Is German iris a perennial or a bulb flower, and can it be grown hydroponically?
German iris, this is also a kind of plant, and it is known to a huge number of people, and it looks really beautiful when it blooms. So, is this German iris a perennial or a bulbous root? Can it be grown hydroponically: Is German iris a perennial or a bulb flower: German iris is a perennial flower, with bright colors, many varieties, and it is very beautiful.
German iris, this is also a kind of plant, and it is known to a huge number of people, and it looks really beautiful when it blooms. So, is this German iris a perennial or a bulbous root? Can it be grown hydroponically:
Is German iris a perennial or a bulb flower:
German iris is a perennial flower, with bright colors, many varieties, and it is very beautiful. It can be called the crown of irises.
Perennial refers to a type of perennial herbaceous flower whose individual lifespan exceeds two years, can grow continuously, blooms and fruits many times, and whose underground root system or underground stem has a normal form without becoming modified.
Can German iris be grown hydroponically:
German iris can be grown hydroponically. However, it is not grown hydroponically from seeds. Instead, the seeds of German iris are first grown in soil, and after growing into a plant, it is then grown hydroponically. There are relatively few hydroponic methods, so let us still introduce the soil cultivation methods:
1. Sow in autumn, scatter the seeds on the soil, and wait for them to grow. Transplant every spring. When transplanting, good spacing must be maintained, generally 45 cm is optimal.
2. Pay attention to watering. In summer, when there is a lot of rain, drainage is needed. Improper drainage will cause root rot.
3. Fertilize in spring and autumn, and fertilizing twice is enough. The amount of fertilizer must be controlled well and must not be too much, otherwise there will be nutrient excess and the flowers will all die. Generally, bone meal plus superphosphate plus potassium sulfate plus ammonium sulfate are mixed together and applied.
4. Do a good job in preventing and controlling pests and diseases. Still check the flowers every day, so that pests and diseases are discovered early and treated early.
German iris is a perennial flower, and it can be grown hydroponically.
Cultivation techniques for irises
Iris (iris spp) belongs to the Iridaceae family, Iris genus. It is one of the important flowers for garden arrangement and cut flower production. It can be used for small-area flowerbed arrangements and flower border and flower clump planting, and because its flower posture is graceful, its colors are bright, and its flower stems are upright, it can often be used for cut flowers through forcing cultivation, and can also be grown in water for ornamental purposes. Bulbous irises have a very high commercial rate in Europe.
(1) Morphological characteristics and varieties
Perennial herbaceous plant. It has rhizomes or corms (bulbs), leaves are sword-shaped or linear, flower stems are upright, with two to several flowers borne terminally, 6 perianth segments, the outer 3 large and the inner 3 small, and flower colors are rich and varied. There are many kinds of irises. According to underground organs, they can be divided into rhizomatous irises and bulbous (corm) irises. From the perspective of horticultural cultivation, they can also be divided into terrestrial, marsh, and aquatic types.
Commonly cultivated ones include:
1. German iris (i. germanica) is native to central and southern Europe, is widely cultivated in China, and has rich horticultural varieties. It is an important material for specialized iris gardens. When cut flowers are placed in a vase, the flowers open one after another, and the ornamental period is relatively long.
2. Rabbit-ear iris (l. kaempferi), also called Japanese iris, is one of the excellent flowers for beautifying water areas. It is native to Northeast China, Inner Mongolia, and other places. It likes water and moisture, and its horticultural varieties are rich in color, with flowers larger than the original species.
3. Siberian iris (l. sibirica) is one of the most widely cultivated marsh irises in gardens of various countries. It adapts to many types of soil, likes moisture, is drought-tolerant, and is cold-tolerant.
4. Iris (l. tectorun.) is a common flower in classical Chinese gardens. It is produced in areas south of the Yangtze River in China. It likes sunlight, tolerates partial shade, and can adapt to various soils that are moist and well-drained.
5. Spanish iris (l. xiphium) belongs to the bulbous (corm) iris group. It is the main original species of Dutch iris, which has relatively high commercial value, and is native to Spain and its neighboring areas. There are horticultural varieties with various flower colors, commonly known as Dutch iris, and they are mostly used for forcing cultivation.
Iris tectorum Iris tectorum picture gallery: How to grow Iris tectorum / How to propagate Iris tectorum
Iris tectorum profileIris tectorum
Aliases: Wuyuan, Wuyuan, Bianzhu, Blue Butterfly, Yilima, Shanbaicao, Tuzhimu, Lengshuidan, Hamatiaoque, Tiebianshan, Hamaqi, Qingwaqi, Qimaqi, Soushangou, Douchiye, Bianzhuye, Yanzihua, Zhong Soushanhu, Yapigu
Classification: Perennial herbaceous flower
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiosperms, Monocotyledoneae, Asparagales, Iridaceae, Iris
Full bloom period: Spring
Iris tectorum is a perennial herb, with alternate leaves, mostly sword-shaped, flowers are blue-purple, and capsules are long elliptical. Aliases of Iris tectorum include Wuyuan, Wuyuan, Bianzhu, Blue Butterfly, Yilima, Shanbaicao, Tuzhimu, Lengshuidan, Hamatiaoque, Tiebianshan. Iris tectorum grows in moist places under forests, at the foot of mountains, and by streams, and its rhizome can be collected throughout the year. Its nature is bitter, pungent, neutral. It is slightly toxic; functions and indications: activate blood and remove stasis, dispel wind and promote diuresis, detoxify, and remove food stagnation. It is used for traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, sore throat, food accumulation and abdominal distension, and malaria; externally for sores, boils, swelling, and toxic swellings, and traumatic bleeding. Iris tectorum has strong adaptability to the environment and is relatively easy to cultivate and manage. It can be grown in open ground in clumps...
Cultivation methods and precautions for Iris tectorum Introduction to Iris tectorum
Iris tectorum is a perennial herb, with alternate leaves, mostly sword-shaped, flowers are blue-purple, and capsules are long elliptical. Aliases of Iris tectorum include Wuyuan, Wuyuan, Bianzhu, Blue Butterfly, Yilima, Shanbaicao, Tuzhimu, Lengshuidan, Hamatiaoque, Tiebianshan.
Iris tectorum grows in moist places under forests, at the foot of mountains, and by streams, and its rhizome can be collected throughout the year. Its nature is bitter, pungent, neutral. It is slightly toxic; functions and indications: activate blood and remove stasis, dispel wind and promote diuresis, detoxify, and remove food stagnation. It is used for traumatic injuries, rheumatic pain, sore throat, food accumulation and abdominal distension, and malaria; externally for sores, boils, swelling, and toxic swellings, and traumatic bleeding.
Iris tectorum has strong adaptability to the environment and is relatively easy to cultivate and manage. It can be planted in open ground in clumps or grown in pots for ornamental purposes.
Iris tectorum flowers open in April-May, with flowers emerging from the leaf clumps, in colors such as blue, purple, yellow, white, and pale red. The flower type is large and beautiful, and the capsule has 6 angles.
Morphological characteristics of Iris tectorum
Iris tectorum is a perennial herb, with alternate leaves in 2 rows, sword-shaped, 30-45 cm long, and about 2 cm wide.
The flowers of Iris tectorum are blue-purple, with 1-3 flowers arranged in a raceme. At the base of the flower stalk there is a spathe, 4-5 cm long; perianth segments 6, in 2 whorls, the outer whorl 3 segments round, with a crested protrusion on top, white or blue, the inner whorl 3 segments smaller, arched and upright; stamens 3, inserted at the base of the outer perianth segments; ovary inferior.
Iris tectorum is about 80 cm tall. Leaves are sword-shaped, thin in texture, and light green. The flower stalk bears several flowers, and the corolla is purple-white. The outer 3 are larger and droop in a circular shape; the inner 3 are smaller and obovate. Stamens are opposite the outer perianth; the style is 3-lobed, flat and petal-like, covering the stamens.
The rhizome is flat cylindrical, gray-brown on the surface, with nodes. There are often branches at the nodes. The internode part is swollen at one end and narrowed at the other. The swollen part is densely covered with concentric ring lines, becoming denser toward the top.
The capsule of Iris tectorum is long elliptical, with 6 angles, 3-4 cm long. Seeds are numerous, round, and black.
Iris tectorum flowers emerge from the leaf clumps, in colors such as blue, purple, yellow, white, and pale red. The flower type is large and beautiful. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is October-November. The capsule has 6 angles.
Ecological habits of Iris tectorum
Iris tectorum likes sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade and drought. It is suitable for planting in wind-protected sandy loam. It has strong adaptability to the environment and is relatively easy to cultivate and manage. It can be planted in open ground in clumps or grown in pots for ornamental purposes.
Iris tectorum grows in moist places under forests, at the foot of mountains, and by streams. Iris tectorum likes moist and fertile places, and is mainly distributed in the Central Plains, Southwest China, and East China.
The ideal relative humidity for Iris tectorum is around 75%. Pay attention to avoiding large fluctuations in humidity or gradual changes in humidity. On warm sunny days, shady days, or humid weather, relative humidity is often relatively high. Corresponding measures must be taken, and humidity needs to be reduced by heating and ventilating at the same time. After planting, temperature is the most important factor. The temperature should be above 5 degrees, the maximum temperature around 20 degrees, and the most suitable temperature around 17 degrees.
Cultivation techniques for Iris tectorum Planting period
Autumn-spring planting (newly harvested bulbs)
During and after planting Iris tectorum, the soil temperature should be lower than 20°C.
Regarding corm size, the largest corms (circumference above 10 cm) have relatively higher quality. Bulbs with a circumference of 9-10 cm are generally planted on December 1. Because they are slightly smaller than the former, their quality is somewhat poorer.
Whether in an unheated greenhouse or in open ground, planting can begin in November. Because Iris tectorum is susceptible to frost damage, the soil should be properly covered with straw (100 kg per 100 sq m). From May 15 onward, some varieties such as "RoyalYellow", "YellowQueen" can no longer be stored, and can no longer be
used. Before May 15, all bulbs can be used. In temperate regions, all bulbs (large or small) can be planted in a heated greenhouse on January 1.
Summer planting
Summer planting of Iris tectorum carries certain risks. Because the yield of Iris tectorum directly depends on the temperature during the growing period. If the average temperature is expected to be higher than 25°C, then the planting plan will have to be cancelled. At this time, planting can only be advanced or postponed.
Autumn planting (bulbs for delayed planting)
Depending on soil temperature (preferably below 20°C), cultivation can begin on September 1, or in temperate regions varieties such as "BlueMagic", "Ideal", and "Prof.Blaauw" can be planted earlier.
During this period, only bulbs with a size of 9-10 cm and above 10 cm are suitable for planting.
Table 1 summarizes the recommended planting periods for different varieties. If the variety is recommended, the corresponding planting density is also listed in the table.
Planting methods
Iris tectorum is usually pressed into the soil with the thumb. Before planting, the soil needs to be loosened and made slightly moist. Then, gently press each corm with the thumb until most of the corm is submerged in the soil. This method is called the "finger-pressing method." The above series of operations are all intended to protect the corm root crown and germinating roots from damage.
In greenhouses and open ground, if frost is expected before plant growth, it is best to plant the bulbs in seedbeds. After planting, cover the seedbed with soil until the tip of the bulb is just covered. This treatment is also suitable for warm climatic conditions, to prevent the soil temperature at the bulb from exceeding 20°C.
Planting depth and density
Special attention must be paid when planting Iris tectorum bulbs. Especially when the root system begins to grow, try to avoid damaging the root system. Using the finger-pressing method, carefully press 3/4 of the corm into the soil. The seedbed planting depth is 7-10 cm, then cover with soil up to the tip of the bulb. Compared with shallow planting, deep planting prevents frost damage and maintains the soil temperature at the bulb base at an ideal temperature. Corms planted shallowly will be damaged because the soil dries out. In strong winds, the plants will lodge. During the high-temperature period of the year, the upper soil tends to dry out, and the root moisture is insufficient. For this reason, cover the soil before it dries (using straw, rice husks, or shade netting).
Planting density varies depending on variety, corm size, planting period, and planting location. The following table gives planting density based on the above factors.
Plant support
Depending on the planting period, climate, and variety, support should be provided for the plants during their growth period. For example, in autumn in temperate regions, the planting period is relatively long, so support should be provided. In other months, especially in summer, when plant height exceeds 80 cm, support is very important. At harvest time, cut flowers are picked rather than cut off, and supports can prevent the plants from lodging. Usually the support used is chrysanthemum netting. It also plays a role in determining planting density. As the plants grow, the support netting is raised accordingly.
Soil
For the production of Iris tectorum cut flowers, in fact, any type of soil can be used, as long as it drains well, has strong moisture retention, and is not compacted (otherwise it will restrict plant growth). Good soil structure is a basic condition, because it is very necessary for the frequent large-scale cultivation of Iris tectorum, which has a short growing period.
In heavy loam, it is recommended to add materials such as peat, vermiculite, or coarse sand and mix them into the soil at a depth of about 25 cm to improve the soil.
For soil that is prone to compaction, after planting, a layer of materials such as rice husks, straw, pine needles, black peat, or similar materials can be spread on the soil surface to prevent compaction. This method can also be used to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly.
In order to quickly remove excess water, a well-functioning drainage system should be installed. This also makes it possible to use water to leach greenhouse soil. This treatment can prevent salt accumulation problems caused by planting heavy-feeding crops or using less water at a certain planting stage.
Salt sensitivity
Iris tectorum is a salt-sensitive plant. In soil with excessively high salt content, root growth is slow or even damaged, and it restricts the plant's water uptake, causing flower dehydration.
In order to reduce excessively high salt concentration, the soil needs to be thoroughly leached before planting (use 200-400 mm of water per sq m of soil surface for leaching).
After planting crops with heavy fertilization such as chrysanthemums, roses, carnations, and tomatoes, or after a stage with less watering, the salt content in the soil will become too high. High soil salt content may also be caused after planting late-harvested crops such as freesia. Therefore, it is recommended not to use large amounts of synthetic fertilizer before or just after planting. For this reason, conduct a soil sampling survey at least 6 weeks before starting planting, so that the values of various salt contents in the soil can be obtained.
The following elements in soil samples must not exceed the recommended levels:
Total salt (conductivity value) 1.0-1.5 mmol in soil at 25°C
Chloride salt (table salt) 1.5-2.0 milliequivalents
Potassium salt 0.8-1.5 milliequivalents
Nitrogen salt 1.0-2.0 milliequivalents
Magnesium salt 2.0 milliequivalents
Phosphorus salt not exceeding 5.0 mg per liter
The electrolytic conductivity level of irrigation water must not exceed 0.5 millisiemens/cm. In greenhouses, the chloride salt concentration used must not exceed 50 mg/L; in open ground, the chloride salt concentration used must not exceed 450 mg/L. If irrigation water cannot meet the standard, then Iris tectorum production cannot be carried out.
However, if due to various circumstances the salt concentration in the irrigation water exceeds the standard, the soil should be kept as moist as possible, which can prevent the salt concentration from rising due to soil drying.
Fertilization
Generally speaking, applying base fertilizer before planting is not advisable, because it will increase the salt concentration in the soil and delay the root growth of Iris tectorum. Conduct a soil sampling survey before planting to ensure that the soil contains the correct nutrients. Sampling must be done after soil treatment and leaching. In this way, the lacking nutrients can be obtained by directly supplementing fertilizer to the soil later. Iris tectorum is sensitive to fluorine. Therefore, fluorine-containing fertilizers (phosphate fertilizers) and tripolyphosphate fertilizers are prohibited. Conversely, fertilizers such as diphosphate should be used.
Weed control
The growth process of Iris tectorum only takes 8-12 weeks. In such a short growing time, if the soil has been treated by steaming, flooding, plowing, etc., then there is no need to consider weeding during plant growth. After the plants are planted, chemical herbicides are mainly used to remove weeds. However, when applying them, care must be taken not to cause damage to the plants.
If weeds begin to grow in the field after the plants are planted, herbicides can only be applied when the bulbs are buried deeply enough. The newly sprouted young shoots of the bulbs must be at least 2 cm below the soil surface to avoid herbicide damage.
Before the plants unfold their leaves, small weeds in the greenhouse or open ground can be controlled by spraying suitable herbicides. If ordinary herbicides cannot effectively control some annual grass weeds, compound herbicides should be used instead. When applying, do it near dusk, spray on the plants, and then spray enough water. The next morning, rinse thoroughly from the top of the plants. Because herbicides have residual effects, the following points must be noted. The herbicide applied to each field each year must be limited, preferably no more than 2 times; use herbicides only when absolutely necessary; do not plant varieties sensitive to herbicides.
Growing temperature in the greenhouse
After planting, soil temperature is the most important factor, with a minimum temperature of 5-8°C and a maximum temperature of 20°C. The soil temperature directly affects the emergence rate. Too low soil temperature will reduce flowering ability, so the optimal soil temperature should be controlled between 16-18°C.
For producing Iris tectorum in a greenhouse, the optimal temperature is 15°C. In order to shorten the growing period, newly harvested bulbs can be used at planting, and the greenhouse temperature should be kept at 18°C for the first 4-3 weeks. This temperature can be maintained until January 1, but it will cause the plants to be weak. A temperature of 13°C or lower will prolong the growing period and increase plant weight, but the probability of flower withering increases. In order to promote flowering, for example with "BlueMagic", if the greenhouse high temperature has already been maintained, then lowering the temperature is a wise move.
In autumn, when the plants are growing, especially in temperate regions, when light is insufficient, the greenhouse temperature must be lowered to prevent flower withering. Generally control it at 10-13°C. Taking "BlueMagic" as an example, lower the temperature to 10-8-5°C, and try to ensure plant growth. If the leaves appear excessive at all stages, then consider pruning off some leaves.
The average day and night temperature for production can be 20-23°C, with a minimum temperature of 5°C. In greenhouses with high temperatures and weak light, lack of light is the main cause of flower withering.
In areas where frost damage frequently occurs, production can only be carried out in greenhouses. The suitable growth temperature should be arranged at night. Therefore, unheated greenhouses should be closed early to make the night temperature as suitable as possible. During the day, ventilation should be started early to avoid damage caused by the temperature rising above 18°C. Shading can also achieve the purpose of temperature control, but an appropriate light level still needs to be maintained.
Open-ground growing temperature
The optimal temperature for open-ground growth is 15-17°C. Continuous high temperatures during the day can be shaded with shade netting. It can not only reduce direct solar radiation, but also increase temperature.
The minimum and maximum temperatures for open-air cultivation are 5°C and 25°C. For soil temperature, it should be kept the same as during greenhouse growth.
Humidity
The relatively ideal relative humidity is between 75-80%. It is important to pay attention to avoiding large fluctuations in humidity or gradual changes in humidity. On warm sunny days, shady days, or humid weather, relative humidity is often relatively high. Corresponding measures must be taken, and humidity needs to be reduced by heating and ventilating at the same time.
Ventilation
For temperature control and reducing humidity, ventilation is a very important means. When ventilating, note that humidity must not drop too quickly, otherwise the leaves will wither, thereby causing a decline in cut flower quality.
Shading
Shading equipment can control the temperature, humidity, and light in the greenhouse. In months with strong light, the temperature in ventilated greenhouses and open ground is too high (above 25°C). In this case, shading and ventilation at the same time can suppress the decline in cut flower quality.
Carbon dioxide
Completely different from lilies, carbon dioxide has no effect whatsoever on the flowering and growth of Iris tectorum.
Irrigation
As mentioned above, the soil must be watered before planting, and the soil must be kept moist during planting to promote rapid rooting.
After the bulbs are planted, the soil must also be kept moist. After that, throughout the entire growing period, the soil must remain fully moist for a long time. Suitable humidity is very important for the growth of Iris tectorum, because insufficient humidity will result in insufficient plant height and the flowers will easily wither.
The irrigation amount cannot be calculated precisely, because it is related to many factors such as weather, climate in the greenhouse, soil type, crop growth cycle, and growth stage. The simplest way to determine whether soil humidity is suitable is to take a small amount of soil and squeeze it in the hand. When released, if the soil clump does not break apart and still maintains its original shape, then the humidity is moderate.
When air circulation is poor and it is accompanied by shady days or humid or warm-humid weather, excessive moisture will cause severe disease. At this time, bacterial and fungal diseases are especially likely to occur.
For the same reason, it is better to water in the morning. When watering in the morning, the plants will not dry out differently. During the harvest period, water only after the flowers have been picked, otherwise gray mold spots will appear on the flowers.
When irrigating, it is best to use overhead sprinkling with uniform water output.
Cultivation cycle
The length of the growth cycle of Iris tectorum depends on the variety, bulb treatment, production location (greenhouse or open ground), and growing temperature. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact cultivation cycle for different varieties. In a heatable greenhouse, after temperature adjustment, the order of cultivation cycles for different Iris tectorum lines is as follows:
Ideal group: 50-60 days
Prof.Blaauw group: 60-80 days
BlueMagic group:
Tingitana type: 70-90 days
Small-bulb type: 65-85 days
Other types: 55-75 days
Iris cultivation methods: growing temperature
After planting iris, temperature is the most important factor. The temperature should be above 5°C, with a maximum of around 20°C; the most suitable temperature is around 17°C.
Growing humidity
The ideal relative humidity for iris is around 75%. Be careful to avoid large fluctuations or gradual changes in humidity. On warm sunny days, cloudy days or humid weather, relative humidity tends to be higher. Corresponding measures must be taken; humidity needs to be reduced by heating and ventilating at the same time.
Shading
Shading can control the temperature, humidity and light in the greenhouse. In the months with strong light, the temperature in both ventilated greenhouses and open ground is too high (above 25°C). In this case, shading together with ventilation can suppress the decline in cut flower quality.
Fertilizing
Chemical fertilizers commonly used for greenhouse Phalaenopsis include potassium dihydrogen nitrate, compound fertilizer and some special orchid fertilizers. The application method is to add water to make a 2000-fold dilution, then apply it by hand spraying or add it to an automatic sprinkler system for spraying. According to the different growth stages of Phalaenopsis, the composition of the chemical fertilizer applied should differ. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertilizer is 20:20:20 for the vegetative growth stage of small and medium seedlings; and 7:11:27 for large seedlings and flowering plants. The fertilization interval should preferably be spraying once every 7 to 10 days.
Pest and disease control
Iris commonly suffers from brown spot and soft rot. It can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder. Pests include scale insects and whiteflies, which can be killed by spraying a 3000-fold dilution of 2.5% beta-cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate.
Post-bloom handling
After iris flowers wither, the flower stems can be cut off from the base. When the growing medium ages, it should be replaced promptly.
Key cultivation points
If the surrounding temperature during the production stage is below 5°C, the bulbs must be planted in a greenhouse. This is because iris is relatively susceptible to frost damage, which stops plant growth. At other times of the year, when the temperature is not higher than 25°C, it can be planted in a greenhouse. When the surrounding temperature is not lower than 5°C and the soil temperature is not higher than 20°C, it can be planted outdoors. The advantage of planting in a greenhouse is that when external conditions are unsuitable, ventilation, shading and other methods can be used to maintain relatively balanced daytime and nighttime temperatures and relative humidity as much as possible. Heating equipment can improve crop quality. In temperate regions, planting outdoors in summer gives better product quality than planting in poorly ventilated greenhouses.
Iris propagation methods
Iris cultivation is often combined with propagation. The main propagation methods are division and sowing.
Propagation by division
Division is carried out in early spring or late autumn. For open-ground cultivation, first prepare the planting bed and apply soybean cake fertilizer or farmyard manure as base fertilizer. Dead branches and old roots should first be cut off, then the root base should be divided. Keep 2-3 buds per rhizome as one bundle, and use 2-3 bundles as one plant. Plant 9-15 plants per sq m. The planting depth should be such that the bud-bearing rhizome base is not exposed. After planting, water thoroughly once, then frequently loosen the soil and remove weeds. If growth is poor, apply topdressing 2-3 times. After blooming, cut off the flower stems to save nutrients. After winter begins, remove dead leaves. Pot cultivation is done in the same way, but in winter it should be moved for overwintering without special heating.
There are two division methods. For perennial iris, divide once every two to four years, carried out separately after flowering in spring and autumn. It is best to divide the rhizome into three to four buds. Bulbous types reproduce through the production of new bulbs and bulblets from the planting bulb. Sowing means sowing immediately after harvesting; the seeds germinate easily and can bloom in two to three years.
Bulb propagation
After a bulb is planted and blooms for one year, its nutrients will be exhausted and it will produce a new bulb, around which there will be many bulblets. After 1 to 2 years of cultivation, the bulblets can develop into flowering bulbs. In recent years, foreign growers have carried out tissue culture on different organs of bulbous iris such as axillary buds, scales, stem discs and flower stems to make them grow new bulbs. This provides a new method for accelerating propagation and cultivating healthy, disease-free mother bulbs.
Key points for disease control in iris
Iris commonly suffers from brown spot and soft rot. It can be sprayed with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder.
Common pests of iris include scale insects and whiteflies, which can be killed by spraying a 3000-fold dilution of 2.5% beta-cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate.
Rust
In the early stage of the disease, it can be controlled with a 400-fold dilution of 25% triadimefon;
Soft rot
It can be controlled with Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:100. The pest includes the cutworm moth, which can be controlled by drenching the roots with a 1200-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon.
Leaf blight
Iris leaf blight is a common disease. It is highly contagious and has a relatively large impact on iris growth. The symptoms, occurrence pattern and control methods are introduced as follows:
Symptoms: It mostly starts from the leaf tip. In the early stage, there are grayish-brown lesions or patchy drying at the leaf tip, which gradually spreads toward the leaf base and finally causes the entire leaf to become scorched and develop black granular bodies.
Occurrence pattern: The pathogen overwinters as sclerotia in the soil or on diseased plant residues. In mid-spring it spreads with rain, wind or watering. The disease can occur throughout the growing season, with June to September being the peak period.
Control methods: Strengthen quarantine and do not introduce diseased plants. Disinfect the soil and plants well before planting. Strengthen routine maintenance and prevent water accumulation in the planting site. In the early stage of the disease, promptly cut off diseased leaves to reduce the source of infection. In winter, cut off the leaves on the ground surface and burn them in a centralized manner. If disease occurs, alternate spraying with a 800-fold dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder and a 1500-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder, spraying 4 to 5 times consecutively with an interval of 8 to 10 days each time.
Iris variety classification
The genus Iris can be divided into perennial iris and bulbous iris.
Perennial iris
Perennial iris grows as a perennial plant in many flower gardens. German iris, Siberian iris and yellow iris are among the most common. German iris blooms in a wide range of colors: white, blue, purple, purplish-red, yellow and mixed colors; Siberian iris is almost always blue or blue-purple, with very few being white and yellow; while yellow iris is always yellow.
Bulbous iris
The number of groups included in bulbous iris is very small. However, in commercial flower production, these groups are extremely important. Among them, the reticulate iris group consists of some cultivars that bloom early and have a short flowering period. For example, the blue-purple Iris reticulata and the yellow Iris danfordiae are two of them. The Spanish group includes all Dutch iris, Spanish iris and English iris. However, Dutch iris is the most important in the production of these flowers.
Dutch iris includes a large number of cultivars. "Blue Magic" and "Prof. Blaauw" are widely grown. Classifying iris by color is a simple and practical method. They can be divided into purple types, blue types, white types, yellow-white types, mixed-color types in which yellow is mixed with various other colors, and multicolor types.
How to distinguish daylily from iris
1. The two differ in their position in plant taxonomy. Daylily belongs to the genus Hemerocallis in the family Liliaceae. There are about 14 species worldwide, 11 in China, all of which are very beautiful ornamental plants. The most famous representative is the daylily used as a vegetable, H. citrina. Common horticultural cultivars include H. middendorffii and H. fulva. Iris is a plant in the genus Iris in the family Iridaceae, a genus much larger than Hemerocallis, with more than 300 members, about 40 of which are in China, and they are all beautiful ornamental flowers. Famous ornamental cultivars include I. tectorum, I. germanica, I. japonica and I. pseudacorus.
2. The two live in different environments. Daylily is a plant better adapted to dry environments and is generally planted in sunny grass clumps, while iris is a wetland plant that has adapted to humid environments. If grown for a long time in dry soil, it will grow poorly or even die. In horticulture, daylily is generally used as flowerbed ground cover or in flower borders, while iris mainly plays a role in waterscapes.
3. Differences in external morphology. From the flower, although both are composed of six tepals, the six tepals of daylily are almost the same size, similar to a lily; while in iris the outer three are large and drooping, and the inner three are small, looking from a distance like a dancing butterfly, hence the beautiful name "butterfly flower." Looking at the leaves, daylily leaves are long and strip-shaped, slightly concave in the middle, with an obvious midrib, and grow in clumps; while iris leaves are slightly wider than those of daylily, look like a sword as a whole, have no obvious midrib, and the base of newly grown leaves is wrapped within the leaf sheath of old leaves. Finally, looking at the fruit, daylily fruit is generally round and relatively small, while iris fruit is oval and often relatively large.
Distribution area of iris
Iris is native to China and Japan. It is cultivated in most parts of China, mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and Sichuan.
Medicinal or dietary therapeutic value of iris
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Medicinal value
Functions and indications
Iris can remove food stagnation, break blood stasis, promote water movement and detoxify. It is used for food stagnation with fullness and distention, abdominal masses and accumulations, swelling and toxic lesions, hemorrhoids and fistulas, and traumatic injuries.
Harvesting and processing
Harvest in summer and autumn, remove fibrous roots, and dry in the sun.
Characteristics
The rhizome of iris is flat-cylindrical, grayish-brown on the surface, with nodes. The nodes often have branches. The internode portion is swollen at one end and narrowed at the other. The swollen part is densely covered with concentric ring lines, becoming denser closer to the top.
Chemical constituents
Contains tectoridin, iristectorin A and B, tectoruside, etc.
Nature and flavor
Cold in nature, pungent and bitter in flavor; toxic.
Uses and purposes of iris: potted uses
Iris is a beautiful potted flower, cut flower and flowerbed flower. It is one of the important flowers for garden arrangement and cut flower production, and can be used both for small-area flowerbed arrangement and for planting in flower borders and flower clumps.
Ornamental value
Iris has graceful flowers, bright colors and upright flower stems. It can often be used as a cut flower through forcing cultivation, and can also be grown in water for ornamental viewing.
Landscape uses of iris
Iris has large flowers, brilliant flower colors and unusual flower shapes, like a kite or a butterfly. Its leaves are fresh and green, like swords or ribbons, and it has high ornamental value. In garden arrangement it can be used in specialty gardens, rock gardens and so on, creating good landscape effects.
Road greening, forming relatively large-scale forest belts, slope-protection green spaces along highways and rivers, color embellishment of large lawns, edging and ground cover for garden paths, flower borders, flowerbeds and tree beds, and so on all require large quantities of perennial flowers.
Making full use of suitable perennial flowers can not only save greening costs, but also allow urban residents to enjoy brilliant flowers all year round, and can further enrich the currently rather monotonous ground cover plant varieties in urban areas. Iris, Iris lactea, yellow flag iris, Japanese iris and Iris sanguinea are currently used relatively often in gardens. Iris is mainly used as ground cover under trees, mainly for soil fixation and slope protection. Yellow flag iris can be seen in almost all waterside greening. Japanese iris and Iris sanguinea are likewise mainly used for waterside greening. These plants have high ornamental value, but their application scope and methods are still insufficient, mostly limited to waterside greening or wild states.
Iris is blue-purple, and its flower shape resembles a dancing butterfly. In May, the season when iris blooms, you can see blue butterflies dancing among the green leaves, as if carrying the news of spring into the distance.
Landscape value
The diversity of iris plant resources allows its landscape value in ecological garden construction to be fully reflected. At present, there are more than 20,000 varieties of iris plants worldwide. According to differences in their living habits, phenological periods and flower colors, using them as materials to scientifically and reasonably arrange and green terrestrial and wetland ecological landscapes, and fully bringing out their natural beauty of posture, lines and colors, can achieve the effect of creating landscapes and beautifying the environment and provide good places for rest and tourism.
Ecological value
Another important role of urban ecological gardens is having good ecological functions. As ornamental ground cover plants in ecological gardens, iris plants not only have good landscape value, but also have obvious effects in regulating microclimates, conserving soil and water, reducing wind and dust, maintaining ecological balance, improving the urban ecological environment and enhancing community stability. Iris has a well-developed root system and aboveground plants, and has a significant effect on fixing surface soil and preventing soil erosion and sand movement [23 ~ 24]. They are divided into different functional groups, occupying ecological niches from winter to summer and from dry to humid.
Cultural background, stories and legends of iris
The French regard the iris as their national flower. This is because legend says that when Clovis, king of the first dynasty of the Kingdom of France, was baptized, God gave him a gift, which was the iris.
In France, the iris is a symbol of light and freedom.
Iris is the collective name for a group of herbaceous flowering plants. This flower consists of an envelope formed by 6 petal-like leaves, 3 or 6 stamens and an ovary enclosed by the receptacle.
The name of this plant comes from the messenger of the gods and the rainbow that connects the earth and other worlds.
There is another legend that the rainbow once saved the life of a 6th-century Frankish king. When he saw the rainbow rising from the Rhine River, he knew the river water was shallow enough at that time, so he crossed the river and escaped pursuit by the enemy.
Iris plants grow in Japan, China, Siberia and almost the entire temperate world.
Iris is named because its petals are shaped like the tail of a kite bird. Its genus name Iris means "rainbow" in Greek, suggesting rich flower colors. General flower growers and flower arrangers commonly call it "Alice" based on the transliteration of its genus name. In Greek mythology, Alice is the goddess of the rainbow. She is the messenger between the gods and the mortal world, and her main task is to carry the souls of good people after death back to heaven via the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth.
To this day, Greeks often plant this flower in cemeteries, hoping that the souls of the dead can be entrusted to Alice to bring back to heaven. This is also the origin of one of its flower meanings, "messenger of love." In ancient Egypt, iris represented "power" and "eloquence."
Israelis generally regard yellow iris as a symbol of "gold," so there is a custom of planting iris in cemeteries, hoping to bring wealth in the afterlife.
Monet also planted iris in his garden at Giverny; and using it as a theme, he left scenes of iris full of natural vitality and rhythm on canvas.
The colorful irises each represent different meanings. White iris represents purity, yellow represents enduring friendship and warmth and cheerfulness, blue is appreciation of the other's simple elegance or secret admiration, and purple implies love and good fortune.
Iris as a national flower or city flower
The French regard the iris as their national flower. In France, the iris is a symbol of light and freedom.
Flower meaning of iris
In China, iris is often used to symbolize love and friendship, a bright future, boundless prospects and keen perception. Europeans love iris and regard it as symbolizing bright freedom. In ancient Egypt, iris was a symbol of power and eloquence.
Iris: messenger of good news, missing you, elegant heart, mission, messenger of love.
White iris: purity.
Yellow iris: enduring friendship, warmth and cheerfulness.
Blue iris: appreciation of the other's simple elegance or secret admiration; some also consider it to represent drifting in destiny and shattered passion, exquisite beauty, but fragile and fleeting.
Purple iris: love and good fortune.
Iris Alice (purple-blue): good news, messenger, missing you.
German iris (deep sapphire blue): sacred.
Small iris (bright yellow): working together to resist, one heart.
Iris pictures