indian summer, you can start planting on the site. It should be remembered that in cold regions, bulbs planted in autumn need shelter from frost.

Irises: planting and care in the open field

Iris (lat. Іris) is a perennial flower with a fibrous type of root system. The name of the flower is given in honor of the Greek goddess of the rainbow Iris and is translated from Greek as "rainbow". And for good reason: there are about eight hundred species of irises known!

These flowers have been known for over a thousand years. Once this flower was a popular heraldic sign, but later it was replaced by a lily: this could be a consequence of the consonance of names (iris is called "saber lily"). And if you look closely at the hieroglyphs corresponding to the word "iris" and the phrase "warrior spirit" in Japanese, you can see that their spelling is the same. That is why in Japan they believe that a bouquet of irises is able to awaken the best qualities in a man. In the language of flowers, iris means impeccability, purity, greatness.

Today, irises are grown not only to decorate the garden, but also for confectionery purposes (there is even flower jam from irises), for use in the perfumery field and even in the field of medicine.

Varieties of irises

"Iris" is a generalized designation for several different plants at once with a different type of root system: rhizome and bulbous. It is worth noting that neither the rhizome nor the bulb are roots - they are thickened shoots. At the moment there is no generally accepted classification of the genus Iris. That is why in domestic systematics only irises with a rhizome-like root system are considered true irises, while in the world, on the contrary, bulbous irises are recognized. Although these flowers have differences in the root system, one can quite clearly describe what the iris looks like: an annual peduncle, the flower growing on it is a large single, with a strong aroma. The flower itself is 6 petals arranged in two tiers: three outer petals (falls) are curved outward, and three inner ones (standards) are raised like a dome. The leaves are thin, flat, with a waxy coating.

Irises with a rhizomatous root system are divided into two large groups: bearded and non-bearded. They are unpretentious, tolerate the Russian winter well.

Bulbous irises also have a division into groups: iridodictium, xifium and juno. The genus Xifium is divided into six species widely used in breeding. Thanks to the crossing of these species, today the choice of irises has increased many times over. These are Dutch, Spanish, and English bulbous hybrid irises, striking in their beauty.

Conditions for normal growth and flowering

Almost all irises bloom in spring and summer, depending on the variety - from May to July, and some species may re-bloom in the fall. All the beauty and splendor of flowers is revealed only 2-3 years after planting.

Growing irises in your garden is not as easy as it might seem, but if you are still determined that you want to see these flowers in your garden, it is important for you to know a few features of irises.

They prefer light, slightly alkaline soils. Acidic soils can be the answer to the question "Why don't irises bloom?" On such soils, irises quickly develop a leaf apparatus and delight with lush greenery, but not with flowers. Therefore, it is worth monitoring the acidity of the soil. To neutralize acidic soils, add some ash or lime.

Fertilizers, if necessary, are applied in advance - 7-10 days before planting. Be careful with them: for this plant, depleted soils are better than excessively rich in fertilizers. From their excess, this beautiful plant can die. Irises do not need organic fertilizers (such as, for example, manure). For them, it is better to choose mineral.

Irises do not bloom for many reasons, one of which has already been mentioned. Here is another possible reason - planting a plant in the shade: all irises are photophilous. Some rhizomatous irises can bloom in the partial shade of trees, but only in the southern regions, however, no bulbous variety will tolerate shading. The large depth of the plant's root system, the tightness of plantings and wintering conditions - this is a short list of possible problems.

Landing and transplant

How to plant irises? There are two ways of their reproduction: vegetative (using the existing root system) and generative (using seeds). Both the first and second methods are correct. Iris seed propagation is usually used by breeders to work on new varieties, but this method can also be used to simplify planting if there is no desire to care for the rhizomes. Let's take a closer look at both methods, and how to plant irises for you, choose for yourself.

1. Planting method: from the root system.

There are a few simple rules for using this method:

When choosing bulbs or rhizomes, pay attention to their size - the larger the rhizome or bulb, the more nutrients they contain and, as a result, the greater the likelihood that the plant will bloom next year. Before planting the root system in open ground, in order to avoid decay, they should be stored in a well-ventilated, dry, cool place. Do not store planting material in tied plastic bags and do not wrap with a damp cloth.

The correct depth of the roots of irises when planting in open ground should be about 3-5 cm, the upper part of the planting material is not sprinkled with earth, the bud is at the level of the daytime surface of the earth. If you plant a plant deep, then the growth and development of the plant will be delayed, the iris may stop blooming, and if you plant irises very close to the surface of the earth, then there is a risk that the grown plant simply will not stay in the ground. The optimal distance between plantings varies - for low-growing varieties - 10-15 cm, medium-sized - 15-20 cm, high - up to 50 cm.

Irises need to be watered immediately after planting, but you should not rush with the next watering - it should be done as the earth dries at the roots. Soil waterlogging is one of the causes of plant death. With a close location of the groundwater level, it is necessary to make drainage and raise the area where the irises are planted.

When to plant irises? Irises with a rhizomatous root system are usually planted in open ground in August. Bulbous irises in the middle lane are recommended to be planted in September, and in the southern regions - in October. If, for some reason, it is not possible to plant flowers at this time, do not be upset, because thanks to some tricks, you can plant irises in the spring. When planting irises from bulbs or rhizomes in spring, planting material should be treated with growth stimulants, rotting and very long roots should be removed, and then soaked in potassium permanganate for disinfection for half an hour. It is also important to remember that irises planted in the spring will most likely not bloom in the year of planting.

2. Planting method: by seeds

How to grow irises from seeds? By itself, this method is very simple, but there are some subtleties. In this method, 2 methods are distinguished, one of which is to plant fresh seeds in September. Planting irises in the fall is a very easy way to let the seeds go through their natural preparation and sprout in the spring. But there is a risk that irises planted in the fall may begin to germinate before the cold weather, and frosts will kill your seedlings, so it is still safer to plant them in the spring (second method). This option is more time consuming, but the likelihood that the seeds will not die is much higher. In order to plant seeds in the spring, they need to be prepared. To do this, in early February, the seeds of irises need to be moistened (wrapped with a damp cloth) and removed for a month before the beginning of March in a cold place. The best choice is a refrigerator or freezer. The temperature during this period should be 3-5 degrees. In early March, the seeds should be taken out and planted in the ground. In May, the flowers are ready for planting in open ground.

3. Iris transplant- the next most important question that worries those who have decided to grow irises. So, when to transplant irises? A transplant is done either during flowering, or within a month after its completion every three to four years. Now let's talk about how to transplant irises, because there are some features here.

The bush you want to transplant is carefully dug up, shaken off the ground (you need to see the root system) and also carefully divided into parts so that each part has both the root system and the leaves. Such a division is possible only for rhizomatous irises; bulbous ones have daughter bulbs. Then, for disinfection, the new planting material is washed with potassium permanganate, dried, and only after that the bushes are ready for planting. Do not forget to trim the leaves of new bushes as well, because the root system has decreased, which means that it will not be able to provide a full fan of leaves with the necessary substances for further development, and there is a risk that the plant will die. Growing and caring for transplanted irises is no different from caring for freshly planted ones.

Iris Care

Now we know how to properly plant a plant, it remains to figure out how to care for irises after they are planted or transplanted. A pleasant fact: care for rhizomatous irises is needed only for the first time after they are planted - weeds should be removed and the soil loosened. But this must be done carefully, not forgetting that the roots of rhizomatous irises are very close to the surface of the earth and grow horizontally. After the growth of rhizomatous irises, plantings do not need weeding and loosening. It is also worth remembering that these flowers are able to move 2-3 cm per year, so planting irises should be protected from other flowers in order to avoid overgrowing the entire area with irises.

Bulbous irises are more demanding. Iris care does not stop even after their growth: all leaves with yellow spots are removed, they must be covered for the winter, and the covering material is removed in early spring.

After flowering for a month, the iris bulbs are dug up, washed in a 0.2% solution of potassium permanganate, dried in the sun and stored until the next planting. If you have a variety of irises that bloom in autumn, then for the winter these plantings should be covered with covering material, which is not required by planting rhizomatous irises.

To check if the irises need watering, check the soil at the roots - if it is dry, you can water it. If the soil is slightly damp, the irises should not be watered. In dry summers, irises are watered in the evenings, when the heat subsides, making sure that water does not fall on the flowers. Long plants are tied up to avoid breakage of the peduncle under the weight of the flower on it.

You should not be zealous with fertilizing - it will be enough to apply fertilizers during the spring preparation of the site, but if you consider it necessary, you can fertilize irises three times a season: the first time in spring, with general preparation of the site, then during the budding period and the third time in August rhizome , and bulbous - within a month after flowering. If the iris is already in bloom, and you have not had time to fertilize, you should not do this.

Withered flowers must be removed.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease of irises is rot. If it appeared on the root system of flowers, it should be eliminated, the rhizome should be kept for 2 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and dried under the sun, and the soil should be removed from the place where the unhealthy iris grows.

Usually pests do not touch irises, but if this still happened, plantings can be processed once every 2 weeks. It is especially good for pest control to carry out the treatment 6 weeks before the start of flowering.

Conclusion

As you can see, caring for a plant is not as simple as it might seem at first glance, but irises in the garden flaunting all the colors of the rainbow are the best reward for your hard work.

When and how to plant bulbous irises in open ground in spring and autumn: rules for care and cultivation

Named after the goddess of the rainbow, Irida, these magnificent flowers, blooming in all their glory in early summer, delight us with a variety of natural variations in shades and shapes, as well as a pronounced fresh aroma. Caring for a beautiful plant is not difficult, so you do not have to be persuaded to buy it. However, not every gardener knows that irises can be grown from bulbs. In order for the iris to grow in a good way and show off in your garden, read the conditions for the proper planting of bulbous irises in open ground in spring and autumn.

Varieties and varieties of bulbous irises: descriptions and nuances of care and cultivation

As a rule, irises are own-rooted plants, they are also called rhizomatous, but there are also bulbous flowers. Despite the fact that outwardly they are very similar and it is almost impossible to distinguish them, planting and caring for them are somewhat different.

Bulbous irises include 3 separate genera, each of which has its own characteristics: xifium, iridodictium and juno.

Xifium (Xiphium)

These bulbous irises got this name due to the shape of their leaves, reminiscent of swords (from the Greek "xiphium" - "sword"), respectively, they are narrow and elongated.

By the way! The northwest of the Mediterranean coast is considered the homeland of the xifiums, therefore, without digging, they can only be grown in warm and dry southern regions. In the middle lane (Moscow region) it is necessary to dig.

The shape of flowers in xifiums is the simplest of all bulbous irises, but quite large - up to 10 centimeters in diameter. The height of the flowers themselves is from 30 to 80 centimeters.

The inflorescences of these irises have purple, blue, blue, yellow or white flowers. Often you can find a two-tone color. It all depends on what specific type and variety you get.

Interesting! Xifium is also called Dutch iris.

Iridodictium (Iridodictyum) or mesh (reticulata)

Such a complex name ("Iridodictium") went to these bulbous flowers because of the bright (variegated) color of their inflorescences (from the Greek "iris" - "rainbow") and the structure of the upper layer of the bulbs, which, as it were, in a net (from the Greek. "diction" - "grid"), so they are sometimes called mesh.

The place of active growth is the highlands of Central Asia and the Western Urals, as well as the Caucasus and the Balkans. Actually, therefore, they are the most adaptable to difficult conditions, for example, the same middle zone (Moscow region), and they can theoretically be grown in one place for 4-5 years without digging for the summer.

Iridodictiums are quite small in size. They can reach a height of no more than 15 cm, the diameter of the flowers is about 5-7 cm. The leaves of these bulbous flowers are narrow and rigid, appear simultaneously with the buds. A distinctive feature of iridodictiums is their amazing, one might even say, exotic flowers, which not only have a very unusual color, but they also smell pleasantly, having a very rich aroma.

As a rule, the flowering period of iridodictiums falls on March-April, the period is about 2 weeks.

Juno (Juno)

It is not difficult to guess where these bulbous irises got their name from. Yes, that's right, in honor of the name of the Roman goddess Juno, who was considered the main patroness of women.

They are very widespread in the mountains of the Caucasus, in Asia Minor and Central Asia, in South Africa, and also in the Mediterranean. Therefore, along with iridodictiums, junons are considered quite viable and in the same place without digging and transplanting can safely grow up to 4-5 years.

Depending on the species (they are most widely represented - 40 species, iridodictium - 11, and xifium - only 6 species), the height of plants can vary between 10-50 centimeters.

The structure of the juno is the most unusual among all bulbous irises: leaves grow in several rows on the trunk, and flowers appear from the axils of these leaves, as well as on the top of the stem.

Their inflorescences, as a rule, can have a white, yellow, purple and lilac color. And some species have a very pleasant smell.

In most cases, junos bloom a little later than reticulated irises, that is, in April-May, but longer, about 2-3 weeks.

By the way! Juno is very fond of dry rocky places, that is, she practically does not need any additional watering.

When to plant bulbous irises: optimal timing

The optimal time for planting bulbous irises is the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. In general, it is better to plant small-bulbous bulbs a little earlier, because with a shallow planting, the bulbs can suffer with a sharp drop in temperature, so it is better to give them more time to root.

Yes, in Middle lane (Moscow region) irises are best planted late August - early September, and in warm southern regions procedure can be transferred for October, which definitely cannot be done in the Urals and Siberia.

However, it often happens that already in early spring (or at the end of winter - in February) iris bulbs appear on sale, you cannot restrain yourself and buy them, or they give them to you. What to do in this case?

To plant bulbous irises in the spring and try to get them to bloom this season, you can try to simulate a cooling period, namely: put in a refrigerator in a box or in some kind of container (moreover, so that the sprouts, if they germinate, look up, and not bent), or planted in a pot of earth and put on a balcony or in the same refrigerator. And then land in April-May.

By the way! According to flower growers, irises planted in spring most often really bloom this year, but only in summer.

Video: planting bulbous irises in a pot

How to plant bulbous irises in open ground: rules and recommendations

To successfully grow your favorite flowers, you must consistently and clearly follow the following rules and recommendations.

Planting site and soil

It is optimal for bulbous irises to choose a well-lit, sunny and calm place, without access to drafts, in light partial shade. Like all bulbs, lowlands (in which moisture will accumulate in spring) and areas with too close groundwater are categorically not suitable for planting. Excess moisture is detrimental to the bulbs.

For planting spring bulbous irises, choose places near the house or near garden paths so that they catch your eye more often during their short flowering. A rock garden or rocky garden is perfect. It is beautiful to plant them next to other bulbs that bloom in early spring, for example, with the same crocuses, daffodils, tulips.

With crocuses

As for the soil, these bulbous dogs are well planted in light, permeable and fertile soil with neutral acidity.

bulb preparation

If you do not want your iris bulbs, God forbid, to rot, then before planting, hold them in a solution of potassium permanganate or a special fungicide for dressing, such as "Maxim Dachnik" or "Fundazol".

Direct landing

Step-by-step instructions for planting bulbous irises in open ground:


How to care for bulbous irises outdoors

In the care and cultivation of bulbous irises, in principle, there is nothing complicated, but some standard garden manipulations still have to be remembered and carried out.

Watering

Bulbous irises require moderate watering. It is especially important not to forget to water the plant in dry weather (including in the fall after planting, if there is no rain at all), namely during their active growth, that is, during the formation of buds and direct flowering. At the end of flowering, watering is no longer required. Flowers now need period dry rest.

Advice! If you do not want an unaesthetic earthen crust to form around the irises after watering, then do not forget to loosen the soil.

top dressing

If you want to get a brighter and more lush flowering, then you should fertilize the irises several times in the spring.

  • So, during the first feeding, which should be done immediately after removing the shelter, that is, even in the very early spring, at the beginning of the growing season, must be entered nitrogen fertilizer(Allowed and a small content of potassium and phosphorus).
  • When does the period start? budding, then the flower should be fed already potassium-phosphorus fertilizer (with big content potassium, the presence of nitrogen is also allowed).
  • Straightaway after flowering should be done exclusively phosphorus-potassium top dressing.

Bulb Digging

It is very important to dig up the iris bulbs in time, otherwise, due to excessive moisture (rain), they may rot. If a tulips, as a rule, they dig up only after their leaves turn yellow, then in the case of bulbous irises, you do not need to wait so long. It is optimal to get them out of the ground approximately 2 weeks after flowering when they just wilt a little and start to turn yellow. As a rule, this moment falls on the end of May - the beginning of June.

Note! Irises can not be dug up for the summer if during this period you (in your climate zone) do not have any rains at all, because they need a dry dormant period.

The dug out iris bulbs should disinfect in a pink solution of potassium permanganate or any other fungicide (for example, "Maxim Dachnik" or "Fundazol"), then as it should dry(2-3 weeks) and put in storage in a dry room with good ventilation until a new autumn landing in open ground.

Important! As mentioned earlier, each genus of bulbous irises has its own growing characteristics. So, xifiums should be dried at a higher temperature (+30-35 degrees), and iridodictiums and junos- moderate enough (+20-25 degrees). In the last days of drying, the temperature should be lowered to + 15-18 degrees.

Shelter for the winter

If autumn is rainy, then so that the iris bulbs do not get wet from excessive moisture, they should be covered with something, for example, roofing material or a plastic box from under the cake.

If your winters are cold and snowless, then spruce branches and dry leaves are suitable for winter shelter, you can also cover with spanbond or film. More heat-loving young people especially need shelter for the winter.

Important! Do not forget in early spring (immediately after the snow melts) to remove the shelter.

Thus, the main care for bulbous irises in the spring consists in removing the shelter, watering them (and then loosening them), feeding and digging up at the end of flowering.

To get more positive from a delightful flower, you need to seriously think about the intricacies of planting and growing bulbous irises in the open field.

Video: features of planting and growing bulbous irises

Dutch bulbous iris: planting and care, features and reviews

The choice of plants for a flower bed has long ceased to be a problem - a huge amount of seeds, seedlings and bulbs are sold in stores, nurseries and markets. The main thing is to decide on the composition of the flower bed and choose the necessary palette. Every florist is like an artist. But beauty is created not by broad strokes of oil paints, but by delicate flower buds.

A win-win option for decorating large and small flower beds can be Dutch iris. This is a bulbous plant with large beautiful flowers of an unusual shape.

What does an iris bulb look like?

This is a perennial herbaceous plant with an elongated bulb instead of a rhizome. The bulb itself is a modified and shortened underground shoot resembling a kidney. With a vertical cut from the top to the bottom, in the middle part of the bulb, you can find the embryo of the flower arrow. Around it, like wrappers, are the rudiments of leaves. They are entrusted with the function of accumulating nutrients.

Between the embryos of the leaves are axillary and central buds. The outer layer of the bulb is the integumentary scales. The diameter of the bulbs is not very large - it ranges from 2 to 3.5 cm.

Botanical description

More familiar to our gardeners are rhizomatous species of irises. These are the flowers that in childhood we called cockerels and irises. However, bulbous irises are also no longer exotic. The most common of these is the Dutch iris. The scientific name of this flower is Xiphium. Despite the fact that the xifium is in the Iris family and belongs to the genus Iris, it is recognized as a separate representative of the genus. Sometimes, by the way, this causes confusion in the specialized literature.

Iris dutch bulbous, planting and caring for which are described in this article, gives flower stalks of different heights. A dwarf species can give a peduncle 30 cm high. An ordinary xifium reaches a height of 80 cm.

The plant has narrowly grooved leaves, and the flower has a complex structure. There are 3 outer and 3 inner perianth lobes in a bud. The inner lobes are arranged vertically and have a narrow and broadly lanceolate shape. The outer lobes are rounded and directed downward.

Usually on the outer perianth segments there is a yellow or orange spot in the center. The Dutch iris bud has several color options and leaf widths. Moreover, it can be monophonic or two-color.

The following color of petals is possible:

  • white;
  • yellow of different intensity;
  • different shades of blue and blue;
  • different shades of purple;
  • lilac;
  • combinations of all the listed colors.

Where are Dutch irises used?

Dutch iris is often planted in home gardens and garden beds. Landscape designers are actively promoting the look, using it in mixborders and alpine slides. Bright flowers make up bouquets that are appropriate to give to men, especially blue and purple bouquets. Low-growing bulbous irises can be grown as houseplants.

It is worth noting that the cut flower of the bulbous Dutch iris will stand in a bouquet much longer than the root varieties. It is especially good to use rainwater for a vase, because it does not contain chlorine.

How to choose soil for planting

When Dutch iris is described, planting appears to many as a difficult task. But it is not so. It is enough to have information about several nuances of this process.

One of them is the choice of soil for the plant. The main thing you need to know is that irises do not tolerate excess moisture. They quickly die from rotting of the bulb and roots. Before planting, it is important to take care of drainage. However, it is not necessary to place it directly under the plants. Shallow trenches filled with gravel or broken bricks, dug near the flower bed along its entire length, have proven themselves well.

For those who are going to plant the Dutch bulbous iris for the first time, planting and care begin with the choice of soil. The ideal soil for this plant is loose, with high air permeability, nutritious, neutral or slightly alkaline. In addition, it must be waterproof.

Soddy and leafy soil is mixed into sandy and peat soils, if necessary, acidity is adjusted. Do not use fresh manure and excessive doses of chemical fertilizers. The ideal option is well-ripened compost or humus (a bucket of compost per 1 m² of land). After making top dressing, thoroughly mix with the soil. In the future, irises are fed with wood ash.

How to plant bulbs

Do you want Dutch bulbous iris to bloom under your window? Planting is done as follows:

  1. With a round peg (diameter about 5 cm), the soil is pierced 15 cm deep. Between the pits maintain a distance of about 10 cm.
  2. A handful of coarse river sand is poured into the hole, into which the bulb is buried by 1-2 cm.
  3. From above, the bulb is covered with the same sand.

After purchase, any bulbs should be treated with a fungicide solution and dried slightly. Before planting, no later than 2 days, a flower bed or flowerpot is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and potassium humate.

Slightly sprouted bulbs, with sprouts and roots, are planted in a trench. The depth can be from 15 to 20 cm. This helps to carefully position the roots and not damage them. In this case, the sand is filled up to about 2/3 of the height of the trench. From above, Dutch irises (bulbous species), are gently squeezed with sand and covered with soil mixture. Then watering is done. The soil can be mulched with sand, small pebbles, gravel.

Another convenient way to land

Dutch bulbous irises can be planted in a special basket. This is a plastic container with a large number of holes and holes for air access and water outflow. It is inexpensive, it can be found in flower shops or ordered on the World Wide Web.

The basket must be put on the ground and circled with a shovel, remove the sod along the contour and dig a hole about 15 cm deep, add the necessary fertilizers to it, then put the basket on top and pour loose earth mixed with compost into it. Further, the required number of bulbs is placed in the basket, which are covered with earth from above. At the end of flowering, the container is dug out, and all the bulbs are stored.

flowering time

Flowering begins at the end of May. Depending on the variety, the difference in the time of appearance of flower stalks with buds is 2-3 weeks. If the street is humid and cool, then the flowers delight up to three to four weeks. In dry sunny weather, they fade faster.

If you choose varieties of bulbous irises with different flowering, then a chic flower bed will delight even longer. And after that, juicy and beautiful foliage will remain, which can also serve as a decoration.

How to Care for Blooming Dutch Iris

During flowering, the Dutch iris is not very whimsical. It should be watered only in very dry summers. Usually Xifium is enough natural humidity and morning dew. If neighboring plants require watering, then the irises are simply covered with a film so that water does not enter the holes. Bulbous irises do not need regular top dressing. It is enough to feed with wood ash or mineral mixture a week before flowering. Time is determined by the beginning of the formation of buds, they look like seals between the leaves of the plant.

What to do next

So, the buds have faded, the Xifium foliage has completely dried up. What to do next? Does the Dutch iris require care after flowering? After the leaves of the plant have completely dried, the bulb should be dug up. What is nice, where the gardener planted one bulb, there will be a small nest of them. Each onion can be planted separately next year, or you can leave them as a nest for 3-4 years. If the gardener divided it, then only the largest bulbs will bloom next year, and the little thing will grow for several seasons, preparing for flowering.

The bulbs are dried and stored in a dry place until the beginning of the Indian summer. Then they can be planted again in flower beds, but if the climate in the region is cold, then the planting should be covered for the winter. Thus, you can understand the color scheme, the timing of flowering and the height of the peduncles, and form the perfect flower garden next year.

Diseases and pests

Dutch iris is damaged by leaf drillers. In this case, damaged leaves are cut off, and the plant is treated with insecticides. Be sure to dig up the ground in the fall and remove last year's foliage and cut stems and branches of other plants.

Of the diseases, the most dangerous for irises are various forms of spotting.

Named after the goddess of the rainbow, Irida, these magnificent flowers, blooming in all their glory in early summer, delight us with a variety of natural variations in shades and shapes, as well as a pronounced fresh aroma. Caring for a beautiful plant is not difficult, so you do not have to be persuaded to buy it. However, not every gardener knows that irises can be grown from bulbs. In order for the iris to grow in a good way and show off in your garden, read the conditions for the proper planting of bulbous irises in open ground in spring and autumn.

Varieties and varieties of bulbous irises: descriptions and nuances of care and cultivation

As a rule, irises are own-rooted plants, they are also called rhizomatous, but there are also bulbous flowers. Despite the fact that outwardly they are very similar and it is almost impossible to distinguish them, planting and caring for them are somewhat different.

Bulbous irises include 3 separate genera, each of which has its own characteristics: xifium, iridodictium and juno.

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Xifium (Xiphium)

These bulbous irises got this name due to the shape of their leaves, reminiscent of swords (from the Greek "xiphium" - "sword"), respectively, they are narrow and elongated.

By the way! The northwest of the Mediterranean coast is considered the homeland of the xifiums, therefore, without digging, they can only be grown in warm and dry southern regions. In the middle lane (Moscow region) it is necessary to dig.

The shape of flowers in xifiums is the simplest of all bulbous irises, but quite large - up to 10 centimeters in diameter. The height of the flowers themselves is from 30 to 80 centimeters.

The inflorescences of these irises have purple, blue, blue, yellow or white flowers. Often you can find a two-tone color. It all depends on what specific type and variety you get.

Interesting! Xifium is also called Dutch iris.

Iridodictium (Iridodictyum) or mesh (reticulata)

Such a complex name ("Iridodictium") went to these bulbous flowers because of the bright (variegated) color of their inflorescences (from the Greek "iris" - "rainbow") and the structure of the upper layer of the bulbs, which, as it were, in a net (from the Greek. "diction" - "grid"), so they are sometimes called mesh.

The place of active growth is the highlands of Central Asia and the Western Urals, as well as the Caucasus and the Balkans. Actually, therefore, they are the most adaptable to difficult conditions, for example, the same middle zone (Moscow region), and they can theoretically be grown in one place for 4-5 years without digging for the summer.

Dutch irises are considered one of the most romantic and beautiful plants. The iris flower resembles a tropical butterfly ready to take flight. With its beauty, he has long conquered gardeners. In almost all personal plots, you can now see a flower bed with these amazing plants. Let's talk in more detail about bulbous irises, planting and care in the open field.

Description of the Dutch variety

Dutch iris is one of the varieties of irises. This is xifium. In flower shops, you can buy flowers in the form of bulbs, which are covered with multiple layers of scales. On average, plants reach a height of 0.6 m. Some varieties, for example, Casablanca, Blue Diamond, grow within 0.5 m. They do not require support if they were planted in a place not blown by the winds.

The plant tolerates frost well, but requires shelter at very low temperatures to prevent freezing. Bulbous irises bloom in the last week of May, bloom until early June. Iris flowers can be of a wide variety of colors: white, blue, purple, orange. After flowering, the foliage begins to dry, and at the end of August it dries up completely. Dutch irises are widely used in gardening, they decorate flower beds, garden beds, they are used to create beautiful flower arrangements and bouquets. For many, irises are the best flowers, harbingers of warmth, because they bloom very early.

Features of planting irises

Planting bulbous irises includes several mandatory procedures. This is the preparation of bulbs, drainage and top dressing of the soil, mulching. Knowing all the secrets of growing Dutch bulbous iris, the features of planting and care, you can achieve a wonderful decorative effect.

Preparing bulbs for planting

Bulb plants are prone to fungal diseases, so Dutch iris bulbs require special preparation before planting. Planting material must be purchased at trusted flower shops and gardening stores. When buying, you should inspect the bulbs, there should not be any damage.

If the bulbs were stored at home, they also need to be carefully examined. Bulbs that have rot, painful spots, it is better to immediately set aside and discard. Good specimens should be treated with antifungal drugs. For these purposes, fungicides "Maxim", "Fundazol" are used. Many gardeners use a strong solution of potassium permanganate. Iris bulbs are placed in such a solution for 30-40 minutes. After drying, the bulbs are ready for planting.

How to choose a place and prepare the soil

Irises do not create much trouble when growing, but it is necessary to reckon with some preferences of this plant. Irises do not like shade, poor soil, waterlogged soil. When choosing a place for planting these flowers, you need to give preference to a sunny place, and in order to prevent moisture stagnation, you can place them on an artificially created slope.

To do this, make a small elevation with a slope, equip a good drainage system. When planting irises in flower beds 20 cm high, rainwater can be naturally drained. No matter how close the groundwater is to the surface, it cannot pose a danger to the roots.

Irises are very fond of light, but they do not need abundant hours of sun, it is preferable if the plant is in the shade for some part of the day. An area with partial blackout is ideal.

The soil before planting should be filled with nutrients. For this, organic fertilizers are applied. Then the earth is carefully dug up and loosened. If you start preparing the soil in advance, about a year in advance, you can apply manure. Limey soils are best suited for bulb crops. If the soil does not match, you can add eggshells, chalk or lime to it. Humus is added to sandy soil. It is useful to add superphosphate or ash at the rate of 40 g / 1 sq. meter. Clay soils are enriched with coarse sand, a small amount of compost or humus.

Hybrid varieties of irises can grow in one place for five to ten years, depending on the variety. Irises grow very quickly, it quickly depletes the soil, you have to choose new places for planting these flowers.

A hole is dug under each bulb, for the northern regions it is necessary to make a depth of about 14 cm, for the southern regions - about 10 cm. A gap of 15 centimeters is left between the holes, under such conditions the plants will develop adequately.

When and how to plant irises

Many experienced flower growers recommend planting iris tubers in the fall. Planting features depend on the selected variety. If the climate is temperate, you can plant the bulbs at a shallow depth. We plant the tubers in the holes, lightly tamp the soil.

If we plant a bulb that has already sprouted, it must be placed so that the border of the green arrow is at the level of the soil. It is not necessary to deepen it strongly. Hands need to gently crush the soil around the bulb. Mulch the surface with peat to protect against weeds. This planting takes place in early spring.

After planting, irises are not watered, they should have enough moisture from the soil. During the growing season and during flowering, plants need watering, but it should not be frequent.

Experienced flower growers recommend planting iris in a greenhouse in early autumn. Already in November, you can get garden flowers suitable for cutting. The time for planting bulbs for distillation is the first decade of February. For the rapid formation of buds and the growth of stems, a constant temperature of 15 degrees is required. Plants need bright light, top dressing and moderate watering.

You can use a special bulb basket for planting Dutch irises. This is a plastic container in which there are a lot of holes for the outflow of water and air access. It is inexpensive and can be purchased at a garden store. The basket is placed on the ground and circled around the contour. Then the sod is removed along this contour to make a planting hole with a depth of about 16 cm. The necessary fertilizers are added to it, and a basket is placed on top.

Soil is poured into the basket, which is mixed with compost. The bulbs are planted in a basket, covered with a layer of earth on top. As soon as the irises stop blooming, the container is dug out. It is very good to clean it so that in a secluded place in the garden the leaves dry out and the bulbs ripen. After the end of the season, the bulbs are dug up to store.

Iris Care

Iris is a modest plant that does not like excesses. Do not water it too abundantly, or overload it with fertilizers. Moderation in care is the key to success. How to properly care for irises? Proper care of irises includes:

  • watering;
  • soil loosening;
  • weed removal;
  • soil fertilizer;
  • control of diseases and pests.

It is necessary to remove weeds around the planting manually so as not to damage the plant. After the flower grows, weeding can be stopped. In autumn, young plantings must be covered with foliage to protect them from frost. Adult landings no longer need shelter. In the spring, after the snow melts, the leaves are removed.

Fertilization of the soil must be done in the spring, when the topsoil has dried up after the snow has melted. It is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers, to carry out loosening. Just do it carefully so as not to damage the roots of the tubers. At the age of three years, spring top dressing should consist of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus (1: 2: 1). At the time of bud formation, the proportion is increased (1:3:3). A month after the buds fall, potassium and phosphorus 1: 1 are applied to the soil. Such a triple top dressing will make the flowers hardier.

It is necessary to protect irises from pests and ailments. From the moment when the leaves of the flower grow to 10 cm, spraying should be carried out every two weeks using Malathion and pesticides. This is done before the appearance of the peduncle. Most often, leaf borers attack irises. They damage the leaves, which must be cut immediately. The plant is treated with insecticides.

As a preventive work to protect against pests, it is imperative to remove last year's foliage. If it has been infected, burn it immediately. The earth needs to be dug up. Of the diseases for irises, various forms of leaf spot are dangerous.

bulb storage

When the bulbous irises have already faded, and the foliage has dried up, it is necessary to dig out the bulbs. Novice flower growers will be pleasantly surprised, because in the place where one bulb was planted, a large number of young bulbs are formed. Each of them must be planted separately next year. Preference should be given to large bulbs, small ones are also suitable, but they will grow for several seasons.

Bulbs of Dutch irises are thoroughly dried. They must be stored until the beginning of autumn in a dry place. In the midst of Indian summer, you can start planting on the site. It should be remembered that in cold regions, bulbs planted in autumn need shelter from frost.

A friend shared a few bulbs of irises. In my dacha, only ordinary irises grow (those with rhizomes), so there was a little problem what to do with the bulbs. I would love to learn more about planting and caring for bulbous irises. And the following question is also of interest: when and where is it better to plant them and can they winter in a flower bed?

Growing bulbous irises is somewhat different from simple rhizomatous species, which are much more common in flower beds. Features of the root system dictate special rules for planting and caring for bulbous irises. First of all, this is due to the fact that tender bulbs require careful selection of the planting site. In addition, most varieties are extremely thermophilic, and absolutely not able to survive in the open field in our winters. However, let's talk about everything in order.

When to plant?

The time for planting bulbs in open ground depends on the variety of irises, for example:

  • compact and frost-resistant iridodictiums can be planted in autumn, but not later than September, so that the plants have time to take root and grow stronger;
  • less resistant species of juno irises will also endure autumn planting, but subject to additional shelter and in warmer regions;
  • Xifium sissies (Dutch irises) are best planted in the spring, because even at a temperature of 10 degrees below zero, the bulbs die.

When planting frost-resistant early-flowering varieties of irises in spring, it should be borne in mind that there will be no flowering in the year of planting, but only for the next season.

Where to plant?

As you know, all bulbous crops (and irises are no exception) do not tolerate high humidity. Areas that suffer from flooding in the spring are categorically not suitable for these plants. Regarding the soil, the best option would be fertilized sandy soil, light enough and fertile.

To grow bulbous irises, you need to select the lightest flower bed - only in good light conditions will they bloom well.

Preparing and planting bulbs

For the purchase of planting material, it is best to contact a specialized store - there are less chances to buy diseased plants. To protect flowers from diseases, especially putrefactive infections and fungi, before planting they must be kept for 30 minutes in a solution of Fundazol or at least potassium permanganate, and then allowed to dry completely.

A healthy iris bulb is firm to the touch, covered with a shiny, golden skin, and free from odd spots and signs of damage.

The depth of the hole for the bulb should be no more than three of its diameters, and the distance between them should be at least 10 cm. You don’t need to water it right away, the available moisture in the soil will be enough for the irises, but the next day you need to moisten the soil well in the hole.

Features of care

Caring for bulbous irises is simple: in the spring they need to be watered regularly, but by the summer the frequency of watering should be reduced, because at this time most varieties are already resting. Dig up xifium bulbs with the arrival of autumn, let them dry and put them in a cardboard box for winter storage. Most flower growers dig up all varieties of irises in the summer, and return them back to the garden in the fall (except for the Dutch ones - they are stored until spring). This is especially true if it often rains, because then the irises can rot.

Video about the features of planting bulbous irises

Irises are a popular garden crop with spectacular flowering and unpretentious character. Many flower growers are interested in planting and caring for irises in the open field. Velvet multi-colored irises are a perennial plant that serves as a real decoration for a flower garden or flower bed.

Irises - description and features of culture

Irises are low perennials of the rhizomatous genus. Translated from Greek, the word Iris means rainbow. Indeed, more than 700 species of irises are known, differing in size, shape, structure and shade of the flower. Outwardly, the iris peduncle looks like an orchid, the color of the petals is the most diverse - from white and pale to rich and bright. In some varieties, the peduncle is colored with two, three or more flowers, and a peculiar pattern is applied to the lower petals.

The beginning of flowering of irises is May and June, lush flowering can continue until the end of June. In autumn, the iris may bloom again - in August and September.

The culture has a vast geography around the world, some varieties are found in the harsh climate of the Northern Hemisphere. In nature, there are rhizomatous and bulbous irises, which outwardly are absolutely similar to each other. Rhizome irises are stable and unpretentious, winter well and are not afraid of cold weather. Bulb varieties require a little more care and attention. The field flower iris has long been loved by flower growers and has become urban. You should learn everything about the care and planting of irises in open ground.

Rules for planting irises in open ground

Rhizome irises prefer a well-lit area where they will bloom for a long time and beautifully. For the free distribution of roots, irises need space - at least half a meter from each other. All species love loose, nutrient-rich and fatty soil in structure. Planting irises in the spring in the ground is carried out after compost and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers have been introduced. Manure is not recommended.

Soil moisture for each variety needs its own:

  • bearded iris is best planted with a fan on the slopes, so that there is a good outflow of rain and melt water;
  • Siberian iris and marsh iris are best grown where it is always damp - near water bodies and in partial shade.

The area under the irises is dug up, treated with fungicides against harmful insects, and herbicides to reduce the growth of weeds. For rhizomatous irises, soil with a neutral environment is preferable. If the soil is highly acidic, it should be mixed with ash, lime or chalk. When planting, the upper kidney remains on the surface of the soil, it is not buried.

Rhizome varieties - how to plant irises in spring:

  1. A hole is dug under the root, in the center of which a small mound is poured.
  2. The central root should be placed on the mound, and the lateral roots should be distributed to the sides.
  3. The main rhizome is sprinkled with earth, a layer of sand is applied on top, the earth is slightly compacted.
  4. Do not deepen the roots too much, they should be located close to the surface of the soil.
  5. Let the central kidney remain free from the earth - above its surface.

Bulbous irises - planting and care in the open field:

  1. Bulbs are planted in early spring or autumn before frost.
  2. The temperature of the soil for planting should be at least 10 °, otherwise the bulbs may freeze.
  3. A shallow trench is dug, the bulbs go deep into the trench by 3-4 cm, no more.
  4. The total planting depth should be approximately 10-12 cm.
  5. The excavated soil is mixed with garden soil for nutrition, river sand and crushed coal for drainage, with double superphosphate for growth.
  6. Prepared grooves are disinfected by spilling a solution of potassium permanganate and a growth stimulator to strengthen the roots.
  7. Iris bulbs are planted with a sprout up, not deepening too much, at a sufficient distance from each other - 15-20 cm.
  8. Soil is poured on top, which should be lightly tamped so that the bulbs do not crawl to the surface.
  9. Re-watering is necessary only after 3-4 days.

Excessive deepening of the roots harms the growth and development of irises, while the soil should not be heavy. For loosening, compost, peat and coarse sand are added to the soil.

Small-bulb varieties of irises are not demanding on moisture. They are deepened to three times the height of the bulb, their flowering begins next spring.

Iris care - basics and secrets

According to experienced flower growers, irises are strong and viable plants that grow and bloom well without fertilizer. However, in the third year of life, it is recommended to pamper the flower with a phased complex top dressing - in the spring, during the budding period and after flowering. In response to care, the plant will become stronger and stronger, it will grow faster and bloom more abundantly.

Irises - spring care:

  • top dressing in a ratio of 2: 1: 1 - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium;
  • watering depending on the surrounding weather conditions.

During the budding period, top dressing should be carried out in a ratio of 3: 1: 3 - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium. At the same time, watering and spraying are carried out as needed. A month after the end of flowering, top dressing is recommended in a 1: 1 ratio - phosphorus plus potassium. In the autumn period, before wintering, dry mineral fertilizer should be applied in a tablespoon, scattering it under each plant root.

Irises should be watered under the root when the earth around the bush is completely dry. After planting, the plant is watered only after three days.

How to feed irises in spring:

  • if a lack of minerals is noticed, then mineral dressing should be applied personally for each bush;
  • in early spring, a complex nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizer for flowers is useful for the plant.

Prevention from diseases and pests includes sanitary pruning of dead parts of the plant, timely removal of wilted flower stalks, regular spraying and showering, and cleaning the beds from fallen leaves. In open ground, iris plantings are weeded by hand, the soil is loosened with care and watered as needed. Before winter, the rhizomes are sprinkled with earth and covered, as they are located close to the surface itself and can freeze.

How and when to transplant irises

Irises can be planted in three ways - rhizomes, shoots and grown from seeds. Getting plants from seeds is the longest and most difficult way. In practice, it is much easier and faster to grow flowers by dividing the bush and shoots. At the same time, plants grown from rhizomes will bloom the next year, and seed plantings will have to wait another 2-3 years.

How and when to transplant irises:

  • the best time for transplanting is early spring, that is, March-April, before flowering;
  • flowers are propagated by division of the rhizome and sprouts.

Transplanting irises in the spring to another place is carried out using only healthy and strong plants that will take root quickly and without problems. Rhizomes are taken out of the ground and divided into parts so that each individual root rosette has one leaf bud. Excess foliage should be trimmed. Before planting, the roots are dipped for several minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Dried rhizomes are planted in shallow trenches or small planting holes at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other.

With vegetative propagation, the iris must bloom at least once. After that, until the moment of budding, young shoots can be taken from it. New plants should be rooted from March to May in a shady place, creating greenhouse conditions. Full rooting can be observed after 2-3 weeks.

Irises can be grown from seeds. In autumn, the seeds are sown in a pot with a sandy substrate, covered with polyethylene or glass. By spring, the seeds will germinate, they dive and planted in open ground. When to plant irises outdoors in spring? The optimal time for landing in the ground is early spring, the month of March and April. By this time, young plantings will already grow up enough, they will be able to quickly and fully take root in the ground.

Irises in landscape design

The high decorative qualities of irises make it possible to plant them in flowerbeds and mixborders, along fences, in flower beds and rockeries. The ideal place for them is on a hill, where there is no stagnant moisture, and there is no close contact with groundwater. There are short and tall types of irises. Tall plants are usually tied up so that they do not break and hold the bud well. Dwarf irises grow in a solid wall, they require periodic pruning and watering in dry weather.

Irises in landscape design photo:

Knowledge of the rules for planting and caring for irises in the open field will make it easy and simple to grow these plants in the backyard. When you see an iris, you are not at all drawn to pick it, you want to admire it endlessly, inhaling the delicate and delicate aroma of a flower.

Such different irises on the site - video

The choice of plants for a flower bed has long ceased to be a problem - a huge amount of seeds, seedlings and bulbs are sold in stores, nurseries and markets. The main thing is to decide on the composition of the flower bed and choose the necessary palette. Each grower is like an artist. But beauty is created not by broad strokes of oil paints, but by delicate flower buds.

A win-win option for decorating large and small flower beds can be Dutch iris. This is a bulbous plant with large beautiful flowers of an unusual shape.

What does an iris bulb look like?

This is a perennial herbaceous plant with an elongated bulb instead of a rhizome. The bulb itself is a modified and shortened underground shoot resembling a kidney. With a vertical cut from the top to the bottom, in the middle part of the bulb, you can find the embryo of the flower arrow. Around it, like wrappers, are the rudiments of leaves. They are entrusted with the function of accumulating nutrients.

Between the embryos of the leaves are axillary and central buds. The outer layer of the bulb is the integumentary scales. The diameter of the bulbs is not very large - it ranges from 2 to 3.5 cm.

Botanical description

More familiar to our gardeners are rhizomatous species of irises. These are the flowers that in childhood we called cockerels and irises. However, bulbous irises are no longer exotic either. The most common of these is the Dutch iris. The scientific name of this flower is Xiphium. Despite the fact that the xifium is in the Iris family and belongs to the genus Iris, it is recognized as a separate representative of the genus. Sometimes, by the way, this causes confusion in the specialized literature.

Iris dutch bulbous, planting and caring for which are described in this article, gives flower stalks of different heights. A dwarf species can give a peduncle 30 cm high. An ordinary xifium reaches a height of 80 cm.

The plant has narrowly grooved leaves, and the flower has a complex structure. There are 3 outer and 3 inner perianth lobes in a bud. The inner lobes are arranged vertically and have a narrow and broadly lanceolate shape. The outer lobes are rounded and directed downward.

Usually on the outer perianth segments there is a yellow or orange spot in the center. The Dutch iris bud has several color options and leaf widths. Moreover, it can be monophonic or two-color.

The following color of petals is possible:

  • white;
  • yellow of different intensity;
  • different shades of blue and blue;
  • different shades of purple;
  • lilac;
  • combinations of all the listed colors.

Where are Dutch irises used?

Dutch iris is often planted in home gardens and garden beds. Landscape designers are actively promoting the look, using it in mixborders and alpine slides. Bright flowers make up bouquets that are appropriate to give to men, especially blue and purple bouquets. Low-growing bulbous irises can be grown as houseplants.

It is worth noting that the cut flower of the bulbous Dutch iris will stand in a bouquet much longer than the root varieties. It is especially good to use rainwater for a vase, because it does not contain chlorine.

How to choose soil for planting

When Dutch iris is described, planting appears to many as a difficult task. But it is not so. It is enough to have information about several nuances of this process.

One of them is the choice of soil for the plant. The main thing you need to know is that irises do not tolerate excess moisture. They quickly die from rotting of the bulb and roots. Before planting, it is important to take care of drainage. However, it is not necessary to place it directly under the plants. Shallow trenches filled with gravel or broken bricks, dug near the flower bed along its entire length, have proven themselves well.

For those who are going to plant the Dutch bulbous iris for the first time, planting and care begin with the choice of soil. The ideal soil for this plant is loose, with high air permeability, nutritious, neutral or slightly alkaline. In addition, it must be waterproof.

Soddy and leafy soil is mixed into sandy and peat soils, if necessary, acidity is adjusted. Do not use fresh manure and excessive doses of chemical fertilizers. The ideal option is well-ripened compost or humus (a bucket of compost per 1 m² of land). After making top dressing, thoroughly mix with the soil. In the future, irises are fed with wood ash.

How to plant bulbs

Do you want Dutch bulbous iris to bloom under your window? Planting is done as follows:

  1. With a round peg (diameter about 5 cm), the soil is pierced 15 cm deep. Between the pits maintain a distance of about 10 cm.
  2. A handful of coarse river sand is poured into the hole, into which the bulb is buried by 1-2 cm.
  3. From above, the bulb is covered with the same sand.

After purchase, any bulbs should be treated with a fungicide solution and dried slightly. Before planting, no later than 2 days, a flower bed or flowerpot is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and potassium humate.

Slightly sprouted bulbs, with sprouts and roots, are planted in a trench. The depth can be from 15 to 20 cm. This helps to carefully position the roots and not damage them. In this case, the sand is filled up to about 2/3 of the height of the trench. From above, Dutch irises (bulbous species), are gently squeezed with sand and covered with soil mixture. Then watering is done. The soil can be mulched with sand, small pebbles, gravel.

Another convenient way to land

Dutch bulbous irises can be planted in a special basket. This is a plastic container with a large number of holes and holes for air access and water outflow. It is inexpensive, it can be found in flower shops or ordered on the World Wide Web.

The basket must be put on the ground and circled with a shovel, remove the sod along the contour and dig a hole about 15 cm deep, add the necessary fertilizers to it, then put the basket on top and pour loose earth mixed with compost into it. Further, the required number of bulbs is placed in the basket, which are covered with earth from above. At the end of flowering, the container is dug out, and all the bulbs are stored.

flowering time

Flowering begins at the end of May. Depending on the variety, the difference in the time of appearance of flower stalks with buds is 2-3 weeks. If the street is humid and cool, then the flowers delight up to three to four weeks. In dry sunny weather, they fade faster.

If you choose varieties of bulbous irises with different flowering, then a chic flower bed will delight even longer. And after that, juicy and beautiful foliage will remain, which can also serve as a decoration.

How to Care for Blooming Dutch Iris

During flowering, the Dutch iris is not very whimsical. It should be watered only in very dry summers. Usually Xifium is enough natural humidity and morning dew. If neighboring plants require watering, then the irises are simply covered with a film so that water does not enter the holes. Bulbous irises do not need regular top dressing. It is enough to feed with wood ash or mineral mixture a week before flowering. Time is determined by the beginning of the formation of buds, they look like seals between the leaves of the plant.

What to do next

So, the buds have faded, the Xifium foliage has completely dried up. What to do next? Does the Dutch iris require care after flowering? After the leaves of the plant have completely dried, the bulb should be dug up. What is nice, where the gardener planted one bulb, there will be a small nest of them. Each onion can be planted separately next year, or you can leave them as a nest for 3-4 years. If the gardener divided it, then only the largest bulbs will bloom next year, and the little thing will grow for several seasons, preparing for flowering.

The bulbs are dried and stored in a dry place until the beginning of the Indian summer. Then they can be planted again in flower beds, but if the climate in the region is cold, then the planting should be covered for the winter. Thus, you can understand the color scheme, the timing of flowering and the height of the peduncles, and form the perfect flower garden next year.

Diseases and pests

Dutch iris is damaged by leaf drillers. In this case, damaged leaves are cut off, and the plant is treated with insecticides. Be sure to dig up the ground in the fall and remove last year's foliage and cut stems and branches of other plants.

Of the diseases, the most dangerous for irises are various forms of spotting.