All about the flowering of irises: features, possible problems and further care

Different varieties of irises have unusual coloring, and during the flowering period, bright flower petals shimmer in the sun in various shades. Elegant irises become the main decoration of the garden. In order for the flowering to be lush and abundant, you need to study more information about the features of this period in the life of the plant.

In central Russia and the Moscow region, culture begins to bloom late May - early June. Flowering continues until about mid-July. It is impossible to accurately name the flowering period, since this indicator depends on the variety.

The flowering period can be determined by the Latin designation indicated on the package with the seedlings:

• VE - very early;
• E - early;
• EAT - mid-early;
• M - average;
• ML - medium late;
• L - late;
• VL - very late.

If the letters EML are seen, then this is understood as "flowering is possible at any of the indicated dates."

Naturally, the weather has a huge impact on the length of this period, for example, plants with different dates can suddenly start blooming at the same time. If we talk about the Moscow region, then the difference between these terms is 10 days. Also, climatic conditions determine the abundance of flowers and their brilliance.

If too few buds appear within the expected time frame, they quickly fade or flowering is not observed at all, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to this "behavior" of plants. Having found out the reason, the flower can be saved and still have time to admire the lush flowering.

If the gardener deepened the roots too much during planting, then the culture will end up with only leaves, and you may not wait for flowers at all. When planting, leave 1/3 of the root collar above ground level, but the roots themselves should be underground. If this error is the cause, then loosen the soil around the plant and carefully remove a couple of centimeters of surface soil without digging up the flower.

Pay special attention to the landing area. For example, this crop will not bloom in too acidic soil, therefore, with high acidity, it is important to dilute the soil with ash, dolomite flour or lime. Siberian varieties can also be grown in acidified soils.

Bulbous crops are planted in September or early October - during this period, the plant has time to prepare for frosts.

In partial shade conditions in the country, flowering will be significantly inhibited, and over time it will stop altogether. Therefore, for planting, you should choose an area that will be illuminated by sunlight for at least 2/3 days. Do not plant flowers under dense tall trees and bushes, and avoid planting near fences.

When planted in the shade, the gardener runs the risk of facing another problem - powdery mildew or rust, which also lead to poor plant condition and may be the reason for the lack of flowering.

Also, the site should be protected from wind, the gusts of which are capable of breaking fragile stems.

It is important to feed the culture in a timely manner. Due to a lack of nutrition, the leaves can curl, the buds fly around, and without having time to bloom, the stems and roots stop developing. In April-May, it is important to pay attention to the growth of foliage and the development of the root system, therefore, suitable fertilizers will be ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate. During this period, you can feed the plants minced fish, diluted in water. Such feeding is recommended every other day for a month, but two weeks before flowering, it is important to stop fertilizing.

In June, the main purpose of feeding is the formation of peduncles. The most successful complementary food - superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, ash. At the beginning of autumn, plants should be prepared for wintering and fed. superphosphate or potassium sulfate.

When feeding this culture do not use manure, as this threatens the formation of a putrefactive process, as a result of which the flower will begin to shed its leaves. When applying any fertilizers, carefully monitor the dosage: with an excess of irises, only leaves will grow, and they will no longer have the strength to form flowers. This problem is especially relevant when overfeeding a flower with nitrogen.

The crop withstands dry times well, but this can negatively affect the budding and flowering stages. Once the plant is planted, it should be watered regularly for 3-4 weeks. During the ripening period of the peduncles, watering should be increased. In general, it is recommended to moisten the soil 3 times a week.

Excess moisture will also negatively affect the health of the flower. In this case, the plant may not only fail to bloom, but also die from root rot. The watering procedure is performed in the evenings, it is important to ensure that drops do not fall on the flowers. In autumn, the culture needs minimal moisture.

During planting, the gardener must follow the scheme and plant tall varieties at a distance of 40-60 cm from each other, low ones - 30 cm. The rapid growth of the culture ensures good growth of the roots, and with closer plantings, the roots begin to interfere with each other. Each specimen has a deficiency of moisture and useful components, and this also leads to damage to plants by insects. All this becomes the cause of weakened flowering. To solve the problem, you should divide the bushes every 4-5 years.

If, before wintering, the plants were poorly protected from frost, then their flower buds may freeze, and then the gardener will wait in vain for flowering. You can not cover the specimens too early, otherwise it will provoke damping of the roots.

Plants can be insulated at a temperature of +5 degrees. Dry foliage is used as protection, for example: oak, moss, spruce branches. The recommended layer of mulch is 20 cm. If an English variety is grown, then it does not need to be covered (this is a winter-hardy species). In the case of planting Spanish and Dutch irises, winterizing is a mandatory process.

It is believed that this culture is resistant to diseases and insects, but with improper care, this problem does not bypass irises. Most often, plants infect dry rot, wet rot, gray rot, rust, septoria. Preparations containing zinc and copper will help to get rid of ailments. The most dangerous is a disease called mosaic, aphids become the source of infection. Treatment in this case is not carried out - the diseased specimen is destroyed.

Does the same harm to buds iris fly, which not only drinks the juice of the peduncle, but also lays offspring there. In this case, it is recommended to eliminate the bud - the flower will no longer bloom. To protect against insects, use Bordeaux liquid, as well as products such as "Aktara" or "Actellic".

After the irises have faded, they require simple, but competent and regular care. During this period, it is important to perform the following procedures:

• remove weeds and loosen the ground;
• fertilize the soil;
• fight diseases and harmful insects in time;
• timely moisten the soil and transplant.

As soon as the plants have stopped blooming, pruning becomes an important point of care. The peduncles are taken out at the base of the bush. With the onset of frost, half of the foliage is removed. Previously yellowed leaves are also trimmed.

The next step after flowering is to transplant the plant. This procedure will help the culture to bloom beautifully and densely next time. The manipulation is performed every 4–5 years.

The most successful time for transplanting is two weeks after flowering. The fact is that at this time the specimens have already begun to accumulate useful components for the winter, their root system is well developed, new shoots appear, and flowering buds are not yet laid. Therefore, this period is chosen for flower transplantation.

Places of cuts are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15-30 minutes, dried and processed with crushed activated carbon or wood ash. Wherein it is important to carefully examine the rhizome and make sure it is healthy. After dividing, parts of the plant are also visually examined, if damage is found, all affected areas are removed. For the procedure choose a sterilized sharp instrument: scissors, knife, secateurs.

The transplanting process looks the same as planting a plant in open ground: the rhizome is planted at ground level, and the leaves are placed vertically. The depth of the planting hole is determined by the parameters of the length of the roots. After planting, the flower is pressed and covered with earth. A newly planted plant is watered, and the next watering is done only after 3-5 days. The growth of transplanted specimens begins after a couple of weeks. Compliance with the rules of planting and care will ensure the timely, long and picturesque flowering of irises.

For information on what top dressing to use for the abundant flowering of irises, see below.