Top dressing for bearded irises. Iris bearded planting and care in the open field. soil care

Winter hardiness of 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, dried and planted 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 after planting irises, it 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 layer up to 10 cm; shelter is removed in early spring.

Iris (lat. Іris), or Iris, or Cockerel- a genus of rhizomatous perennials of the Kasatikovye family, or Iris (Iridaceae). Irises grow everywhere and there are about 700 species of various shapes and shades. Translated, iris means "rainbow". This is how Hippocrates named the flower in honor of Irida, the goddess of the rainbow. The legend says that when Prometheus gave fire to people, a rainbow flashed - nature rejoiced so much. The rainbow shimmered all day, evening and night, and when the darkness receded and the sun rose, everyone saw that amazing irises bloomed on the ground - flowers that looked like a rainbow. Florence (translated as “blooming”) got its name from the Romans because the fields around the city were dotted with irises. The iris flower has been cultivated for over two thousand years. And they are grown not only as a decoration of gardens, but also as a valuable raw material for the production of essences in the perfume industry.

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Planting and caring for irises (in brief)

  • Landing: specific plants- sowing seeds in open ground before winter or after stratification seed spring. Varietal - by dividing rhizomes and planting delenok in the ground every 3-4 years after flowering.
  • Bloom: from May to mid-summer.
  • Lighting: bright sunlight in the first half of the day.
  • The soil: fertile, drained, cultivated to a depth of 20 cm, in composition - light or medium, neutral or slightly alkaline.
  • Watering: regular, sufficient, during the budding period - plentiful.
  • Top dressing: mineral complex fertilizers in liquid form until flowering. Do not feed during flowering. Do not use organic.
  • Reproduction: seed, vegetative (rhizome division).
  • Pests: gladiolus thrips, scoops, aphids, onion root mites, onion hoverflies, stem, strawberry and gall nematodes, slugs, bears, wireworms, beetles.
  • Diseases: bacteriosis, gray rot, fusarium.

Read more about growing irises below.

Iris flowers - description

Irises are rhizomatous plants. Cord-like or filiform roots grow on the rhizome. Peduncles (one or more) annual. The leaves are flat, xiphoid, thin, two-row, sometimes linear, with a waxy coating. They are collected in fan bundles at the base of the peduncle, there are almost no stem leaves. The flowers of irises are solitary, sometimes in small inflorescences, large, often fragrant, distinguished by an intricate elegant shape and are painted in the most various colors and their combinations. The flower has six petals (actually these are perianth lobes). The three outer lobes are slightly turned downwards, and they usually differ in color from the upper lobes, which, fused at the bottom, form a tube. Irises bloom from May to July, two or three flowers bloom simultaneously from one to five days. The fruit of the iris is a three-celled capsule.

Growing iris - features

Many amateurs refuse to breed irises, believing that it is very difficult process. In fact, growing irises is by no means tedious or as time-consuming as it seems. You just need to know some of the subtleties that distinguish the care of these beautiful flowers.

First of all, the peculiarity of irises is that their rhizomes grow horizontally and often become bare when they come to the surface. Therefore, irises in winter must be sprinkled with earth and peat so that they do not freeze out. In the spring, this coating is carefully removed.

Secondly, irises love to move around, and in one year they can shift their location to the side by several centimeters. To make the rows look evener, you need to plant irises with a fan of leaves along, and not across the row.

Thirdly, you need to plant the bearded iris on the sand: sand is poured into the bottom of the hole and the iris root is spread over it. With a deep planting, the iris will either disappear or not bloom.

Fourth, don't feed the irises organic fertilizers they don't like them. best view top dressing - mineral fertilizers in liquid form.

When and where to plant irises

There is a generally accepted opinion that irises should be divided and transplanted immediately after flowering, so that they have time to take root before winter. But if autumn is warm and long in your area, you can take your time with a transplant. Actually, irises can be planted in spring, autumn, and summer after flowering. The main thing is not to forget to replant irises every 3-4 years, and Siberian irises - at least once every ten years, otherwise they degenerate, grow and stop blooming.

In the photo: Growing irises in a flower bed

It is necessary to plant bearded irises on slopes or hills well lit in the first half of the day, protected from drafts, so that there is an outflow melt water and good drainage. Swamp and Siberian irises, on the contrary, love moist soil. But both those and other irises love rich soil, and if the soil on your site does not meet this requirement, add oily garden soil or compost to the soil in the spring before planting, fertilize it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour, chalk or wood ash. If the site is loam, add peat and sand, if, on the contrary, the site is sandy, add clay soil. For disinfection before planting, spill the area with a fungicide and treat with herbicides from possible weeds.

Do not use manure to fertilize the site.

Planting irises in spring

Planting and caring for irises require some knowledge, but not as much effort as it seems to beginner growers. Planting material, if it was stored for the winter or was bought in a store, it is better to treat it with growth stimulants such as Ecogel or Zircon before planting. Long roots must be carefully trimmed, rotted places removed, and the root should be held for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.

Planting irises is carried out as follows: sand is poured into a shallow hole, a bearded iris rhizome is laid horizontally on top, the roots are straightened, covered with soil in such a way that top part rhizomes remained above the level, and well watered. If you bury the entire rhizome, you can provoke its decay. beardless irises, on the contrary, it is necessary to deepen a few centimeters and, in addition, mulch to preserve moisture with fallen needles or peat. The distance between irises should be at least half a meter.

In the photo: How to plant irises in open ground

Planting irises in autumn

Irises are planted in spring in the same way as in autumn, or rather late summer, namely after flowering. This usually happens from August to the end of September, although the sooner you plant, transplant or transplant irises, the more certain that they will take root. It is necessary to dig up an iris bush with a pitchfork, divide it into annual links with a leaf spatula, carefully shorten the cord-like roots, cut out damaged or rotted places, disinfect for a couple of hours in a dark pink potassium permanganate solution, then dry in the sun for 4-5 hours. Planting irises is carried out in a way already known to you. The distance between low-growing irises is 15 cm, medium-sized - 20 cm, high - 50 cm.

In the photo: Planting irises in a flower bed

Iris Care

How to care for irises in the garden

Love for warmth and light main feature irises. Concerning glaze, then it is important to strictly monitor the amount of moisture received by plants precisely in the budding phase. At this time, watering should be regular and sufficient. In general, irises need to be watered only when the soil near the roots becomes very dry.

Concerning top dressing, then in most cases it will be sufficient to fertilize the soil during the spring preparation of the site. But if you think that plants need nourishment, then it is appropriate in the form of a solution of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers applied under the root during growth, but it is absolutely impossible to fertilize irises during flowering.

In the photo: Iris rhizome

You will have to fight weeds throughout the growing season. weeding carried out manually, since the horizontally developing root system of irises is very close to the surface, and you can accidentally disturb it while working with a chopper. Occasionally, you still need to loosen the soil, but you need to do this very carefully, trying not to damage the roots. And one more thing: do not be lazy to remove wilted flowers, otherwise they can become a breeding ground for pests.

Diseases and pests of irises

The more elegant and colorful the iris variety in the flower bed, the higher the likelihood of it being affected by diseases and pests. The main condition for the health of your plants is compliance with all the rules of agricultural technology of the species. In addition, it is necessary to monitor the "well-being" of irises throughout the growing season in order to see the problem in time and be able to eliminate it.

If the plant is affected by fusarium or another type of rot, the delay in death is similar: you must immediately remove and destroy the diseased specimen and be sure to shed the rest of the irises along the roots and under the root with a two percent solution of Fundazol. Use this drug as preventive treatment rhizomes before planting, then the risk of disease will be reduced.

As a preventive measure against spotting of all kinds, spraying of irises with a one percent solution of Bordeaux mixture is used.

In the photo: Iris rots

Of the pests, irises most often affect scoops, eating away the bases of peduncles, as a result of which they turn yellow and die. To avoid this problem, you need to spray the irises with a ten percent solution of karbofos at the beginning of the growing season twice with a weekly interval.

They attack irises and gladiolus thrips, from which photosynthesis is disturbed in the leaves of plants, they turn brown and dry out. Iris buds affected by thrips become ugly and discolor. The risk of infection with thrips is especially high in dry summers. You can fix the problem with Karbofos, as in the case of the scoop, or by spraying the plants with a strained ten-day infusion of 400 g of shag with the addition of 40 g of grated laundry soap.

Iris pests can become slugs. To get rid of them, spread wet rags or burdock leaves between the iris bushes that the slugs use as a hiding place, then gather them together with the slugs and destroy them. There is another way to deal with slugs: in dry weather, early in the morning or in the evening, scatter granular metaldehyde over the area at the rate of 30-40 g per 10 m 2.

If you are not going to plant your irises this year, then it is best to cut the flower stalks after flowering is over. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, you can cut off the yellowness by making the tip of the leaf semicircular - it looks very nice, and your iris will still decorate the flower bed, and its rhizome will be recruited nutrients for growth and flowering next year.

If the autumn is warm, the irises may bloom again.

When the leaves finally wither, cut them at a height of 10-15 cm and burn them to destroy possible eggs of pests or pathogens.

In the photo: Reproduction of irises by division

Before the onset of cold weather, sprinkle the exposed roots of irises with earth, mulch the area with a layer of sand or peat 8-10 cm thick. If there is a possibility of severe or prolonged frost, cover the area with dry foliage or spruce branches. If the winter is snowy, the irises will not need shelter.

If you bought or dug up bearded iris rhizomes in the fall and want to keep them until spring, the most the best place for their storage - cold dry room. Put well-dried roots in a box and take them out to the balcony or loggia. Only you need to pre-wrap each root in paper, cloth or pour them in a box with dry sawdust or dry peat.

In the photo: Preparing irises for storage

All other types of irises are moisture-loving, therefore The best way to save the iris root until spring is to plant it in a flowerpot, after cutting off the long roots, disinfecting it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and drying it after that. The root is immersed in the ground not deep, lightly sprinkled with earth on top. In the spring, a sprouted root along with earthy clod planted in the ground.

Types and varieties of irises

bearded irises

Root irises according to the shape of the flower of botany are divided into bearded and non-bearded. Bearded irises, so called because of the shaggy hairs on the petals, have their own classification (tall, medium tall, border, standard medium tall, small-flowered medium tall, binding medium tall, standard dwarf, miniature dwarf, table, arilbreds, arils and arilbreds, non-aryl-like arilbreds, arils and aryl-like arylbreda). But this classification is for scientists, for amateur flower growers, they are all just bearded irises of different sizes.

In the photo: Bearded irises

In the photo: Bearded irises

In the photo: Bearded irises

In culture, there are hundreds of varieties of tall bearded iris, which also exists under the name Germanic iris. Germanic iris is the most common type of bearded iris. Here are some popular varieties that will brighten up any garden:

  • Baltic Sea– heavily ruffled irises richly blue color with blue beards;
  • Bewilderbest- ruffled creamy burgundy red with stripes and strokes of yellow and white;
  • Acoma- sky blue-ivory with lavender border, very popular with Americans.

German iris (Iris germanica)

German iris (Iris germanica)

Unbearded irises

The generalizing name is conditional, includes the following species: Siberian iris, Japanese iris, spuria iris, Louisiana iris, California iris, marsh iris and other irises (specific and interspecific). We will tell you about the most popular species in our latitudes:

Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)

Whose natural color varies from blue to dark purple, although today about 1000 varieties have already been bred with different colors, for example:

  • white irises Snow Queen;
  • Imperial Opal height 80 cm pink lavender, flowers up to 10 cm in diameter;
  • iris yellow with white border Battz & Suga.

There is only one drawback - the Siberian iris is devoid of aroma.

In the photo: Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)

In the photo: Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)

Japanese iris (Iris japonica)

He is the iris xiphoid, he is the iris Kempfler with orchid large flowers up to 25 cm in diameter, odorless. Japanese breeders bred multi-petal and terry garden form Japanese iris, which is called hana-shobu. Unfortunately, this species is not frost-resistant, therefore, varieties bred specifically for our latitudes are recommended to flower growers.

Many consider them rustic, but in fact the bearded iris flower is very multifaceted - a magnificent collection of bearded irises will simply transform a summer flower garden in any area, make it unique and colorful. Thanks to a huge number garden varieties of this plant, everyone will be able to choose for themselves the flower that will perfectly match the goal.

In this article, we will consider the features of growing bearded iris - the most popular species among gardeners, give a description of the varieties of this flower, and also note the basic rules of how to plant bearded iris and how to care for it.

Botanical description and features of bearded iris

Bearded iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant that belongs to the Kasatikovye or Iris family. These bright and unusual flowers can be found on almost all continents, therefore, without false modesty, the bearded iris should be called an international flower. These are such unique flowers that it is difficult to even convey their beauty and main features. Bearded irises in nature can easily interbreed and thus create new bright varieties. It was this feature that attracted breeders from all over the world and made it possible to breed several tens of thousands different varieties bearded iris.

There are a large number of legends associated with the appearance of this flower on earth, with the origin of its name. Iris is translated from Latin as "rainbow". That was the name of the ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow Irida, who was the link between the gods and people. She personified a beautiful and fragile girl with two delicate wings behind her back, ready to fly into the sky at the slightest call, sparkling with all the shades of the rainbow. In honor of this goddess, irises flowers were named, which, like the smallest fragments of a rainbow, adorn fields and meadows. There is another legend about the appearance of this beautiful flower. She refers us to the times of the reign of the gods and the appearance of Prometheus in the world. At the moment when Prometheus gave fire to people, a rainbow flashed in the sky, which gave people light and joy all day, all evening and all night. This is how nature expressed its jubilation. And when the sun rose in the morning, there was no rainbow in the sky, but the whole earth was strewn with bright colors of irises, which resembled fragments of a multi-colored rainbow.

The first mention of iris flowers was recorded 2000 years ago. The painted flower was discovered by archaeologists in the palace of Minos, and many years later the iris became a sacred and revered flower on the island of Cyprus. Now the bearded iris flower is a favorite flower not only of numerous breeders for whom working with it is a pleasure, but also of millions of gardeners who have appreciated its beauty and unpretentiousness.

Description of bearded iris:

  • Bearded iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant that has become widespread throughout the world.
  • Today there is a rather complicated classification of iris species, which is difficult for an ordinary gardener to understand. Therefore, fans of this unusual flower group all varieties very simply: bearded and not bearded. Bearded irises are the most popular variety, which attracts gardeners with bright colors and an interesting form of inflorescences.
  • The root system of bearded irises is superficial, sometimes showing up from the ground. It has many small thread-like roots. By appearance has several annual seals that spread and allow the plant to grow.
  • Every spring, an annual peduncle grows from the rhizome, on which flowers subsequently bloom.
  • The leaves of the iris are bearded long and flat, they can be xiphoid or linear in shape, very thin, covered with a wax coating.
  • The leaves are arranged in two-row fan beams at the very base of the peduncle. These are root leaves. Stem leaves are small, there are very few of them.
  • The color of the leaves is light green.
  • Height bearded plants divided into several groups: dwarf - up to 35 cm high, intermedia - 40-75 cm high and high bearded irises - up to 2 m high.
  • The main decoration of the bearded iris is its flowers, which amaze with a variety of shades and intricate shapes.
  • The flower consists of 6 petals, which are arranged in two tiers. Three of them rise with a dome upwards, and the remaining three are slightly lowered and bent down. The colors of the petals are often multi-colored: red-orange-yellow, blue-blue, purple-blue with white. Among the variety of shades, there is not only pure red.
  • The name of the bearded iris variety comes from a small beard on bent petals, which consists of small woolly hairs, often of a contrasting shade. Hence the name of this variety.
  • The flowers of the bearded iris can be single or collected in small inflorescences. A large bush can have about 10 flowers on one peduncle.
  • Flowering begins around the end of May or early June. One flower can bloom 3-5 days.
  • Some varieties have pleasant aroma, so they are often grown for industrial purposes to obtain essences for cosmetology.
  • After the flowers have faded, the fruits appear on the plant in the form of a three-celled box.

A variety of varieties of bearded iris

Irises already long time are considered one of the most popular garden flowers, the variety of colors and shapes of which is simply amazing. The most popular are bearded irises, which group includes approximately 35,000 different varieties that differ in height, shape and size of inflorescences, color. Today there is a very complex classification of species and varieties of irises, which is quite difficult for ordinary gardeners to understand. Many still distribute according to the beard on the petals. Consider the description of the best bearded irises.

  • Variety "Beverly Hills". This is a tall bearded iris, the peduncle can reach a height of about 90 cm. The leaves of this flower are long and narrow, have a bright green tint. Bush bearded iris grows rapidly. The flower is medium in size, its shade is coral pink with a lacy reddish beard. Flowering variety Beverly Hills begins in early July.

  • Variety of bearded iris "Burgomaster". Another tall variety, the peduncle of which can reach a height of about 80 cm. The flower is medium in size, the petals are orange-purple on the edge, dark purple inside. Inside the flower, the petals are slightly yellowish with a pinkish tinge.
  • Sort "Batik". This variety of bearded iris can reach a height of about 70-80 cm. The leaves are narrow, they do not lose their bright green color until the end of summer. The flowers are quite large, up to 16-16 cm each. By the name of the variety, it is clear that the color of the petals will be in the well-known artistic technique of batik. Flower purple hue with large quantity white veins.

  • Variety "Summer Night". A beautiful, tall variety of bearded iris, which can reach a height of 80-90 cm. Medium-sized flowers of a bright purple hue with a yellow core. The flowering of this variety of iris begins in early or mid-July. Flowers have a pronounced fragrance.
  • Variety of bearded iris "Starfall". A tall variety of bearded iris, which can reach a height of 75-80 cm. The flowers are medium in size, their shade is light yellow with a bright orange beard.
  • Variety of bearded iris "Arkady Raikin". Tall iris, which has a bright beautiful shade. The flowers are medium in size, the petals of which are pink-red in color with a contrasting orange beard. The flowers have a strong fragrance.

  • Variety of bearded iris "Abkhazia". These are medium sized flowers that differ late deadline flowering. Flowers are large, purple-brown. Petals along the edge are strongly wavy, have many folds, due to which the flower seems to be fringed.
  • Variety of bearded iris "Guards". This variety of bearded iris is considered one of the tallest and most fragrant, which will become great decoration any area. The flowers are large, reach a diameter of about 15 cm, consist of bright yellow petals.
  • Variety of bearded iris "Elbrus Diamond". This variety of iris is also very popular among gardeners. A tall plant that can reach about 80-90 cm. The flowers are massive, white in color with a bright orange-yellow core and veins on the petals.
  • Variety "Caribbean Dream". A medium-sized variety of bearded iris, which is distinguished by a delicate vanilla aroma. The flowers are large, have a bright blue hue of the petals.

  • A variety of bearded iris "Crowd Heads". This variety of iris is a real miracle of selection. Plants of medium height, the middle of the flowers has a bright purple-blue hue, the extreme petals are silver-blue. The flower has a wonderful fragrance.
  • Sort "Noon in Rio". Beautiful variety bearded iris in bright purple tones. The petals of the flower are bright purple with a lacy wavy edge. The beard has a golden color.
  • Variety "Nain Lives". dwarf variety bearded iris, which can reach a height of about 25-35 cm. The central petals are creamy, the outer petals are dark red-burgundy with a wide light pink border and a central golden spot.

Reproduction of bearded iris: common methods

Often planting material Bearded irises are purchased from specialized stores. However, if a beautiful bush of this bright flower, you can try to breed an additional lot of young plants. There are several ways to do this: seed propagation, vegetative reproduction - division of the rhizome, bud method. Let us consider in more detail the main nuances of each method of reproduction.

Seed propagation of bearded iris

  • Seed propagation is used extremely rarely, since in its process the plant completely loses its maternal characteristics.
  • First of all, it is necessary to collect seeds in the fall, then decide on the time of sowing.
  • To do this, seeds can be sown in autumn or spring. However, when spring planting seeds must go through a stratification process.
  • Seeds must first be soaked and then dried. Then they are mixed with clean coarse sand and placed in a container, after which they are put in the refrigerator.
  • If you decide to sow immediately after collecting the seeds, then be sure to prepare the soil in advance, dig it up and loosen it.
  • After that, place the seeds in the soil to a depth of about 1.5-2 cm.
  • Seedlings will appear in the spring, but most of them germinate only in the second year after planting.

Reproduction of bearded iris by dividing the rhizome

  • This method of reproduction is considered the most popular and frequently used, since every three years the bearded iris bushes still need to be planted due to the loss of decorativeness.
  • You can start the propagation method by dividing the rhizome at the end of the summer dormancy of the iris.
  • To do this, the bush can be completely dug up or the delenki can be separated immediately from the bush growing in the flower bed.
  • The excavated rhizome must be washed under water, and then divided into required amount divide in such a way that each side has several healthy buds, a sufficient number of roots and a fan of leaves, consisting of 5-7 leaves.
  • The fan of leaves is shortened to about 15 cm, the roots also need to be cut to 10-15 cm.
  • After that, the delenki are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, after which they must be allowed to dry in the sun.
  • Delenki landed in a permanent place.
  • Irises planted with cuttings may bloom as early as next year.

Reproduction of bearded iris by bud method

  • Sometimes gardeners resort to kidney method reproduction of bearded irises. This is especially true in cases where it is urgently necessary to breed rare varieties bearded iris.
  • Each rhizome has axillary buds in the form of small tubercles.
  • It is necessary to cut the rhizome into several links with buds or cut a bud with a knife.
  • After that, the resulting kidneys must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or other disinfectant and plant in containers or nursery boxes.
  • In this way, you can get a large number of young plants at once.

Preparation before planting bearded iris

Iris bearded is one of the most popular colors at flower growers, since in this beautiful plant lies the beauty and brightness of the inflorescences and unpretentiousness in cultivation. However, like any other culture, bearded iris requires careful planting before planting. preparatory work, which consists in acquiring high-quality and healthy planting material and choosing the ideal place for planting on your site. Only after that you will get a beautiful and abundantly flowering plant.

Stage 1. Selection of varieties and seedlings of bearded iris

  • First of all, you need to decide on the choice of a particular variety of bearded iris. This is not easy to do, since today there are more than 35,000 varieties of this beautiful view plants.
  • Choose a bearded iris variety depending on the planting site. More tall varieties can be purchased for the central part of the flower bed, and undersized will look perfect as a border plant.
  • You need to buy iris delenki only in a specialized store or garden center, the only way to be sure of the quality of the purchased material. You can also take iris delenki from friends at the moment when the bearded iris is transplanted.
  • In stores, delenki are most often sold in transparent bags with a filler, for example, with sawdust.
  • Carefully inspect the division, it is better to choose large and healthy divisions that take root and bloom faster.
  • The purchased delenka must have at least one link with buds and roots. The rhizome itself should be dense and resilient, without traces of decay and softening. Yellowish spots should be clearly visible on it - signs of the appearance of future roots.
  • Delenka can be bought at any time of the year, as this planting material is not afraid of drying out. Most importantly, you can not store it in a package.

Stage 2. Choosing a place for planting bearded iris

  • Bearded iris is considered unpretentious culture and does not require the creation of special conditions for growing, however, to obtain bright blooming flower it is important to choose the right place.
  • Bearded iris will grow well only in a sunny area, only slight shading is allowed in the afternoon.
  • You should not plant irises in the shade of trees or shrubs, as the rhizome of this plant does not tolerate any shading.
  • The place you choose should be protected from drafts and strong wind, since a strong gust can simply break the delicate flowers of the bearded iris.
  • It is best to plant irises on an inclined plane, as these flowers do not like stagnant moisture at the rhizome.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil for bearded iris

  • For planting irises, it is important to find a site with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. If there is none, then lime can be added with a strong soil acid, and peat and sand can be added with a heavy one.
  • The soil should be light and breathable, even rocky soil will do.
  • Do not plant bearded irises on clay soils that retain moisture.
  • The soil should not have a large number of weeds that can become a carrier of diseases. A large number of organics are also very bad for flowers.
  • Before planting, carefully dig the selected area and loosen the place well.

Planting bearded iris - instructions

  • Bearded iris is planted in autumn, when the roots of the plant become hard and dense and will not break.
  • Next, in a place prepared in advance, dig right amount planting holes, the size of which will depend on the size of the divisions.
  • At the bottom of each it is important to pour good layer drainage, as this plant does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of moisture at the roots. Small stones, expanded clay or large and clean sand can be used as drainage.
  • Next, in the center of the hole, you need to pour a small mound of soil and place a division of the bearded iris on it, and distribute all the roots around it.
  • After that, you need to sprinkle the roots of the iris with soil, and the rhizome itself is slightly covered with clean sand with a layer of about 1-2 cm.
  • If you plant delenki in the fall, be sure to cover them with mulch so that they do not freeze out. At summer planting plants will take root.
  • Plants need to be watered after planting.

Agrotechnics of growing bearded iris: secrets and nuances of care

Pretty bearded irises undemanding plants, however, despite this, they constantly need regular and close care, which should consist in elementary actions familiar to every gardener. Proper care for bearded irises will provide beautiful and bright flowering plants.

  • Watering. Bearded irises have the ability to accumulate moisture in their rhizome, so they long time can do without watering. It is necessary to bring water under the root of these plants only during extreme heat and obvious drying of the soil. Young delenki also need abundant soil moisture.
  • Loosening and weeding. Irises also need regular loosening. however, it is important to remember here that the root system of this plant is superficial, and the tuber can generally be located on the surface. Therefore, you need to loosen very carefully, trying not to damage the tuber, which will be hard to recover. It is important to constantly remove weeds that can become a source of disease.
  • Top dressing. Bearded irises respond well to top dressing, however, it is necessary to choose fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content, as well as add less organic matter. Usually feed the plant three times per season. The first feeding is done in the spring before flowering - around the end of April. In this case, sodium nitrate can be used. The second top dressing is carried out during the budding period, when ammonium sulfate can be used as a fertilizer. The third feeding is recommended two weeks after flowering. At this time, you can feed the irises with phosphate and potash fertilizers.
  • Iris transplant. A few years after planting, the rhizome of the plant begins to grow, and the central part becomes lifeless. In this case, it is recommended to transplant the bearded iris, as the flower loses its decorative effect, the peduncles become shorter, and the flowers are smaller. It is recommended to repot irises every 3-4 years. Dwarf forms bearded iris can be repotted less often, as they can grow in one place for up to 10 years.
  • Pruning. After the flowering of the iris, its flower stalks must be cut off, and before the onset of winter, the leaves of the plant are also cut off at a height of 10-15 cm.
  • Shelter for the winter. Russian varieties of bearded iris can winter without shelter. however, more delicate imported varieties should still be covered. To do this, the soil is spudded with peat and covered with fallen leaves, preferably oak, since rodents do not live in it. After that, the plants are covered with spruce branches.

Bearded irises - photo

Bearded irises are the most popular representatives of their family, which have long been the favorites of many gardeners. These luxurious flowers with their bright colors can replace a whole flower bed of other flowering plants, while not requiring any additional effort or expense from you.

Many novice flower growers ask: "What should I do if the irises stop blooming? When should I replant them?"

Whatever variety of irises you choose - Siberian or bearded - each needs care. Irises are unpretentious plants, but they love to be looked after. These perennials with their variegated flowering can please every year if their wide bushes are thinned out. But after a year or two, a mandatory transplantation of irises to a new place is needed.

When buying a perennial, be sure to inspect the rhizome. If it is highly developed and there are 6-7 leaves on the rosette, you can safely carry it home - it will show bright flowers already next summer. Such a plant must necessarily take root, since it is sufficiently branched and therefore will provide its full nutrition. If you like beautiful irises, growing and caring for them will not cause any problems. You need to know that these perennials do not like to grow on the south side, but they also cannot stand partial shade. It is good if the sun illuminates them until noon, and diffused sunlight is recommended in the afternoon. Such conditions contribute to the formation of buds, otherwise only leaves grow from the rosette.

Iris care and proper transplantation

Those who have

relatively recently, colorful irises appeared, when to transplant them and how to properly care for them, they often look for the necessary information in various sources: the press, the Internet, books on floriculture. next year want to admire abundant flowering favorite plants, although they bloom for a short time. They need to be repotted after flowering. The most favorable period is July, August and September.

Bearded ones are taken to a new place, they react very sensitively to this. When transplanting, it is necessary to correctly place root system. If the root is too deep into the ground, it can rot. Then the plant will die or will not bloom at all. Therefore, follow the recommendations below when planting irises. So, on both sides of the intended place where the bush will be planted, dig shallow trenches parallel to each other. Take an iris bush and put it in the middle, and lower the roots into the dug holes. Thus, you will prevent injury to the roots, and plant the plant correctly.

Irises, when they begin to transplant, require after this procedure good watering. It is better if it is plentiful than superficial. After a day or two, water again, then the plant will take root well in a new place. Around the iris, you need to draw a recess so that the water fills this ditch, and does not spread far from the rhizome.

Siberian iris love light, relatively neutral. mineral fertilizers. Categorically avoid organic, as this threatens the appearance of diseases in plants. Your garden will be full of bright colors of irises if you study all the "whims" of this exotic plant, represented by many Dutch varieties.

Bearded iris can be seen on almost any personal plot- in a flower bed or in a flower garden. The bearded iris, planting and caring for which does not cause much trouble and does not require special skills and craftsmanship, is quite unpretentious perennial with luxurious inflorescences of the original form and the most diverse colors. Every season, breeders delight flower growers with more and more new hybrids, and today in flower shops you can buy planting material of bearded irises in both traditional shades and the most unexpected and unusual ones.

Bearded iris: what is it and how to distinguish it from other varieties of irises?

The iris family is quite extensive: it has more than 300 members, but the bearded iris, planting and caring for which is discussed in this article, is perhaps the most common type. Its inflorescences are quite large and complex shape: 6 petals are arranged in two tiers (three petals that securely protect the pistil and stamens form something like a tent, and the bottom three are smoothly lowered down). Distinctive feature bearded irises - the presence of a kind of "beard" on the lower petals: paths of numerous delicate villi, often having a contrasting color with respect to the color of the petals.

Iris leaves are dense, elongated, with distinct longitudinal veins and a pointed end. The rhizome consists of links that grow every year, is located on the surface of the soil or slightly buried in the ground, grows rapidly, forming dense thickets.

Growing bearded irises: how to choose the right place on the site and plant plants?

The best place to plant bearded irises is South side plot, protected from wind and drafts that can break fragile flowers, and also slightly shaded from bright sun rays. The soil of the bearded iris, planting and caring for which is planned on your site, prefers loose, weed-free, perhaps even rocky. Organic fertilizers should not be abused, as overfed iris will only increase excess green mass at the expense of flowering.

When planting young plants in the ground, it is important to ensure that the thickest links of the rhizome do not go deep into the soil, because then the plant will need a lot of strength to push the shoots to the surface of the earth. So, we dig a hole, pour a mound of earth into it, on which we place the rhizome. On the slopes of the mound we have smaller roots and sprinkle with earth. Some experienced growers they even recommend opening the rhizomes in the warm season, freeing them from the cover from the ground so that they can soak up the sun.

Bearded irises: organize proper watering

In conditions of moderate rainy summer irises practically do not need additional watering. If the summer is dry, it is enough to water your beloved bearded irises 1-2 times a week. Planting and caring for them are simple, only in some cases more intensive moisture is required:

For better rooting young plants in the first few weeks;

During application root dressings for better absorption;

During the period of budding and flowering, if natural moisture is not enough.

It is best to water bearded irises carefully, with a small pressure of water, so as not to wash out the rhizomes. Watering in the morning should be avoided, as drops of water that have fallen on the leaves and inflorescences during evaporation can leave burns and spoil decorative look irises.

In a word, the bearded iris, planting and caring for which is already being carried out by you on a personal plot or is only planned, is great choice for decorating a flower garden, a luxurious decoration for the whole season!