Choosing plants for a flower bed has long ceased to be a problem - a huge number 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 select the necessary palette. Every florist is like an artist. But it’s not broad strokes that create beauty. oil paints, but delicate flower buds.

The Dutch iris can be a win-win option for decorating large and small flower beds. This is with the big ones beautiful flowers unusual shape.

What does an iris bulb look like?

We're talking about a long-term herbaceous plant with an elongated bulb instead of a rhizome. The bulb itself is modified and shortened underground escape, resembling a kidney. With a vertical cut from top to 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 charged with the function of accumulating nutrients.

Between the leaf embryos there are axillary and central buds. The outer layer of the bulb is 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 the rhizome species of irises. These are the flowers that in childhood we called cockerels and iris. However, it is also no longer exotic. The most common of them is the Dutch iris. The scientific name of this flower is Xiphium. Despite the fact that Xyphium is a member of 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.

The Dutch bulbous iris, the planting and care of which is described in this article, produces flower stalks different heights. The dwarf species can produce a peduncle 30 cm high. The ordinary xyphium reaches a height of 80 cm.

The plant has narrow-grooved leaves, and the flower has a complex structure. The bud has 3 outer and 3 inner perianth lobes. The internal lobes are located vertically and have a narrow and wide lanceolate shape. The outer lobes are round in shape and directed towards the bottom.

Usually the outer perianth lobes have a yellow or orange spot in the center. Bud Dutch iris has several color and sheet width options. Moreover, it can be one-color or two-color.

The following petal colors are possible:

• white;
• yellow of varying intensity;
• different shades of blue and light blue;
• different shades of purple;
• lilac;
• combined versions of all the listed colors.

Where are Dutch irises used?

Dutch iris is often planted on personal plots and on garden beds. Landscape designers actively promote the species, using it in mixborders and alpine slides. From bright colors make up bouquets that are appropriate to give to men, especially for bouquets of blue and purple colors. short bulbous irises can be grown as indoor plants.

It is worth noting that cut Dutch iris will last much longer in a bouquet than root varieties. Especially good to use for a vase rainwater, because it does not contain chlorine.

How to choose soil for planting

When the 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 flowerbed along its entire length, have proven themselves to be effective.

For those who are planning to plant 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.

Add turf and leaf soil to sandy and peat soils, and adjust the acidity if necessary. Fresh manure and excessive doses should not be used. chemical fertilizers. Perfect option- well-ripened compost or humus (a bucket of compost per 1 m² of land). After application, the fertilizer is thoroughly mixed with the soil. Subsequently, the irises are fed wood ash.

How to plant bulbs

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

1. Use a round peg (diameter about 5 cm) to pierce the soil 15 cm deep. A distance of approximately 10 cm is maintained between the pits.
2. A handful of coarse river sand is poured into the hole, into which the bulb is buried 1-2 cm.
3. The bulb is covered with the same sand on top.

After purchasing, any bulbs should be treated with a fungicide solution and slightly dried. Before planting, no later than 2 days, water the flowerbed or flowerpot with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and

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, sand is poured to approximately 2/3 of the height of the trench. From above, Dutch irises (bulbous species) are carefully pressed with sand and covered with soil mixture. Then watering is carried out. The soil can be mulched with sand, small pebbles, and gravel.

Another convenient way to disembark

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, you can find it in flower shops or order it on the World Wide Web.

The basket must be placed on the ground and outlined with a shovel, remove the turf along the contour and dig a hole about 15 cm deep, put it in necessary fertilizers, then place a basket on top and pour loose soil mixed with compost into it. Next, the required number of bulbs are placed in the basket, which are covered with earth on top. 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 and buds is 2-3 weeks. If it is humid and cool outside, the flowers will last up to three to four weeks. In dry, sunny weather they fade faster.

If you choose varieties bulbous irises with different blooms, then a gorgeous flowerbed will delight you even longer. And then it will remain juicy and beautiful foliage, which can also serve as decoration.

How to care for a blooming Dutch iris

In time, Dutch is not very whimsical. It only needs to be watered in very dry summers. Xyphium is usually enough natural humidity and morning dew. If neighboring plants require watering, then the irises are simply covered with film so that water does not get into the holes. Bulbous irises do not need regular feeding. It is enough to feed with wood ash or a mineral mixture a week before flowering. The time is determined by the beginning of the formation of buds, they look like compactions between the leaves of the plant.

What to do next

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

The bulbs are dried and stored in a dry room until the beginning of 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, flowering time and height of peduncles, and create an ideal flower garden next year.

Diseases and pests

Dutch iris is damaged by leaf borers. 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 trimmed stems and branches of other plants.

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

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Incredible delicate flowers Iris will not leave any gardener indifferent. More than two hundred different varieties unimaginable shapes, sizes and shades, a delicate expensive aroma, which is very often used in the cosmetics industry in the production of perfumes.

All this about irises, they are also called iris, cockerel and northern orchid, due to their wide distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. If you translate its name from Greek, you get the word “rainbow”.

If you're not enough experienced florist, then you probably have questions about when to replant irises: in spring or autumn? Today in this article we will talk about growing irises in open ground and caring for them throughout their growth.

Irises: types, planting and care in open ground

If you don’t know how to grow irises, but really want to do it, then don’t worry, because irises are fairly easy to care for and incredibly hardy flowers. They bring special joy to those who bloom literally every year - their flowering is abundant and bright.

They can easily withstand winter frosts, winds and other weather surprises, and are also resistant to various diseases. And finally, the main value of these beauties is absolute immunity to bacteria.

Moreover, by planting them on your site, you completely heal the entire soil from bacteriosis within three or four years. But before we talk about planting and caring for irises, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the most popular species.

Types of irises - Japanese irises

They are also called xiphoid due to their unusual shape. The height sometimes reaches a whole meter, and the diameter of the flowers can grow up to twenty-five centimeters. Unfortunately, they have no smell.

The color scheme consists of purple, purple and sky blue colors. But despite such beauty, this is one of rare species, which is very capricious to grow and care for. This is due to the fact that they require slightly acidic soil, do not tolerate an ounce of lime, and are quite demanding in watering, especially during flowering.

It is most difficult to prepare their winter quarters in dry conditions. By covering them with oak bark and leaves, as well as a layer of polyethylene, it is important to prevent the roots from drying out. Therefore, many gardeners simply start grow them in containers, and in winter period brought into the room.

Swamp irises

, which grow quietly both near water and in it itself, but dry soil is not an obstacle to their growth.

That is why it is very profitable to plant around a pond or pool. For eight or even nine years they remain unchanged beautiful view and require virtually no maintenance. The height of such irises can reach one and a half meters. The variety of shades consists of yellow, lemon and golden colors.

Dutch irises

Or they are bulbous irises and xyphiums. The most delicate plants with incredible beautiful flowers They are sure to please the eye in any bouquet. Cut flowers last a very long time in a vase, making them popular in flower shops.

Bulbous iris in cultivation and care quite unpretentious, but still differs from the traditional flowers of this species. The external differences of the bulbous iris are the bottle-shaped root, narrow dark green leaves and underdeveloped shoots.

Bearded irises

The most common type, which is so called because of the hairs growing on the petals. Popular due to their unpretentiousness in planting and growing.

They will be there for at least ten years please your eyes, without taking up a lot of your time caring for irises. Soil quality and water quantity are something you don’t have to worry about when planting and growing flowers.

Reticulated irises. Very small flowers that have one flower on each shoot. They begin flowering quite early and are suitable for cold areas of the north.

Having familiarized yourself with the most common species and made your choice, you can begin to discuss planting irises.

Gallery: irises in the garden (25 photos)

One of the first questions asked by those who decide to plant and grow them at home. As such, there is no exact answer to the question of when it is better to plant these flowers: in spring or autumn.

Plant these flowers both spring and autumn When the warmest weather of each season occurs, it mainly depends on the variety.

The best time for planting or replanting is two weeks after flowering. It is very important to know that these flowers are necessary replant every four years on new site soil. This is done to saturate the flowers with new microelements and improve the health of a new part of the earth.

Dutch bulbous iris: planting and care

Despite the fact that irises are light-loving flowers, they should still spend some time in the shade. One year before the intended landing, it is obligatory fertilize the soil with manure, and the day before - organic fertilizers.

Bulbous irises love calcareous soil. To create such conditions add chalk to the ground, lime or crushed egg shells. Planting starts from proper preparation soil. It includes:

• enrichment with minerals;
• moderate soil moisture and avoidance of excessive amounts of water in it;
• providing a place with sufficient sunlight.

The next stage is based on preparing the bulbs for planting. As soon as the irises finish blooming, which happens around the end of June, bulbs need to be dug up. Do not leave them in the ground, as there is a high risk of fungal infections. After digging, treat in a weak solution of manganese and dry thoroughly. In this form, the bulbs are stored until September.

With the onset of warm September days, you can begin the planting itself. To prepare the site you need to dig pits five centimeters deep. Sprinkle with soil diluted with sand, without pressing the bulbs tightly to avoid damage and lack of oxygen. Closer to winter and frost, wrap the planted flowers.

Caring for such irises is more difficult, since they do not tolerate pests and the presence of weeds. If the flowers grow too tall, then better to tie them up, because under the weight of their weight they can simply break. Be careful not to overwater the flowers or overdry them in sunlight.

Planting root irises in open ground

Planting in spring begins with the preparation of acquired rhizomes. It consists of treating with growth stimulating agents, cutting off rotten roots and disinfecting in a manganese solution.

Next, pour a little sand into a shallow hole and place the rhizome of the flower horizontally. It is very important to straighten all the roots and lightly sprinkle soil on them, so that the upper part remained in the air. Otherwise, the rhizome will simply rot. Water the planted plant thoroughly.

Planting and caring for irises in the fall is not much different from the process that occurs in the spring. Optimal time landings - all August and warm part of September. The sooner you plant, the more calm and confident you will be in the survival of the flowers.

To begin the planting process, carefully dig up the bush with a fork and divide it into sections. Remove all damaged and rotten roots, two hours disinfect in manganese solution and dry in sunlight for at least five hours.

Keep your distance between planted flowers - for short flowers fifteen centimeters is enough, for taller ones from thirty to fifty.

Iris diseases and prevention

The more delicate, rare and elegant the variety, the more susceptible it is to diseases and pests. It is not enough just to water and remove weeds - a thorough study is required for changes in appearance and the presence of pests.

As soon as fusarium (a type of rot) is detected, the diseased bush is immediately to be dug up and destroyed. Healthy flowers should immediately be shed with a fundozol solution with a concentration of two percent.

The pests that most often attack irises are cutworms. They eat away the bases for the inflorescences, which leads to yellowing and subsequent death of the flowers. To get rid of cutworms and prevent their reappearance, once every two weeks. spray the bushes with karbofos.

• To prevent diseases and maintain a neat appearance, be sure to cut off all dry foliage and petals. This is usually done closer to autumn and helps protect against pests that usually settle in old foliage.
• Be sure to spray two or three times a season either copper sulfate, or other copper-based protective agent.
• It also happens that irises simply do not bloom. This only speaks of improper care and depleted soil.

Gladiolus thrips have their favorite habitat - buds. Settling in them, they lead to an unsightly appearance, discoloration and drying out. The same karbofos or shag tincture with laundry soap . To do this, four hundred grams of shag and forty grams of soap are infused in water for ten days.

Another pest that affects irises is the slug. Getting rid of them is quite simple - between the bushes lay dampened rags or large plant leaves, as soon as the slugs move into your trap, destroy them.

From chemical methods of combating slugs metaldehyde will do, which can be spread across the site. This is done in dry weather and with the expectation that for ten square meters Thirty to forty grams of product are consumed.

Bulbous irises, which bloom in our areas along with other primroses, will help diversify spring flower bed and add more bright colors to it.

Irises - large group perennial plants, among which are the most different types and varieties. They can be dwarf or giant, and also differ in the shape of the flowers and their color. Most irises are rooted plants, but in nature there are also bulbous specimens, which have been classified into 3 separate genera: Iridodictyum, Juno and Xiphion.

Iridodictium

This genus includes 11 species, growing mainly in the mountains of Central Asia and the Western Urals. These plants can also be found in the Caucasus and the Balkan Peninsula. That is why they take root well in the climate middle zone. Iridodictiums are considered the most resilient of all bulbous irises.

The name "iridodictium" comes from the Greek words "iris" (rainbow) and "diction" (network) - due to the bright color of the flowers and the mesh-like top layer of the bulbs.

Small plants belong to this genus. Iridodictiums grow to an average height of 15 cm. The leaves of the flowers are narrow and hard, appearing along with the buds. Each plant usually blooms only one flower, reaching 5-7 cm in diameter. Iridodictium flowers are very exotic, always with an unusual color and strong aroma.

Plants bloom in late March - early April and delight with their flowering for 2 weeks. These irises can grow in one place for up to 5 years.

Juno

The genus Juno is more numerous than Iridodictium. It includes up to 40 species of bulbous plants that can be found in nature in the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Central Asia, South Africa and the Mediterranean.

These bulbous irises are named after the Roman goddess Juno, considered the patroness of women.

Different types of junos can vary in height: these irises grow from 10 to 50 cm. The leaves of the plants are located on the trunk in several rows. Flowers appear from the axils of the leaves and at the top of the stem. Thus, one specimen can have up to 10 buds.

Junos are most often found in white, yellow, purple and lilac. The flowers of many species are different rich aroma. Plants bloom in April-May for 2-3 weeks. Just like iridodictiums, they can grow in one place for up to 5 years.

Xiphium

This group of bulbous irises is the smallest. It includes only 6 species growing in the north-west of the Mediterranean coast. The climate of the middle zone is considered not very favorable for them, therefore, when grown in open ground, they need to be dug up every year.

Xyphiums get their name from the Greek word "xiphium" (sword) due to the shape of their leaves.

The leaves of Xyphiums are narrow and elongated. The flowers are quite simple compared to other bulbous irises. But they are quite large - they can reach 10 cm in diameter. At the same time, the height of plants varies - 30-80 cm (depending on the type and variety).

The color of the flowers is monochromatic: usually white, yellow, blue, indigo, violet. But there are also two-color specimens.

How to plant bulbous irises?

Bulbous irises should be planted in a sunny place protected from the wind. But an area with high groundwater levels is not very suitable for these plants. Irises do not grow well in damp places and often get sick.

Iris bulbs are planted in open ground in late September - early October. They prefer light and nutrient soil with a neutral reaction. Typically, the planting depth is equal to three times the height of the bulb. Therefore, depending on the size of the planting material, it will be different. The distance between plants should be equal to 3-4 bulb diameters.

Bulbous irises are planted in holes or grooves, after first pouring a small layer of sand on the bottom for drainage. In winter, it is advisable to cover the flowerbed with plants with peat, spruce branches or dry fallen leaves.

What is the proper care for bulbous irises?

• In spring, you can remove the cover from bulbous irises quite early: after the snow has melted, but before the soil has completely thawed.
• The first fertilizing should be carried out after removing the cover with a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizer in a ratio of 2:1:1.
• During budding, bulbous irises must be fed with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 3:1:2.
• A month after flowering, only phosphorus and potassium, taken in equal parts, need to be added to the irises.
• Plants should be watered in dry weather and during active growth and flowering. However, this should be done sparingly so as not to flood the irises.
• After watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil to prevent the formation of a soil crust.
• When the bulbous irises fade, watering should be stopped. After the leaves of the plants turn yellow, the bulbs can be dug up and stored.
• Before bookmarking winter storage Iris bulbs should be dried for 2-4 weeks. At this time, Iridodictiums and Junos must be kept at a temperature of 23-25°C, and Xyphium - 30-35°C. In this case, the humidity should be in the range of 60-80%. By the end of the drying period, the temperature must be reduced to 15-17°C and stored in such conditions until planting. Humidity should be high - about 80%.

Iridodictium, Juno, Xyphium in garden design

Iridodictiums and junos look great with other bulbous plants, as well as primroses, decorating the site at the same time. These are crocuses, scillas, pushkinias, chionodoxes, snowdrops, primroses and hellebores. Xyphiums go well with perennials, such as buttercups or phlox.

In general, bulbous irises are suitable not only for growing in a flower bed, but also in a rock garden or on alpine slide. They can also be planted in groups on the lawn. In addition, iridodictiums and xyphiums can be cut into bouquets.

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Be sure to plant bulbous irises in the garden, because they beautifully decorate the area in early spring when the garden is just waking up after hibernation

1557 02/15/2019 5 min.

When spring comes, gardeners actively begin decorating their flower beds. Moreover, each of them wants to find original and beautiful plants to create your own unique flower arrangement. Very often, flower beds are decorated with crops such as Dutch bulbous irises. This amazing plant, which has beautiful bloom, but at the same time it is not difficult to care for.

Description

Dutch iris means rainbow in Latin. In Russia, the plant received the name “cockerels”. Even in ancient times, this flower served as a source essential oil. It had a fragrant aroma, and its properties were known in cosmetology and cooking.

Dutch iris is different from others garden crops because it has extensive color scheme. In addition, the plant tolerates any environment well, without requiring individual care. Dutch iris is a small-bulb plant. Consequently, the propagation process is carried out using small bulbs.

On video - Dutch Iris:

The flowers of the plant do not tolerate excess moisture. In their homeland, after flowering has ended, the bulbs are kept in dry soil. But in Russia it often rains, so the soil can be constantly wet. If no action is taken, the iris bulb will simply die. To prevent this from happening, the bulbs need to be dug up immediately after flowering has completed.

This happens at the end of May or beginning of June. When planting Dutch iris, you need to understand that this plant loves dry and bright places.

Varieties

Dutch iris today comes in a wide variety of shades. Thus, every gardener has ample opportunities to create his own masterpiece. Flowers of blue, yellow, white and dark blue colors look very interesting. But what the yellow peony-shaped Aastra duchess looks like, you can see in the photo in this

As for varieties, the most popular are:

How and when to plant

In order for Dutch irises to delight with their unique flowering for a long time, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to planting the bulbs, observing all the nuances and rules. Today in flower shops you can buy plants for planting not only in the form of bulbs, but there are also options with rhizomes.

Planting of planting material with rhizomes occurs at the end of summer. In this case, the selected area should be well lit. You need to prepare the place for planting in advance. There should be loose, non-acidic and not too wet soil.

Light-loving crops can be planted near irises. But make sure that when they grow, they do not create a shadow for the irises. Such conditions will have a detrimental effect on the plant. It is necessary to dig a hole 2 times larger than the rhizome itself. After planting the plant, it is necessary to mulch the soil. This is what will protect the iris from drying out in hot weather. And in winter, a mulch layer, on the contrary, will prevent frost from advancing further. Mulching can be done using hay, dry grass, tree bark or peat. But this information will help you understand how strawberries are mulched with covering material.

Video shows how to plant Dutch iris:

Planting of Dutch bulbous irises is carried out according to a similar plan, but there are some nuances:

1. A couple of hours before planting, the bulbs must be placed in a furingicide solution. Thanks to him, it is created reliable protection irises from rotting. Then they should be dried thoroughly. But you can understand how this happens by looking at the contents of this article.
2. Treat the pre-loosened soil with a solution of potassium permanganate. It copes well with various bacteria and microbes that can damage Dutch irises.
3. Bulbs should be planted at a distance of 15 cm from each other.. Due to this, they will be able to grow fully and not shade each other. When roots appear on the bulbs, they are planted in a trench, the depth of which is 10-15 cm.
4. Now the bulbs need to be covered with soil and watered thoroughly.

You can see the first flowers of the Dutch iris at the end of May. But there are varieties that bloom in early June; the flowering of the buds does not last long; they begin to fade quickly, especially if the weather is hot outside. If the weather outside is cool and cloudy, then irises bloom longer and give others their unsurpassed aroma.

When the leaves of the plant begin to dry out, the bulbs must be removed from the ground and dried thoroughly for 2-3 weeks. This should be done under the scorching rays of the sun. Planting material is stored in a cool, dry room.

You can also plant Dutch iris bulbs in the spring. But it should be taken into account that only timely loosening of the soil, irrigation, fertilizing and prevention of pests and diseases will allow obtaining the desired result.

It will also be interesting to learn about how to care for homemade Primrose:

Here's how Geranium is grown, and in what part of the garden it should be planted. specified in this

How to care

After planting bulbous irises, you need to make a full entrance behind them. It is especially worth paying due attention to the watering process. Irises need moisture during the growing season. You need to irrigate the soil regularly, but do not overdo it. If there is standing water, the bulbs may die.

In summer, plant care changes. A period of rest begins, as the bulbs must be kept warm and dry. To meet these conditions, it is necessary to dig planting material, dry and keep in a container with sawdust in the fall. Winter cold The bulbs are transferred normally, usually without loss.

But if there is severe frost outside, then it is worth considering additional insulation of the soil above the plantings. To do this, you can use spruce branches, a layer of leaves and lutrasil.

To ensure that the bulbs are saved, you will need to dig them up in the fall. Until spring, they are stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 5-10 degrees. You can also place planting material in the basement. And for watering it is best to use

Video shows how to care for Dutch iris:

For the full development and growth of iris, it is necessary to fertilize. This should be done in early spring. Use mineral fertilizer, which includes 2 parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorus and 1 part potassium. When flowers and buds begin to form, it is worth using another mixture: 3 parts nitrogen, 3 parts potassium and 1 part phosphorus.

Dutch iris is often attacked by leaf borers. If you notice damaged leaves, you should cut them off and treat the plant with insecticides. The plant can also be affected by various forms of spotting.

In this case, you also need to remove damaged leaves and treat them with special preparations, which can be found in any flower shop.

Dutch iris is a common ornamental crop that today actively decorates various flower beds and flower beds. And although the flowering period of the plant is short, it is so bright and colorful that others will remember it for a long time. And if you plant and care for the iris correctly, this period can be extended a little.

• Type: iris
• Flowering period: May, June, July
• Height: 15-40cm
• Color: purple, blood red
• perennial
• Sun-loving
• Moisture-loving

Spring flowers are the most desirable, they are associated with the warm rays of the sun and the imminent onset of summer. Apparently, this explains the great popularity of irises - already from the beginning of May, flowers open in the flowerbeds of suburban areas. lush buds all shades of the rainbow. A huge number of species (about 800) allows you to choose flowers in the right combination and, together with other plants, create amazingly beautiful compositions. Let's take a closer look at how bulbous irises are planted and cared for.

Irises are not particularly demanding, but there are a few points to consider. They are not recommended:

• waterlogged soil;
• soil poor in minerals;
• constant shadow.

Protection from excessive humidity serves as planting of plants on an artificially created slope. If groundwater comes close to the roots, a small elevation should be built with a slope to the south and a drainage system should be installed. To do this, it is enough to raise the flowerbed 20 cm and ensure the outflow of rainwater.

There are several ways to plant irises: single, bush, group, free sowing. Flowers with large buds are used for single landing, with small ones - for group

Sample of a flower bed with irises: 1 - Purple Voice hyacinth; 2 - tulip Flashpoint; 3 - Narcissus New Baby; 4 - iris reticulum Cantab; 5 - Scylla sibirica Alba

Irises love sunlight, but can spend some of their time in the shade, so it is advisable to lay out the flower garden in an unshaded or slightly shaded area. Before planting, the soil is enriched with organic fertilizers, then carefully dug up and loosened. Manure is usually applied in advance, about a year before planting.

The ideal soil for bulbous plants is limestone. The alkaline reaction is ensured by lime, chalk or eggshells introduced into the soil during digging. It is better to dilute sandy soil with humus; ash and about 40 g of superphosphate (per 1 m²) will not be superfluous. Clay, on the contrary, is better to dilute with coarse sand and add a little humus or compost to enrich it.

You should not limit yourself to traditional flower beds located in recreation areas and along paths. The original stump flower bed looks much more attractive!

The place where flowers are planted can not be changed for about 10 years, hybrid varieties- 5 years. The ability of irises to grow rapidly leads to a deficiency nutrients in the soil, which requires a change of location, that is, moving the flower bed.

Autumn is the time to plant bulbs

First of all, we suggest you watch a video on the topic:

Planting features depend on the variety. IN temperate climate Iridodictiums, Turkish and Caucasian, as well as their hybrids, take root well and tolerate winter. We choose a dry, open place and dig shallow holes - up to 7 cm. We fill the bulbs so that the soil does not adhere tightly to them, and it is better to add a little sand to its composition. To protect plants from fungal diseases, we pre-treat purchased bulbs with Fundazol or Benlat. In the summer, after the stem and leaves die, we separate the small daughter bulbs, which are necessary for further reproduction.

One or more varieties of irises are used to decorate flower beds. A variety of colors allows you to create compositions of rare beauty

Bulbs of the "Juno" variety are distinguished by their large size and the presence of fleshy, annually renewed roots, which should be handled very carefully. If the roots fall off, the plant will die. Best period for planting bulbous irises in open ground - the last week of September or the first ten days of October. The bulbs are carefully lowered into the holes so as not to damage the roots, and sprinkled with a layer of earth up to 6 cm thick.

The planting hole should be relatively small - approximately twice the height of the bulb, therefore, for small iris bulbs a depth of 4 to 7 cm is suitable

Summer preparation consists of digging up the bulbs after the iris has withered and drying them in a room with a temperature of 22-25ºC. The second option is to cover the flowerbed with film, protecting it from rain until the beginning of October. Further reproduction Junos are produced either by daughter bulbs or by seeds, which are sown in special boxes. Boxes with seeds, like bulbs, must be dried. Shoots appear, as a rule, in the second year.

The distance between future plants when planting can be different: the minimum is considered to be a gap of two bulb widths (as a result a dense bush is formed), the maximum is up to half a meter (usually single irises with lush buds are planted in this way).

Using a Plastic Growing Basket

In the supermarket you can buy a simple but very convenient basket for growing bulbous crops.

In order to remove part of the turf, place a plastic basket on the desired area and use a shovel or scoop to draw a contour around the circumference to a depth of 12 cm

Carefully remove the separated piece of turf, and deepen the resulting hole by about 20-30 cm so that the basket completely fits in it

Pour fertilizer into the bottom of the hole, then install the basket. We fill it with a dense, moist layer of fertile soil and plant the bulbs

We cover the planted bulbs with a thin layer of soil and return the removed piece of turf. Thus, the bulbs will spend the entire winter in favorable conditions.

The basket is convenient in that it can be easily removed from the ground and, together with the planted bulbs, moved to a drying room.

How to properly care for irises?

In addition to timely planting and soil preparation, it is necessary to care for the plants during their flowering: early irises begin to bloom in May, late ones in June. Proper care of bulbous irises involves regular feeding with fertilizers and protection from pests. Another point of care for flowers is watering. During the rainy season, irises should not be watered, and in dry times, moderate irrigation is necessary strictly in the evening.

It is important to choose the right flower varieties. For example, Siberian irises are considered the most frost-resistant, so they can easily endure winter in northern latitudes

Application of mineral fertilizers

In the spring, after the snow melts, we wait for the top layer of soil to completely dry out in order to apply fertilizer. Will fit ready-made solutions and dry universal mixtures, for example, "Reasil" or "Good Power". We place the required amount of fertilizer in the top layer (or simply scatter it on the surface of the soil around the bulbs), then carefully loosen it, trying not to catch the roots.

One of the three-stage options for feeding hybrid irises not in the first year of flowering:

• nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus (2:3:1) - in the spring on dry soil;
• the same composition, but in a different proportion (3:3:1) - at the moment of bud formation;
• potassium, phosphorus (1:1) – 1 month after the start of the flowering period.

Regular and correctly dosed fertilizing guarantees high decorative qualities, rapid development and long flowering. One of the important periods in the life of a plant is the formation flower buds. Fertilizing at this stage ensures lush, full flowering next year.

Fertilizers for bulbous plants contain lignohumate, which performs several important functions: promotes rapid growth, increases plant resistance to disease, increases decorativeness

No need to do it yourself complex fertilizer for irises, sold in the store ready-made compositions for bulbous plants in two types: solution and dry mixture

Carefully monitor the amount of nitrogen. Excess of this substance causes “fatification” - a process when leaves develop remarkably, but flowering is completely absent.

Preventative work to protect against pests

The most common disease in irises is root and bulb disease - bacteriosis, which causes rotting individual parts. The plant is dug up, diseased parts are removed, washed in potassium permanganate and transplanted to another place.

How to determine the disease in bearded irises? Usually healthy plant has a bunch of 7-9 leaves, while in the patient no more than 5 can be found. There is a problem with the formation of flower buds. For treatment, the plant is dug up, cleaned of rot and insects, and treated with an antiseptic. If irises are affected by thrips, the natural waxy coating on the leaves is disrupted.

Prevention is competent preparation bulbs by next year - removing the old stem along with leaves, peduncles and flowers, in which harmful insects may remain.

Traditional care for irises guarantees their unusually bright flowering and the ability to create unique flower beds.