Planting irises

Irises, or tangents are found on all continents. The genus iris has about 800 species, differing in variety of shades and forms. These flowers were named after the ancient Greek goddess Irida. She was the messenger of the gods, who descended to the earth on the rainbow. In Greek, "iris" means "rainbow".

Planting irises is not such a complicated business, otherwise these flowers would not be so popular and common. Most often in the gardens are grown bearded irises. They bloom in late May and blossom until the end of June or early July.

Irises can be grown in two ways: seed and vegetative. Planting irises seminal used in hybridization, in this caseflowering occurs only 2-3 years after planting. If you want to enjoy blossoming irises for the first year after planting, you will be suitable for planting irises vegetatively.

Irises reproduce by rhizomes. To plant irises was successful, you needseparate from a well-developed bush "scapula" - part of the rhizome with a shortened bundle of basal leaves. To do this, you need to cut or break the rhizome of the bush into several parts, sprinkling the place of rupture with dry charcoal. Each part of the broken rootstock should have a leaf bundle-fan and two or three year links. You do not need to dig a bush yourself.

Necessary cut the leaves of the prepared part of the rhizome by half, and the roots by a third. It is also necessary to remove diseased and dry leaves androtten areas. Then the planting material must be disinfected with a weak solution of manganese for 15-20 minutes. Experienced gardeners dry the cropped rhizomes in the sun and powder the cut with a mixture of crushed coal and sulfur in a 1: 1 ratio.

Usually the planting of irises occurs in summer, in the second half of July - early August, afterflowering. Plants must have time to settle down in a new place before the onset of spring. Planting irises will be successful if you choose the right place for planting. Bearded irises are photophilous plants. In principle, they can transfer a brief, sparse shading, but they will refuse to bloom in a solid shadow. So it's best to plant irises in sunny, sheltered places.

Irises love lungs, not enough structuralsoil. It is recommended to plant irises in weakly acidic or neutral soils (pH 5.0-6.0), well-seasoned with phosphorus-potassium and not saturated with organic fertilizers. The soil must be well drained. Before planting, it should be thoroughly cleaned of weeds, phosphate fertilizer (for example, bone meal) and ash. If the soil is acidic, it should be preliminarily lime. Before planting irises should not fertilize the soil with manure.

For planting irises you need to dig a hole in the ground witha small mound in the center. The depth of the hole depends on the length of the roots. On the mound, put a rhizome, and spread the roots around. Irises plant at a distance of about 50 cm from each other. Make sure that the top part of the rhizome is not covered with earth - if the rhizome is planted too deeply, the iris can refuse to bloom, get sick or even die. The rhizome of properly planted iris should be at the soil level. Try to paddle the leaf fan with your palm - it should remain vertical.

After planting, pour iris, the second watering should be done in 3-5 days. With the onset of cold weather and the appearance of the first frost on the soil, mulch landing sand, cover with lapnika or cover with peat layer of 10 cm in the spring it must be deflected.

Planted in this way the iris can begin to bloom already in the first year, but the most lush bloom is usually observed in the third year.