Iris cultivation methods and precautions
Iris, also known as Alice, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Iris in the family Iridaceae. Its flowers are large and beautiful, and its leaves are fresh and green, giving it high ornamental value. Many species are used for garden viewing, and in landscaping they can be used to arrange flower beds, planted in wet border plots, by pond edges and lakesides, or arranged into specialized iris gardens. They can also be used as cut flowers and ground cover plants. Let us take a look at the cultivation methods of iris below!
Iris growth habits
There are many varieties of iris, and their growth habits differ slightly, but they can broadly be divided into two categories. The first category of iris has thick, strong rhizomes and strong environmental adaptability, is drought tolerant, and grows well under conditions of sufficient light, good drainage, and moderate fertilizer and water. German iris, Iris tectorum, and Iris pallida belong to this category. The second category of iris likes moisture and grows well in moist soil or shallow water. Yellow flag iris, Japanese iris, and Iris japonica are representatives of this category.
Iris variety classification
1. Aquatic: Iris sanguinea, Japanese iris, and Iris laevigata are all irises that like moisture, and this type of flower is an excellent material for waterside landscaping, often used in specialized gardens, flower beds, waterside arrangements, and cut flower cultivation.
2. Xerophytic: Iris lactea and yellow flag iris have extremely strong adaptability to soil and moisture and can withstand drought. This type of flower is mostly used as ground cover and edging plants.
3. Mesophytic: Iris tectorum, Iris japonica, German iris, and Iris spuria like to grow in well-drained soil with moderate moisture. This type of flower is very widely used and can be planted in specialized gardens, flower beds, flower borders, ground cover, and so on.
Iris cultivation methods
1. Propagation: Iris is usually propagated by division and cuttings, and can also be propagated by seeds. Division propagation is mostly carried out during the dormant period in early winter or early spring, cutting propagation is mostly carried out in spring, and sowing is done immediately after the seeds are harvested.
2. Soil: Iris grows poorly in acidic soil, so when cultivating iris, you should choose humus-rich clay loam, or alkaline soil mixed with lime. Before planting, the soil should be thoroughly plowed, and decomposed compost and a small amount of bone meal, plant ash, and so on should be applied as base fertilizer. In addition, iris should not be planted too deep, and the rhizomes should be pressed firmly.
3. Temperature: The optimum growth temperature for iris is 15-17°C, and it likes a sunny and moist environment. However, if the light is too strong, appropriate shading should be provided, and if the humidity is too high, the humidity can be reduced through heating and ventilation.
4. Watering: After planting iris, water it thoroughly once, and afterward water according to the dry and wet condition of the soil. Generally, slightly dry soil is preferable. Do not let the soil become waterlogged or remain too wet for a long time, so as to avoid root rot or disease. To keep the plant looking attractive, the leaves can be washed.
5. Fertilizing: From spring sprouting and growth to before flowering, iris should be given 1-2 applications of decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water or compound flower fertilizer, and after the flowers fade it is best to apply 1 more application of liquid fertilizer.
6. Disease prevention: The main disease that iris is prone to during cultivation is soft rot. If the plant is found to have soft rot, it should be dug up promptly, the rotten parts cut off, and the planting location changed or the pot replaced for transplanting. The main pest of iris is the bean chafer, and the main treatment methods are manual capture of adults and poisoning of larvae. Between April and May, iris can be irrigated with 250 times diluted 25% wettable phosmet to prevent the harm of underground pests. In winter, dead leaves should be cleaned up and destroyed, which can also reduce the occurrence of iris diseases and pests.