How to plant bulbous irises in spring

Bulbous irises - popular spring flowers, which bloom in early May. These plants are not very demanding to care for, but there are still nuances that must be observed.

Preparing the soil for planting

Landing bulbous irises carried out only in soil rich in minerals. It should not be over-moistened. Flowers do not tolerate being constantly in the shade.

Source: Depositphotos

What do bulbous irises look like?

• To avoid excessive humidity flowers are planted on an artificially created slope. If groundwater comes too close to the soil surface, a drainage system is needed. To create it, you need to raise the flowerbed 20 cm and build a rainwater outflow.
• Despite the fact that bulbous irises love the sun, they also need shade. It is better to place the flowerbed in a slightly shaded area.
• The soil should be rich in organic fertilizers. To do this, a year before planting, you need to add manure to the soil. Irises take root in calcareous soil, so you also need to add lime, chalk or eggshells to the soil.
• Plants feel great in the same place for 10 years. Then the soil loses minerals, so it is better to change the place where the flowers are grown.

Planting bulbous irises in the spring is done in several ways. They can be planted as bushes, in groups or individually. Flowers with small buds are suitable for bush and group planting, and large buds for single planting.

How to plant bulbous iris

When the soil is already prepared for planting, you need to loosen it and dig holes 5-7 cm deep. The bulbs are treated with any antifungal agent and then carefully lowered into the soil so that the roots are not damaged. Sprinkle the top with soil mixed with sand. This is necessary for greater looseness. A few important points:

• Watering should be done immediately after planting;
• The next watering is needed no earlier than 2 days later, but no later than 6 days, it depends on weather conditions;
• In the scorching sun, create shade for the flowerbed;
• If after planting the air temperature has dropped significantly, the flowerbed should be covered with mulch;
• When planting, old and dried links and leaves must be removed.

Until the snow melts and the top layer of soil dries completely, the flowers do not require any care.

A photo of bulbous irises shows what they should be like well-groomed flowers. These plants are not capricious. If desired, their planting can be postponed to autumn.

Dutch iris is a spectacular perennial that can be grown both in open ground and in pots in winter gardens and on window sills in apartments. But most often this flower, popularly called iris, is grown in flower beds and garden beds. Bulbs are usually planted in late August - early September. The plant has special requirements for soil composition, watering, humidity, air temperature and fertilizing.

Description and varieties

Dutch iris or Xiphium belongs to the genus Iris. It's bulbous flowering plant With different sizes peduncles and stem height from 30 to 70 centimeters.

Majority Dutch irises bloom blue or purple flowers. In the center there are “standing” petals that grow vertically, and the rest hang from them in different directions. A yellow or orange spot usually forms in the center of the bud.

Xyphium has high decorative qualities and retains its presentation for a long time. Cut flowers can retain buds for up to 2 weeks. To keep the plant in the vase longer, it is best to use soft, settled water.

The stem of the iris is straight, similar to a thin tube, the leaves are green, narrowly grooved. As the stem grows, they dry out and die, and new ones appear in their place. Iris is grown from bottle-shaped bulbs. Under the conditions of proper forcing at home, you can get bright flowering iris already in January - February.

Iris looks especially impressive Dutch variety Tiger-Mix. It is grown as a dominant seasonal plant in flower beds or borders. single landings next to the house, gazebo, alpine slides. The variety has an average height of 45-60 cm and a bud size of about 6-8 cm. The plant is undemanding to the soil, blooms in May and delights with lush purple-golden buds until the end of June.

Table popular varieties iris:

Variety	Description	Photo
Violet Beauty	Plant 30-40 cm high with narrow variegated leaves and buds blue-violet color. Each petal is decorated with a narrow yellow stripe along the edge.
Blue Champion	Most suitable variety for cutting. The stems are tall, up to 65 cm, the bud has an unusual combination of darker blue petals inside and lighter ones outside. Blooms in mid-June, for at least a week
Symphony	An original variety of medium height. The buds are contrasting. Petals are bright yellow on the outside and white on the inside.
Golden Yellow	A dwarf variety, perfectly straight stems do not exceed a height of 35-40 cm. The buds are small, graceful, bright yellow.
Safer Beauty	A plant with narrow sword-shaped leaves of a rich green color and velvety purple buds. It blooms later than other representatives of this genus - at the end of June. Looks impressive when cut

There are varieties of Dutch iris, the buds of which combine several colors at once. To create the color scheme for a future flower bed, it is best to buy xyphium bulbs in nurseries or specialized stores.

Planting in open ground

To make the iris happy abundant flowering, its bulbs must be planted correctly and on time. Best time for this purpose - the end of August or the beginning of September, when night temperatures are still quite comfortable.

Irises do not tolerate cold weather well, so northern regions They are planted at the end of summer, and in the south - in autumn.

The flower is extremely demanding on soil. Although it can grow loamy soils, it is necessary to ensure good moisture and breathability of the soil. To do this, lime and sand are added to it, and drainage is also organized from fragments of brick, expanded clay or pebbles. If the soil is too damp and heavy, it is mixed with peat and sand, thereby making the soil lighter.

Dutch iris does not tolerate feeding with manure and chemical fertilizers. In order to make the soil more nutritious, it is recommended to use compost or humus. When digging an area of ​​1 sq. m of land add 1 bucket of compost.

Before planting, iris bulbs should be prepared so that they overwinter well and are not subject to rot and other diseases. To do this, they are soaked in a weak pink solution of manganese or fungicide for 5-6 hours, after which they are dried for a day, spread out on cloth or paper in a ventilated place. The area of ​​land where the plants will bloom must also be disinfected with a solution of manganese or a fungicidal preparation.

Further actions:

• If the plant is planted in a flower bed, make depressions in the form of holes; in a border planting, it is more convenient to plant the bulbs in trenches 15-20 cm deep.
• Sand is poured into the bottom of the hole or trench, which will act as a “cushion” for absorption and drainage. excess moisture, in height it should occupy 2/3 of the recess.
• The bulbs are buried in the sand at a distance of 10 cm from each other;
• The soil with plantings is watered abundantly.
• The bulbs are sprinkled with sand on top and mulched with leaves, small pebbles, and turf soil.

Mulching is necessary so that the bulbs do not freeze, survive the winter without loss and, with the onset of spring, produce strong shoots.

Most gardeners plant irises in the spring, after wintering the planting material in an apartment or cellar. Before planting, irises should be carefully inspected for damage, rot and disease. Small areas damaged during wintering can be cut out with a sharp knife and disinfected by dipping the bulb in a manganese solution.

If planting material has small green sprouts, it should not be buried too deep into the ground. The tip of the shoot should remain on the soil surface.

All other rules for planting iris bulbs are exactly the same as for autumn planting, except that mulching is not required. The bulbs are simply sprinkled with soil and watered with settled water.

Care

The most early flowering iris season occurs at the beginning of May. From this moment on, the plant will require some care and attention. Xyphium places the highest demands on soil moisture. Natural humidity in spring it is quite high, so there is no need to additionally water irises. Occasionally moisten the soil only in very dry summer conditions.

Named after the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, these luxurious flowers bloom in all their glory at the beginning of summer, delighting us with a variety of natural variations in shades and shapes, as well as a distinctly fresh aroma. Care beautiful plant will not be difficult, so you will 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 well and show off in your garden bed, read the conditions correct landing 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 rooted plants; they are also called rhizomatous, but there are also bulbous flowers. Despite the fact that they are very similar in appearance and it is almost impossible to distinguish them, planting and caring for them are somewhat different.

Bulbous irises include 3 separate genera, each with their own characteristics: Xyphium, Iridodictium and Juno.

Xiphium

These bulbous irises received 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 north-west of the Mediterranean coast is considered the homeland of xyphiums, so without digging they can only be grown in warm and dry southern regions. IN middle lane(Moscow region) must be dug up.

The flower shape of Xyphiums 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, light blue, yellow or white flowers. You can often find two-tone colors. It all depends on what specific type and variety you purchase.

Interesting! Xyphium is also called Dutch iris.

Iridodictyum or 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 if in a mesh (from the Greek. “diction” - “grid”), which is why they are sometimes called mesh.

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

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

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

Juno

It’s not hard to guess where these bulbous irises got their name. 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 Caucasus Mountains, Asia Minor and Central Asia, South Africa, and the Mediterranean. Therefore, along with iridodictiums, junos are considered quite resilient and can grow safely in the same place for up to 4-5 years without digging and replanting.

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

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

Their inflorescences, as a rule, can be white, yellow, purple and lilac in 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 loves dry places very much, that is, she practically does not need any additional watering.

When to plant bulbous irises: optimal timing

Optimal time planting bulbous irises is the end of summer - the beginning of autumn. In general, it is better to plant small-bulb bulbs a little earlier, because when planted shallowly, the bulbs may suffer when the temperature drops sharply, so it is better to give them more time to take root.

So, in the middle zone (Moscow region), irises are best planted in late August - early September, and in warm southern regions the procedure can be postponed to 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 resist and buy them, or they are given to you. What to do in this case?

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

By the way! According to reviews from flower growers, irises planted in spring most often actually 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 strictly follow the following rules and recommendations.

Planting site and soil

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

To plant spring bulbous irises, choose places near the house or near garden paths so that you can see them more often during their short flowering period. A rock garden or is perfect. It is beautiful to plant them next to other bulbous plants that bloom in early spring, for example, with the same ones.

With crocuses

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

Preparing the bulbs

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

Direct landing

Step-by-step instruction planting bulbous irises in open ground:

How to care for bulbous irises in the open ground

In principle, there is nothing complicated in caring for and growing bulbous irises, but you still have to remember and carry out some standard garden manipulations.

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 its 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 peace.

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 a brighter and 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, in the very early spring, at the beginning of the growing season, need to be entered nitrogen fertilizer (small amounts of potassium and phosphorus are also allowed).
• When does the period start budding, then the flower should be fed potassium-phosphorus fertilizer (with big content potassium, the presence of nitrogen is also allowed).
• Straightaway after flowering should be performed exclusively phosphorus-potassium fertilizing

Digging up bulbs

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

Note! You don’t have to dig up irises for the summer if during this period you (in your climate zone) have no rain at all, because they require a dry rest period.

The dug up iris bulbs should be disinfect in a pink solution of potassium permanganate or any other fungicide (for example, “Maxim Dachnik” or “Fundazol”), then properly dry(2-3 weeks) and p put in storage in a dry room with good ventilation until the new autumn planting in open ground.

Important! As already mentioned earlier, each type of bulbous irises has its own growing characteristics. So, xyphiums should be dried at higher temperatures high temperature(+30-35 degrees), and Iridodictiums and Junos- quite average (+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 to prevent the iris bulbs from getting wet from excess moisture, they should be covered with something, for example, roofing felt or a plastic cake box.

If your winters are cold and snowless, then spruce branches and dry leaves are suitable for winter shelter; you can also cover them with spunbond or film. The more heat-loving junos especially need shelter for the winter.

Important! Don’t forget to remove the cover in early spring (immediately after the snow melts).

Thus, the main care for bulbous irises in the spring consists of removing the cover, watering them (and then loosening them), fertilizing and digging them up after flowering.

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

Video: features of planting and growing bulbous irises

In contact with

Dutch iris is very beautiful. However, it requires a lot of care, especially in spring, during the time of intense flowering. This type of bulbous irises is also called reticulated. Planting reticulated iris bulbs requires certain skills. If you master the basic subtleties of caring for irises that have grown as a result of planting from a bulb, in the spring the Dutch iris will definitely thank you for proper care with wonderful flowers.

Caring for Dutch irises and planting plants from bulbs is done in much the same way as caring for other bulbous plants, such as tulips. However, there are also some nuances. Grow from a bulb wonderful flower very interesting. The main thing is to purchase high-quality bulbs and properly prepare them for planting. You can plant them together with other bulbous plants, but you can also give these beauties a separate place. It is very interesting to watch how a plant gradually emerges from a small bulb and blooms with wonderful flowers in the spring.

Dutch iris and other bulbous irises: main benefits

If you plant correctly and choose high-quality bulbs for planting, from a small bulb, with favorable conditions, will grow quite quickly wonderful flower. Bulbs for planting must be purchased in specialized stores or nurseries. Before planting, the bulbs must be treated with a solution of antifungal liquid to prevent rotting. That, perhaps, is all the wisdom of planting.

They are very popular among amateur gardeners because they have the following advantages:

• The flowers are very beautiful, they have a bright and at the same time very delicate color;
• They look good in a flower bed, in a front garden, in a flower garden;
• Dutch iris can grow not only in the garden, but also at home, in a pot;
• A border of Dutch irises looks very impressive.

What to look for when growing flowers at home

Typically, amateur gardeners plant a whole group of plants. The more flowers are planted, the more picturesque such a group looks in late spring - early summer, when they bloom together. Most often, Dutch flowers are two-colored: red-violet or yellow-violet, large are popular also light blue, their color reminiscent of a cloudless spring sky. When growing Dutch irises in the garden or in the room, you need to know that they are quite demanding when it comes to watering. If such flowers grow at home in pots, and an amateur gardener is often away from home, it makes sense to use automatic system irrigation using a capillary mat.

However, moderation must be observed during watering, since increased soil moisture can provoke the development of a fungal infection. The fungus quickly attacks the bulbs, causing rapid death of the plant. Therefore, you need to be very careful with watering. For feeding It is best to use special mineral complexes intended for bulbous plants. Under no circumstances should you feed them with liquid undiluted manure or bird droppings, because this can “burn” the bulb and destroy it. delicate flower. Also, the use of fresh manure promotes the development of rot and fungal infections.

Dutch bulbous iris planting and care

It is necessary to care for the plant, taking into account the main features of this bulbous plant. As soon as beginner florist If you have planted an iris from a bulb and the first shoots have appeared, you need to immediately develop a plan for basic care measures. Basic care activities include:

• Watering;
• Feeding;
• Loosening the soil;
• Weed control.

These flowers love warmth and sunlight, but do not like cold and dampness. In cold climates with high humidity air, the plants' bulbs rot. It is best to plant them on a hill or hillock, just not in the shadows, and in the sun, so that the plant under no circumstances experiences a deficiency of sunlight. Flowers are afraid of the cold wind. If they are grown as indoor plant, there should be no drafts in the room in which the plant pot is located. To protect delicate plants from the wind, it is not even recommended to slam the door loudly or open the window frequently.

There is no need to water the plants immediately after planting. Before the first shoots appear, the bulbs have enough moisture obtained from the soil. Additional watering will not do any good. On the contrary, it will increase the likelihood of mold and mildew. After appearance of the first shoots Little by little they begin to water. They need to be watered often, but very moderately. The soil should not dry out. There should be just enough moisture so that it is completely absorbed into the ground, but no more. When the buds begin to bloom, you should not water them at all, because during this period they are especially susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases.

You can feed irises with special mineral complexes for bulbous plants, but for faster and intensive development irises, they definitely need organic fertilizers. There will be flowers good to grow nearby with a pile of compost or directly on the pile, because they always reach for the sun and like to grow on a hill. Can be used for additional mineral fertilizing ground eggshells and other food waste.

Around September, iris bulbs are dug up and taken away for storage. Bulbs should be stored in a dark, dry place. Under no circumstances should bulbs be stored where it is damp, because they may become infected with fungus. Can only be used as planting material large bulbs without superficial damage and signs of decay. Bulbs affected by fungus or rot are burned immediately after sorting in order to quickly stop the spread of infection. A fungal infection is easy to notice visually: diseased bulbs become covered with a black or dark gray coating.

Bulbous irises in landscape design

Plants are often used in landscape design. Yes, they look good in the composition alpine slide. The higher plant irises, the better they will grow, so the top of the alpine hill is one of best options. You can also create a separate flowerbed of any shape for irises. They make very beautiful borders.

Looks impressive large space, planted exclusively with flowers. Dutch irises go well together with other varieties of these flowers. However, it is best to grow Dutch plants separately from any other plants, because they are quite demanding in terms of care and soil moisture.

If the flower is grown as a houseplant, blooming in a beautifully decorated pot will serve an original gift to family and friends. In summer, pots of iris can be taken to the country house. If you dress them in original flowerpots, such pots will perfectly decorate your country landscape.

Some more interesting ideas

In order for flowers to please the eye throughout warm season, you need to put on personal plot several varieties of these bulbous plants, starting with primrose irises that bloom at the same time as snowdrops, and ending with traditional Dutch irises, blooming in June-July. Then the irises will bloom gradually, and the flowerbed will never look empty.

As soon as one variety fades, another blooms, and this is repeated several times during the warm season. This is very convenient, the main thing is not to forget to water those plants that are not yet blooming in time, and stop in a timely manner watering flowering varieties. Irises different varieties have approximately the same care requirements, so caring for a flower bed consisting of several varieties of irises is quite simple.

Many gardeners prefer irises that have a two-color color, although single-color flowers, especially pale blue ones, are also beautiful and interesting in their own way. At proper care Dutch iris flowers turn out large, bright, with subtle pleasant aroma. If the temperature and humidity are not suitable for the plant, the flowers turn out small and quickly fade. Pronounced deformation of flowers is a sign of a lack of nutrients or inappropriate soil acidity.

In order to successfully grow Dutch iris from a bulb, a novice gardener must choose high-quality planting material and properly prepare it for planting in open ground. If you know all the details of care Behind these annual beauties, irises will delight the eye all summer with their bright, variegated or soft blue color. Irises are rather capricious flowers, but with the right approach, growing them will not take much time and effort. The main thing is not to “fill” these flowers with water and not to hide them from the sun.

Bulbous irises are beautiful, delicate plants.

It is known that there are over 250 various types these magnificent plants. The birthplace of flowers is Holland. Siberian, bearded, dwarf, blue, and Japanese irises are popular in our area.

The name of these plants translates as “rainbow” from Greek. There are many legends about irises.

One of them says that the first flower bloomed millions of years ago, on the slope of a low mountain in a beautiful forest. He was so beautiful that animals, birds and insects came to look at him. The wind and water could not resist contemplating the lovely miracle.

And a heated argument arose between them about who should own the flower. At this time, the iris seeds ripened, and the wind carried them across the endless world. The water picked them up and carried them to distant lands.

Since that time, irises have grown in different parts of the world.

Varieties of irises

Planting irises

Yellow bearded iris

Iris bulbs are planted in treated soil, first making 30-centimeter depressions. Fresh seeds are used for planting.

It is more convenient to propagate these flowers by dividing the bush. This is done in the middle of summer, after the flowers have fallen.

Before planting, the roots and leaves are trimmed a little and planted in a hole, covering the rhizome of the flower with a three-centimeter layer of soil.

After planting, flowers must be watered abundantly. Planting deeper will damage the plant and cause the rhizomes to rot. Plants are planted within 30 centimeters of each other.

When planting by dividing a bush, the bushes are dug up, then divided so that each separated component has a bunch of basal leaves and a rhizome.

Growing irises, care

Iris blue

Irises are quite easy to grow.

Close fit allows you to quickly create beautiful flower bed, but then you will need to thin them out frequently.
Caring for irises involves regular weeding, watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil. It is also necessary to remove faded flowers daily while the plants are flowering.

Flowers winter well, so they can be kept in one place for three to four years without replanting. In winter, spruce and pine branches are used for shelter.

Propagation of irises

For irises, you need to choose open, sunny areas protected from the winds. The soil must be moist and nutritious.

Bearded dwarf irises

These flowers are propagated vegetatively and by seeds. If you plant seeds in the fall, shoots will appear in the spring. After two years, young plants are planted in a permanent place.

By simply dividing the bush, cuttings taken from the “heel” from the underground part of the stem of the plant can be propagated from spring until the end of autumn.

Good luck, gardeners!