Hydrangea propagation by cuttings in the spring in the water. Propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings in water and soil. Propagation of hydrangea tree cuttings in autumn

Iris bearded: description, features of planting and care

Bearded iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant of the iris family. It grows in the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In Russia, iris grows in the southern and central regions. A variety of varieties allows you to grow a flower in areas with a changeable climate.

Description

Branched dark green stems reach 35-85 cm in height. Flat leaves are collected at the base of the rhizome. The edge of the leaf plate is sharp. The branched root system is located close to the soil surface.

Source: Depositphotos

Iris bearded - sun-loving decorative flower

Depending on the variety, the flowers are arranged singly or collected in inflorescences. The color of the petals varies from snow-white to yellow and dark purple. Inflorescences exude delicate fragrance. The outer petals are dotted with stripes that stand out against the background of the main color of the flower.

In central Russia, flowering continues from late May to mid-July. Weather conditions can shift the timing of bud opening.

The fruit of the iris is a trihedral ribbed box with seeds. Ripens in August - September. The seed box develops 20-40 dark brown seeds.

Landing and care

Irises prefer neutral or alkaline soils and grow on rocky ground. Do not tolerate clay acidified soil with stagnation ground water. Grow in open places with abundance sunlight. In the shade, plants get sick and dry out, the number of buds and inflorescences decreases. Plant irises after flowering, when young roots are formed.

Landing rules:

Dig a hole 25-35 cm deep, put a layer of sand or pebbles on the bottom.
Make an earthen mound in the center of the hole, lower the rhizome of the iris onto it, spreading the roots along the sides of the elevation.
Fill the hole with earth, compact the root layer of the soil.
Water the plant with 2-3 liters of warm water.

In the first year after planting, do not loosen the ground near the seedling. Fragile superficial roots are deformed from mechanical impact on the ground.

In dry weather, water the irises 2-4 times a week. Do not over-moisten the soil. Remove weeds near the plant.

Trim dry leaves and shoots. In mid-autumn, remove the aerial part of the plant, cover the flower with rags, spruce branches or fallen leaves.

Growing iris in one place lasts 8-11 years. Frequent transplantation has a detrimental effect on the health of the plant, the root system weakens and stops developing.

Iris is a decorative flower used in landscape design. Due to its unpretentiousness and abundant flowering, the plant is used to decorate city parks, squares and flower beds.

There is a special anti-vandal property - they do not want to be torn off! When the question arises of what flowers to plant near the house or entrance, subconsciously often choose irises (they are cockerels, or irises). Great amount different shades determined their name: irises are named after the goddess of the rainbow.

They bloom in spring, and some varieties bloom again in autumn. These perennials bloom especially luxuriantly in the 3rd year after planting. Rhizome irises are extremely unpretentious and are not afraid of winter. Here is the former wild flower urban.

Maybe for someone it will turn out to be a discovery, but under the common name "iris" in fact, very similar in appearance, but different plants are hidden: rhizomatous and bulbous iris. The latter, in turn, includes three genera:, and juno. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Planting irises

Rhizome irises photophilous. But they can also bloom under a tree, especially in southern regions. Most of all, they do not like excesses: excess and waterlogging of the soil can destroy them.

If you have a choice, get large rhizomes - they have more stock nutrients. If a division with 7 or more leaves, the iris will bloom already on next year, spring.

Optimal time for landing bearded irises- end of summer, August. But in practice, rhizomatous irises are divided and transplanted either during flowering, or immediately after its completion (within a month).

With all the unpretentiousness of irises do not plant them in heavy soil. Add sand and peat, shovel this mixture well. Fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content can be applied to depleted land. On acidic soil, irises rapidly grow leaves, but do not bloom or bloom weakly. In this case, the soil is ash or chalk.

If groundwater is close, consider soil drainage. Then you will avoid the most unpleasant disease for irises - root rot.

The earth is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel. Fertilizers (if necessary) are applied a week before planting. Planting should be shallow so that the kidney is at surface level ( upper part rhizomes cannot be covered with earth), the leaves should be arranged vertically. Leave about 40 cm between plants for further growth. Water immediately after planting. The next watering is not earlier than in 3 days.

Sometimes, for some reason, you need to save 2 weeks planting material. Do not keep rhizomes in plastic bags and during wet tissue. Store them in a cool dry place be sure to have good ventilation.

bulbous irises love the sun, moisture and well-heated fertile loose soil. The most undemanding to watering is juno, she loves dry places. Sunny rocky slides - the best place for her.

Landing dates: in the middle lane - in mid-September, in the south - in mid-October. For the winter it is better to cover the plantings. In the spring, they will grow very early, sometimes even the snow will not have time to melt. Planting depth - 2 bulb heights, but not less than 5 cm.

After flowering (May-June) for a month, when the leaves dry up somewhere in half, the bulbs need to be dug up. The main thing is not to miss the moment: if it rains, the risk of fungal diseases will increase. The dug out bulbs are washed in a 0.2% solution of potassium permanganate or another, dried quickly and stored in a dry, ventilated area until planting.

Behind rhizomatous irises care is minimal. At first, weeds are pulled out by hand, since the root system of flowers is located at the very surface of the soil. It is also necessary to loosen carefully. When the bearded irises grow, weeding and loosening will not be needed.

Bulbous kinds require more care. autumn yellow leaves and with brown spots must be removed. In exotic species, the leaves are cut to half the length. At the end of autumn, heat-loving varieties cover. In early spring, hurry to remove the "veil".

Withered flowers are always removed by cutting the peduncle as close to the rhizome as possible.

Watering

In dry summer blooming irises watered in the evening making sure that water does not get on the flowers.

In windy places, tall irises are tied up: flower stalks can break under the weight of flowers.

top dressing

It is advisable to feed both rhizomatous and bulbous irises three times:

spring;
during the formation of buds;
rhizome - in August, bulbous - within a month after flowering.

Protection from pests and diseases

You can spray irises from pests once every 2 weeks (if necessary). Treatments are most effective 6 weeks before flowering. Usually this is not necessary, pests are not main enemy irises.

If rot appears on the rhizomes, it must be cleaned to a healthy tissue, then processed special solution. Then the rhizome is dried all day in the open air, occasionally turning over. The soil from the place where the iris grew is removed.

Types of irises

There are many types and varieties of irises, it is impossible to list them all in one article. So let's take a look at the most popular ones.

Our market will help you choose varieties of irises, where offers from the largest online stores are collected. .

Iris Timescape 1 pc. 189 rub LOOK
AgroSemFond

Iris bearded Fogbound (Iris germanica Fogbound) 219 rub LOOK
Garshinka

Iris bearded Rustic Sedar 219 rub LOOK
Garshinka

Iris bearded Thriller (Iris germanica Thriller) 219 rub LOOK
Garshinka

Familiar to all cockerels - bearded irises.

At bulbous Xifiums smaller size flower, but there are also plenty of varieties. Chic broad-leaved Dutch varieties are especially beautiful:

"Blue Champion";
"ideal";
Symphony.

And narrow-leaved:

"Seafire Beauty";
"Yellow Queen".

Some varieties iridodictyuma boast a delicate pattern on the petals.

At the flowers Juno the flowers are rather narrow petals.

Your flowers will be healthy if you love them. have a good season!

winter hardiness different varieties bearded irises is different, so it is more reliable to grow varieties that winter well in this region. Bearded irises are propagated vegetatively by dividing the rhizomes of 3-5 year old plants. Bearded irises are planted in the summer - from mid-August, and at the very beginning of autumn, so that the plants have time to take root before the cold weather, but if necessary, you can plant irises in the spring. The August-September division of iris rhizomes gives a large percentage of plants that bloom in the first year after planting. Transplanting irises in your garden "from ground to ground" can be started 2 weeks after the end of flowering and carried out at a convenient time.

In one place, without prejudice to the decorative effect, bearded irises are usually grown for no more than 5 years, then the bushes are dug up with a pitchfork and cut into planting divisions. A delenka is a part of a healthy rhizome with roots, usually an annual link with a blade of leaves, but a small piece of rhizome with dormant buds can also be used to propagate valuable varieties. A piece of iris rhizome weighing only half a gram with one dormant bud is capable, under favorable conditions, of giving life to a new plant that will bloom in the second year of vegetation! The rhizomes of irises without roots and leaves remaining after cutting the divisions are cut off, removing the damaged parts, powder the cuts with crushed charcoal, dry them and plant them on a separate bed for growing next season.

The rhizomes of the delenok are disinfected for 1-2 hours in a beet-colored potassium permanganate solution, dried and heated in the sun for 3-5 hours. The leaves and roots of the division, if their length is more than 10 cm, are shortened. Bearded irises prefer well-drained, light soil without stagnant moisture, soil in the sun, but they also tolerate a little shading (some flower growers successfully grow them under apple trees with a sparse crown). Too acidic soil is sprinkled with wood ash before planting irises. If there is a danger of stagnation of melt water in the spring, before planting for irises, a flower bed is slightly raised above ground level. The distance between plants when planting irises depends on the purpose of planting and the height of the irises: undersized irises are usually planted after 15 cm, medium-sized - after 20 cm, tall - after 40 cm. In free landscape compositions, irises are planted in groups of several pieces, placing divisions around the circumference; the distance between groups is not less than 1 m.

Some flower growers grow a collection of irises on a raised bed according to a 30x50 cm scheme, turning the leaves of irises when planting in one direction and directing the plane of the leaves across the ridges. Before planting irises, the soil should be dug up on a shovel bayonet, a bucket of compost or well-rotted manure per 1 sq.m. (fresh manure is not used to avoid rotting of rhizomes), make planting holes, but fill the bottom of which with a mound of earth. The rhizome of the divider is laid on a mound so that after planting it protrudes half above the soil level, the roots are straightened on the sides of the mound and the hole is covered with earth, carefully compacting it with hands. Deepening the rhizome into the soil can lead to the death of the iris.

The rhizome of the iris can be fixed from falling and for quick rooting with wire arches or wooden spears. After planting irises, the earth is abundantly watered with water, after it dries up, repeated watering is desirable after a few days. Further care for planting irises consists in manual weeding (so as not to damage the roots of irises located near the surface of the soil), shallow loosening of the soil. New plantings of irises need shelter in late autumn from freezing: hilling with earth or falling asleep with a leaf, straw, needles, tops with a layer up to 10 cm; shelter removed in early spring.

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Recently, lovers of perennial iris flowers are increasingly cultivating beardless varieties. But fans of the classics prefer the cultivation of bearded irises - beautiful and strict colors with a massive petal in the form of a "tongue" or "beard", which is distinctive feature of this plant, its "highlight". By grouping varieties of irises by flowering time, you can provide decorativeness from May to July.

In nature, there is a flower that smoothly leads us from spring to summer. First, in early spring, wild irises bloom, they are replaced by "bearded" dwarfs and Spuria, and by the end of May the garden shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow thanks to the numerous varieties of tall bearded irises. In June, marking the arrival of summer, we are delighted with their elegance Siberian and Japanese.

The perennial plant iris belongs to the iris family, or iris. There are about 200 species growing in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America. In the XX century. irises have received wide recognition from flower growers in most countries, and in terms of the number of varieties (more than 35 thousand), this culture has come to one of the first places.

You can judge how the iris looks even from the most ancient frescoes. The history of the flower goes back centuries. Irises were cultivated in the gardens of the Egyptian pharaohs. AT Ancient Greece they planted entire fields. Because of the variety of colors, the plant was given the name "iris", which in Greek means "rainbow". The ancient Hellenes were in awe of irises and considered them messengers of the golden-winged goddess Irida, the messenger of the gods, the interpreter of their will.

Irises attracted people not only with their beautiful flowers. They were valued as medicinal plants, perfumery and confectionery raw materials.

irises- perennial rhizomatous plants. The rhizome is located parallel to the soil level at a shallow depth and in bearded irises comes to the surface. The rhizome, containing a supply of nutrients, consists of annual links. The newly formed links end with a bunch of sessile leaves that die off annually. The leaves are broadly or narrowly xiphoid, straight or crescent-curved, most often collected in a fan-shaped bundle. They are usually light green in spring, darkening in summer.

And what is the difference between the description of bearded irises hybrid varieties? In these plants, the leaves are usually gray with a wax coating and, as a rule, persist until late autumn. Therefore, irises decorate the garden not only during flowering.

Peduncles branch and carry from 1 to 10 flowers or more. The number of branches depends on the species and variety. stem height at various kinds varies greatly - from 15 cm in dwarf iris to 2 m in marsh.

The flowers, distinguished by extraordinary grace and sophistication, consist of 6 perianth lobes arranged in two tiers: three outer petals are bent down, and three inner petals are raised up and form a dome. Perianth segments are deployed in such a way that any detail of each "petal" is visible. What do iris flowers look like? bearded varieties? On their lower petals are soft bristly outgrowths resembling a beard, which gave the name to the group.

The iris flower is remarkable for its sparkling, mysterious brilliance of the petals, especially noticeable in the oblique rays of the sun or under electric lighting. This is due to the peculiar structure of cells that focus light, like miniature optical lenses. No wonder in the old days some called irises gems iridescent color.

The color of the flowers is unusually diverse. There are solemnly velvety, mysterious black irises, but no less mysterious is the sparkling brilliance of white and light blue flowers, reminiscent of the transparency of ice or crystal. And between white and black - a whole range of blue, purple, pink, yellow, reddish and even brown shades. Neither painting nor photography fully conveys the play of color, texture, graceful lines of these flowers. No wonder irises are compared with.

See how the iris looks in the photo to once again enjoy the beauty of this plant:

Conditions for growing bearded irises

Now it's time to learn how irises are grown in personal plots. For hybrid bearded irises, select sunny places, protected from strong wind. They can tolerate light partial shade from trees. Most varieties are very large flowers, for which gusts of wind with rain are especially dangerous. Therefore, during the period of mass flowering in windy, rainy weather, garter of peduncles is required.

One more important condition for growing irises - the presence of light, loamy soil. If the soil on the site is heavy, it needs to be improved by adding sand and peat. Wood ash is added to acidic soils. Before planting, the site should be dug up on a shovel bayonet and carefully remove all weeds. The rotted manure is applied to a depth of 20-25 cm without mixing it with the ground.

Irises are afraid of excessive moisture, so they grow best in areas with a low standing groundwater. However, during the period of budding and flowering, they show an increased need for water. Good watering at this time helps to prolong flowering and creates favorable conditions for pollination. Watering is best done in the evening.

The faded flowers of bearded irises are removed, and the flower stalks are completely broken out at the end of flowering. In late autumn, the leaves are shortened to 10 cm. Plants are covered with a small layer of mulch for the winter. Frost-resistant varieties are covered more carefully. In the spring, after the snow melts, carefully stir up the caked winter shelter. It is completely removed in early or mid-April, depending on weather conditions. Bearded irises, despite their southern origin, tolerate spring frosts quite well compared to other perennials with temperatures dropping to -5 ... -7 ° С.

How to plant irises and how to care for them

And how to plant irises in order to ensure their violent growth? Plants propagate by rhizomes. To do this, the root is dug up, divided into planting units, the so-called divisions, each of which consists of 1-3 annual units. Before planting irises, root sections are treated with crushed charcoal or a solution of potassium permanganate.

When is the best time to plant irises so that they sprout on time? The optimal time for planting irises is 2 weeks after flowering. With a clod of earth, they can be transplanted at any time. However, late planting (later September 10-15) leads to poor rooting of plants. When planting, it is important that the delenka is not buried. The rhizome is located almost at the level of the soil surface. A mound of earth is poured at the bottom of the hole and the roots are evenly spread along its slopes, covered with earth and pressed tightly with hands. Plentifully watered with water, once again check whether the delenka is planted firmly enough. The rhizome should be horizontal, and the leaf fan should be slightly sloping. Tall and medium-sized irises are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other, and undersized - 15-20 cm.

Landing links are positioned so that there is room for "movement". The root system of irises is directed forward (in the course of rhizome growth), and the planted delenka will continue to grow with that part where the leaf fan is located. When nesting planting irises, the plane of the leaves should be directed across the outlined circle.

If the soil is clayey and does not pass water well, it is recommended to plant the delenka on a “pillow” of sand or fine gravel so that the water does not stagnate and the rhizome does not rot. When planting, the rhizome is not buried, but only sprinkled with a layer of earth no more than 2-3 cm - over time, it will come to the surface on its own.

After planting irises, when caring for plants, top dressing is carried out at least three times. There are no universal recommendations on how to care for irises in terms of fertilizer, but one rule must be firmly remembered: excessive feeding is detrimental to plants. The first top dressing is carried out in the spring, immediately after removing the shelter (nitrogen-phosphorus - 3: 1), the second after 2-3 weeks (nitrogen-potassium - 1: 1). At the end of flowering, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (3:1:3) is added. The last feeding is very important for good flowering irises next year, it should not be missed. Top dressing is carried out at the rate of 10 liters of solution per 1 m2, or for 6 iris bushes. During the summer, the soil around the plants is lightly sprinkled 1-3 times with ash, which is not only top dressing, but also repels pests and prevents diseases.

Here you can see photos of planting and caring for irises of various groups:

Now that you know how to care for irises, check out the most popular varieties.

Varieties of bearded irises with photos, names and flowering periods

Bearded irises are divided into 3 groups according to height: undersized (25-36 cm), medium-sized (37-70 cm), tall (more than 70 cm).

According to the timing of flowering, varieties are divided into early, mid-early, medium, medium-late and late. The beginning of flowering of each of these subgroups may vary in different years depending on weather conditions. For example, in the Moscow region early varieties bearded irises bloom in mid-May and bloom until the end of the month. Medium-early bloom in the last five days of May and finish flowering in the first decade of June. Medium and mid-late varieties that prevail in our gardens bloom throughout June. Late varieties, blooming in early July, are grown extremely rarely.

According to the color of the flower, irises are divided into 13 classes: white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, red-violet, black, two-tone, two-tone, bordered, iridescent.

It should be noted that the green color of irises has a yellowish or brownish tint. There are no varieties with a scarlet, pure red color: irises have brown, terracotta, cherry shades. Pink irises are classified as light red. Brown color classified as dark orange. Black has blue, purple, brown, dark cherry shades and is characterized by a special depth and velvety.

Below you will see photos and names of varieties of bearded irises that have bloomed since mid-May, as well as read their descriptions.

"Arkady Raikin". This variety of iris got its name in honor of the great Russian comedian. Peduncle 80-100 cm, strong, short-branched, 5-7-flowered. Flower 12-13 cm, delicate reddish-pink color, the outer lobes are semi-drooping, the inner ones are slightly corrugated along the edges, the aroma is strong.

"Beverly Hills". The height of the bush is 50 cm, peduncles - 80-85 cm. In the inflorescence 3-4 very showy flowers 17 cm in diameter. The upper perianth lobes are light pink, very wavy, the lower ones are paler, floating. The beard is pink.

Blue Staccato. The height of the bush is 55-60 cm, peduncles - 90-100 cm. In the inflorescence 4-5 very showy flowers with a diameter of 16 cm.

Pay attention to the photo of flowers bearded iris of this variety - the upper perianth lobes are blue-blue, wavy, slightly fringed, the lower ones are white with a blurry blue border, the beard is golden yellow:

"Burgomaster". The height of the peduncles is 100-110 cm. There are 5-7 flowers in the inflorescence. The outer lobes are purple-lilac with a brownish border, the inner ones are yellowish-cream. The beauty of the flower is emphasized by graceful corrugation.

"Guards". Peduncle 125-140 cm, strong, long-branched, 10-12-flowered. Flower 14-15 cm, sunny yellow with an orange beard, aroma strong, honey.

Canada Gold. Peduncle 90-105 cm, strong, short-branched. The flower is light golden yellow with an orange beard, the aroma is strong. It blooms profusely, the bush grows quickly.

"Supreme Sultan". It has a powerful bush with strong peduncles up to 120 cm high and more. It has the largest flowers to date (more than 20 cm in diameter). This variety of bearded iris belongs to the two-colored: the inner lobes are bronze-yellow, the outer ones are red-brown, velvety. It is distinguished by excellent corrugation and unusual bubble edges of the petals.

"Kentaki Derby". The height of the bush is 50 cm, the peduncles are 80-90 cm. In the inflorescence there are 5-6 flowers with a diameter of 16 cm. The perianth segments are light lemon-yellow, wavy, with fringed edges, on the lower ones there is a creamy white spot in the center. The beard is golden.

When choosing bearded irises for growing on your site, first of all, decide on the size. The fact is that these flowers are different in height: there are bearded irises that grow up to 70 cm, and there are those that rise no higher than 5 cm above the ground. The best varieties bearded irises must meet certain requirements, you will learn about them by reading this material.

Medium-sized, tall and miniature bearded irises

Bearded irises - the most extensive group of irises, consisting of several classes.

Tall Bearded Irises (TV)- powerful plants with a height of 71 cm with a branched peduncle, many buds and large flowers, sometimes up to 20 cm in diameter. In the Moscow region, they bloom from mid-June to early July.

Medium-sized bearded irises (MB) - from 41 to 70 cm high, are divided in turn into three groups:

border irises (BB) with a flowering period similar to tall bearded, but with a proportionally smaller flower;
intermedia irises (IB) with a flower size of 10-13 cm and a flowering period in the Moscow region from the beginning of June; not necessarily strongly branched, but forming profusely flowering bush;
table, or miniature high bearded irises (MTV) - with a high thin branched peduncle and relatively small (not wider than 8 cm) flowers, used mostly for a bouquet and a table, from where their name came from.

Standard Bearded Dwarfs (SDB)- 21-40 cm high, bloom in the Moscow region from the end of May.

Miniature bearded dwarfs (MDB)- the smallest, the height of such bearded irises is 5-20 cm. These flowers bloom very early (in the Moscow region from the first half of May).

Requirements for tall bearded irises

The modern tall bearded iris is a striking flower! Anyone who sees him is fascinated by his beauty and extremely surprised when he learns that growing luxurious irises is no more difficult than any other garden flowers or even vegetables in the garden. Perhaps, so many erroneous opinions have not developed about any culture that many, even very sophisticated gardeners, are wary of it, usually opposing new varieties to old ones. And it’s completely in vain: among modern varieties there are plenty of those that can reliably and regularly bloom in the middle lane and even have some advantage in resistance to the hardships of our harsh climate compared to historical varieties. Therefore, undoubtedly, it is worth striving to acquire new varieties. But the main advantage of the new varieties is that they are immeasurably more beautiful than the old ones.

The flower breeding progress of tall bearded irises is astonishing. The main attention is paid to the flower, because even just one flower - whether it grows in the garden or stands in a vase - is able to conquer the gardener's imagination and fall in love with him forever. Until now, there are more and more new color combinations, exquisite color patterns, instantly gaining immense popularity. But despite all the advances in expansion colors irises, the focus is on the quality of the flower.

The quality of a flower is understood as:

wide, sometimes closing at the bases halyards and closed standards, making the flower collected, rounded and expressive;
the density of the texture of the petals, providing resistance to precipitation and a longer flower life;
grace and uniformity of corrugation of shares;
width, density and expressiveness of the beards.

An example of excellent flower quality is Keith Keppel's 'Paris Fashion'. Giant flowers also require peduncles proportional to their size - tall, strong, resistant to gusts of wind. So that the opening flowers do not interfere with each other, they must be “spaced” on sufficiently long branches, and in order to ensure a longer flowering period, the inflorescence must have a large number of buds.

Of particular attraction are the so-called exhibition varieties, which have 3-5 simultaneously opened flowers on the peduncle.

Considerable attention is also paid to the garden attractiveness of the iris - the health of the foliage, the rapid growth of the bush and the representativeness of its flowering, when the number of peduncles on the bush is considered optimal, approximately equal to half the number of leaf fans.

Of particular interest are such varieties, the bushes of which do not throw out flower stalks at the same time, but over a certain period of time, providing exceptionally long flowering. Remontant varieties have long flowering.

At correct selection varieties, the flowering of tall bearded irises stretches for 50 days.

The main requirement for varieties of irises for cultivation in northern regions, - growth energy, it allows you to compensate for many other shortcomings of the plant. The next most important quality is frost resistance. Ability to resist low temperatures in winter is associated with the rhythm of plant development. Irises, whose growth ends by the end of summer and the leaves die off, winter much better and, therefore, their flower buds are not damaged in severe winters.

Tall bearded irises are a very thermophilic culture. So, in the Moscow region and to the north, only 20% of varieties from their total number successfully grow. Therefore, my advice to amateur gardeners is to be primarily interested in its frost resistance when buying.

resistance to fungus and bacterial diseases is another important quality. Resistance to bacteriosis and heterosporiosis provides healthy foliage, decorative plantings and flowering regularity.

The standard planting unit for bearded irises is usually a one-year growth of the iris rhizome. In the middle lane, they reach an acceptable size by the beginning of August. This is the reason for the recommended planting time - the first half of August, however, good results can be obtained when planting before the beginning of September.

What rhizomes are better to take for planting: large or small, annual (short) or biennial (long)? The answer to this question depends on your goals: if by all means you want to see an iris flower the next year after planting, choose a large rhizome with a wide fan of 6-8 leaves. If flowering next year is not important for you, but the reliability of overwintering and plant survival are paramount, choose a medium-sized one-two-year-old rhizome with a diameter of 2-2.5 cm, with 3-4 leaves.

Agricultural technology for growing bearded irises: planting and care

Agrotechnics for growing bearded irises depends on the purpose of their cultivation, so it is impossible to give any universal scheme. Some grow irises, planting and digging up planting material annually, usually for sale. Others plant irises to decorate the garden in a border, mixborder, rockery or on a rocky hill, where it is advisable not to touch them for several years.

The most important factors successful cultivation are illumination and drainage. Do not forget also that irises are heat-loving plants. The more sun the irises get in the garden, the better they bloom. A slight shade in the morning or evening is certainly acceptable, but only some varieties of irises, such as the intermedia ‘In a Flash’, will withstand a more serious shade. The southern slopes are preferable to the northern ones, and a place near the southern wall of the building will also be good. It is good if the landing site is cleared from the prevailing cold winds.

With excessive soil moisture, the respiration of the roots is disturbed, and they partially die off, which leads to a slowdown in plant development.

Under similar conditions, they also develop bacterial rot on the roots of irises.

If the soil is sufficiently drained, irises can be planted on flat surface, if the soil is heavy, clayey, then it is better to plant them on a hill or on ridges. Ridges are also more convenient in terms of winter shelter.

High soil fertility is the key to successful cultivation and productivity of tall bearded irises in central Russia.

Bearded irises do best in light, sandy soils. Loams are also acceptable, however the addition of sand and organic materials (peat, composted sawdust, humus) greatly improves the structure and permeability of the soil, leading to excellent results. It is only necessary to take into account that in order to improve the soil to a depth of 20 cm, it will be necessary to add about 100 liters of sand per 1 m2 of soil.

The optimal level of reaction of the soil environment (pH) is 6.8.

If you intend to grow irises on the ridges, then their preparation consists of the following operations:

freeing the site from the roots of perennial weeds;
bringing compost or other available organic material to the site;
leveling of organic matter over the site with simultaneous application wood ash or dolomite flour and mixing them with soil with a pitchfork or shovel.
entry under the rake mineral fertilizers: potassium sulfate and superphosphate, as well as ground or colloidal sulfur in the amount of 5-7 g / m2;
shaping the ridge profile and compacting the soil to avoid further subsidence and bulging of newly planted plants. The height of the bed profile after compaction is approximately 7-8 cm;
delivery of coarse-grained river or washed quarry sand to the ridges in such an amount as to form a layer of about 5-7 cm, and its leveling;
the ridge is ready for planting. In order to preserve the structure of the ridge, it is convenient to plant bearded irises as follows: slightly push the sand, sticking a shovel bayonet into it, place the roots of the iris division into the gap formed, compact the soil around the roots and water the substrate, move it to the planted division of the iris so that it is in the layer sand.

On the ridge, delenki are planted in such a way that the cut part of the rhizome is directed to the edge of the ridge, and the fan of leaves is directed to the middle. In this case, the growing roots will be directed towards the center of the ridge, which will make it easier to water the plants in the groove in the center of the ridge in the future.

Irises can be transplanted at any time during the growing season. However, a spring transplant can lead to poor flowering in current year. In the middle lane, optimal results are obtained when planting and transplanting irises in August: the plants have enough time to take root and gain sufficient mass to fully bloom next year. Irises planted later, that is, in autumn, usually remain healthy, but do not have time to take root before the onset of cold weather. This can lead to rhizomes sticking out of the ground when the soil freezes. To avoid bulging of the rhizome, additional mulching for the winter is required, or simply fixing the rhizome with a suitable improvised object.

A common mistake when planting and caring for bearded irises is to overburden the rhizome. Irises are recommended to be planted so that the back of the rhizome is at the surface of the soil. For the winter, it is better to sprinkle the open rhizome with soil, and in the spring it needs to be raked.

When caring for bearded irises, it is mandatory in the first weeks after planting irises for successful rooting. For abundant flowering, adult specimens of bearded irises need watering only with a lack of precipitation, especially in May, when hot, dry weather is often, sometimes in June-July. However, in August, and even more so in September-October, adult bushes no longer need watering. At this time, the plant is preparing for winter, and its growth should not be stimulated.

Irises should be fed both in early spring and 3-4 weeks after flowering. Fertilizing with soluble fertilizers gives a quick effect: in spring - complex with microelements, in July-August - with potassium phosphate.

For the successful cultivation of bearded irises, phosphorus is the most important of the main nutrients, therefore it is advisable to fill the soil with superphosphate (100 g / m2) or bone meal (200-300 g / m2) when preparing the site for irises. For spring and summer top dressing, you can use complex fertilizer with a low nitrogen content, for example, NPK=6:10:10. The autumn mixture has a ratio of NPK = 0:13:18, it also contains magnesium and elemental sulfur, the latter is 5%. Spring fertilizer mix has the formula NPK=8:37:11.

The best organic fertilizer for the culture of irises - well-rotted compost.

Bearded irises grow successfully in one place for 4-5 years. The specific terms for updating the bush depend both on the variety and on the agricultural technology used. Some time after planting, the iris bush thickens, which eventually leads to the cessation of flowering. How quickly thickening occurs depends on the multiplication factor of the variety. Some varieties are characterized by vigorous growth, and at the same time are not too demanding on external conditions.

With the age of the bush, it is desirable to increase the number of dressings. If these measures do not bring the desired effect, the entire bush must be dug up, the soil renewed by adding ripe compost and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and planting 3-4 of the strongest shoots, shortening the leaves by about 2/3.

Many modern varieties do not need shelter for the winter. If the variety is chosen for the beauty of the flower, but not winter-hardy enough, additional efforts will be required in preparation for winter. The main problems for irises in winter in the middle lane arise when an ice crust forms on the frozen ground without snow, preventing the plants from breathing.

It is convenient to cover irises with spruce branches or oak leaves having the property not to cake. To prevent such a frame from getting wet, it must be covered with a non-woven covering material or a film - irises will not soak under them in winter.

irises the best way hibernate under dry-air shelter with preliminary drying of the ridge, for which one month is usually enough. The easiest way to protect against rain is with a dense reinforced film laid on arcs or directly on the foliage of irises. At the same time, the ends of the shelter should be open for free air circulation, and they should be closed for the winter. Estimated time for the construction of the shelter - the end of October - the beginning of November.

In the spring, the film is removed from the shelter as early as possible, immediately after the snow melts, and other material is removed as needed.

Varietal irises are propagated vegetatively, that is, by dividing the rhizomes. For accelerated reproduction, it is necessary to remove the flower bud in the fall, located at the base of the leaf fan. After that, the lateral buds start to grow in the plant, which in the spring form new powerful shoots. To separate them, you do not need to dig out the rhizome. On a dry sunny day, you need to rake the ground, cut off dried and yellowing leaves, and cut off the remaining green leaves to the rhizome. The cut must be disinfected and left to dry in the sun. After the wound heals after a few days, the rhizome must be mulched with soil so that roots can form in the awakening buds. The division of the rhizome into bud cuttings, often recommended for propagation of irises, is much less effective method, since in this case the plant is severely injured and, as a result, flowering occurs much later.

For reproduction, dormant buds on 2-3-year-old rhizomes can also be successfully used. To do this, pieces of rhizomes are cut out from the middle of the bush and simply transplanted to a new place.

New varieties of tall bearded irises for the middle lane

When describing, the following data are given: the name of the bearded iris variety, originator, year of registration, flower characteristics, flowering period.

Sundress

Pirogov 2000

Golden-smoky top with a lilac touch. On the white field of the bottom there are purple dots and strokes, a golden-smoky border. Bright yellow pistil ridges glowing in the depths of the flower. Exceptionally vigorous growth and regular abundant and long flowering. Early.

Queen

Sholupov 2003

Intense purple-violet, with a velvety texture of the lobes and powerful corrugation. Exhibition peduncle easily holds several simultaneously opened flowers. Average term flowering.

Cranberry Sauce

Black 2002

Cranberry South

Silky-shiny flower with purple-crimson overflow. Yellow beards emphasize the magnificent depth of color. Average flowering period.

Darcy's Choice

Schreiner 2007

Aarsis Choice flower of original color with white beards on crimson halyards. Wonderful branched peduncle. Average flowering period.

Dawn To Dusk

Schreiner 2008

Aown Too Dusk

A bicolor pink-purple flower that takes on a unique color in acidic soils. gray shade: unexpected and attractive. Middle late.

Edgefield Glow

Schreiner 2011

Edgefield Glow

Exceptional brightness orange flower with dark tangerine beards. This new variety of bearded iris has an incomparable color and excellent vigor not found in other orange varieties. Mid-early.

Never Been Kissed

Blyth 2008

Never Win

Kissed Fashionable reverse: blue top and pure white bottom. Luxurious flower delicate coloring. Distinctive feature- the best corrugation to date. Mid-early.

Palace Symphony

Blyth 2007

Palace Symphonies

Purple-wine flower with almost black beards and exceptional ruffles. A variety that combines the best features of American and Australian selection. Average flowering period.

Royal Birth

Royal 2003

Royal Burf