Once established, African iris requires very little maintenance and rarely needs supplemental watering. If clumps become crowded, don't hesitate to divide plants in spring. Use a sharp spade to slice the rhizomes apart.
How to divide and transplant Iris?
Siberian irises
- Divide large clumps shortly after flowering, using two forks inserted back to back in the centre of the lifted clump
- Remove any old rhizomes and roots; avoid breaking the clump into small sections
- Replant the younger outer sections to the same depth as they were planted before
How to grow, maintain, and divide bearded iris?
- Plant them in a sunny spot in late summer. The plants need well-drained soil and at least six hours of sunlight per day. ...
- Prepare their beds. ...
- Give them room to breathe. ...
- Do not mulch. ...
- Break off seedpods that form after the blooms have faded. ...
- Prune back the foliage in the fall. ...
- Make dividing a habit. ...
How to divide and transplant irises?
Bearded iris should be grown in a sunny location with good drainage. If replanting in the same location, remove any debris and incorporate compost first. Space the divisions 12-18″ apart. Iris are often placed in groups of three divisions arranged in a triangle, with each fan of leaves pointing away from the other irises in the group.
How to grow and divide irises?
Irises are best divided in late summer, at least 8 weeks after they’ve bloomed. To divide irises, use a spade or garden fork to carefully lift them out of the soil. Try not to spear or cut the rhizomes. Cut the foliage back to 4 to 6 inches. This pruning might seem harsh, but it reduces transplant shock.
How do you divide and replant African iris?
InstructionsDig up the Clump. Using a garden shovel, dig up the entire clump of iris. ... Divide the Clump Into Sections. Shake off loose dirt, and divide the large clump into sections by tugging it apart with your hands. ... Trim the Leaves. ... Inspect the Rhizome Sections. ... Prepare a Planting Hole. ... Plant the Iris. ... Caring for New Iris.
How do you thin African irises?
0:061:29Iris - How to thin for future growth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll you do with iris is really easy take the spin flowers. Just cut it back. And that's it cleanMoreAll you do with iris is really easy take the spin flowers. Just cut it back. And that's it clean them up a little bit you want to keep the foliage intact.
When should I divide an iris?
Late July through mid August is the best time to plant, move or divide iris. Iris is one of the most popular perennials in the garden and easy to grow. Although they provide pleasure for many years with little care, periodic dividing is an important cultural practice for maintaining plant health.
How do you split an iris plant?
Carefully remove the entire clump with a spade or garden fork. Divide the rhizomes by pulling them apart with your hands. The rhizome should easily break off at a joint. If a sharp knife is needed to separate the rhizome, dip the knife into 10% bleach and water solution after each cut.
Should African iris be cut back?
The short answer is yes, it's perfectly okay to completely cut back your Dietes. This bicolor iris was chopped back in late winter and produced new leaves almost immediately.
When Should African iris be cut back?
Step 1. Snip back any winter-damaged foliage in the early spring, before new growth emerges. Make clean pruning cuts straight across the foliage blade at the crown of the plant.
When can you dig up iris bulbs and replant them?
The best time when to transplant iris is in the summer, after the iris have finished blooming, up until fall.
Can you grow iris from cuttings?
1:496:39How and When to Propagate, Divide and Plant Bearded Iris - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe simple answer is yes you can it's not ideal however you can do it you'll need a large container.MoreThe simple answer is yes you can it's not ideal however you can do it you'll need a large container. And you'll need just a normal potting mix or compost mix nothing that's too strong with nitrogen.
What is the best fertilizer for irises?
Irises should be fertilized in early spring about 6 to 8 weeks before bloom, and again after the blooms are gone. Because phosphate is important, we recommend bone meal or super-phosphate and a light balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 6-10-10 depending on the amount of nitrogen in your soil.
Do irises like to be crowded?
Every three to five years Bearded Iris tend to become overcrowded and the rhizomes should be divided. You'll not only get to add Bearded Irises to other parts of your garden free of charge, but you'll be proactively preventing the spread of pests and disease.
How do you dig up irises and replant?
1:597:07How to Transplant Iris - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe next method of digging irises is just using a plain old shovel. Get in under the iris. Pry it upMoreThe next method of digging irises is just using a plain old shovel. Get in under the iris. Pry it up from all sides. Once you've loosened it. Reach in and pull it out.
Do you have to dig up iris bulbs every year?
A normal part of caring for iris bulbs is digging them up and putting them in other areas of the garden. Iris plants that are healthy and thriving will need to be divided to keep those blooms popping each season.
Do African iris come back every year?
The name fortnight lily refers to the plant's habit of flowering from spring through fall. African iris produces a smattering of blooms in each clump of leaves roughly every two weeks. Each blossom lasts only one day, but because stems appear about every 14 days, the flower show is strong and steady.
Why are my African iris not blooming?
When you notice iris plants not flowering, the cause can stem from a variety of issues including weather, soil fertility, overcrowding, unhealthy rhizomes, insect or disease attack, planting depth, and even site conditions.
How often do you water African irises?
2-4 times per weekWatering New African Iris Plantings Water your newly planted African Irises 2-4 times per week, depending on how much rainfall you're experiencing in your area. Twice a week if you're receiving rain a couple of times per week. Water four times a week if your weather is consistenly dry.
Can African iris take full sun?
African iris will bloom best on rich, moist soil but will tolerate moderately dry soil conditions, growing in full sun to partial shade. Plants in the full sun or in sandy soil grow best with regular and frequent irrigation. Cold temperatures (below 25°F) cause leaf browning.
Signs You Need to Transplant Iris
There are a few signs that you should consider dividing iris plants.The first sign that your iris need divided will be decreased blooming. Overcrow...
Steps For Dividing Iris Plants
To divide your iris, start by lifting the clump of iris plants out of the ground with a spade or fork. If possible, lift the whole mass out whole,...
Steps For Transplanting Iris
Once the iris rhizomes have been divided, you can replant them. First, trim all of the iris leaf fans back to about 6 to 9 inches tall. This will a...
How to keep irises from splitting in winter?
Avoid dividing during winter when irises are trying to survive on stored energy in their rhizomes. Snip the leaf blades to about one third of their height. This reduces stress as it concentrates on new roots, not maintaining the leaves. Carefully remove the entire clump with a spade or garden fork.
How to keep iris leaves from rotting?
Don't trim iris leaves until fall. Only snip brown tips and cut the flowering stalk to the ground at a slant to discourage rot. This will reduce the chance of overwintering pests.
How to separate rhizomes?
Carefully remove the entire clump with a spade or garden fork. Divide the rhizomes by pulling them apart with your hands. The rhizome should easily break off at a joint. If a sharp knife is needed to separate the rhizome, dip the knife into 10% bleach and water solution after each cut.
How many species of iris are there?
These perennials flourish where winter temperatures dip below freezing and allow the plant to go dormant before next year's growth. There are some 200 to 300 species in the genus Iris. The most familiar irises are the tall bearded irises, named for the soft hairs along the center of the falls.
How long does it take for iris to grow?
It is important that the roots of newly planted irises be well established before the end of the growing season, four to six weeks before the first hard freeze or killing frost. New growth may be noticeable within two to three weeks and begins with a new center leaf in the fan.
Is it good to divide irises?
Dividing Irises. Dividing irises is good for the plants and will result in irises to give away to friends or increase the display in your garden. Save For Later Print.
Can you divide iris rhizomes?
Don't be afraid to divide your rhizomes. Dividing will multiply your iris to give to friends or barter with gardening pals. Remember your supply is always growing.
How to dig a hole in an iris?
Dig a shallow hole just slightly deeper than the root portion of the iris, and then create a slight mound of soil in the center of the hole.
How to loosen soil on iris?
If necessary, you can loosen dense soils by digging in compost or peat moss, which will also slightly acidify the soil. Dig a shallow hole just slightly deeper than the root portion of the iris, and then create a slight mound of soil in the center of the hole.
What About Other Types of Iris?
Division of Siberian iris is a matter of forcefully cutting the fibrous masses into sections. (The process is similar for Japanese iris.) Other types of iris, such as the Dutch iris, grow from bulbs; division is a matter of separating out new bulbs produced by the clump.
How to tell if iris borers are damaged?
Left unattended, the rot that begins when borer worms drill into the rhizomes will gradually spread to consume the entire clump.
Why do iris rhizomes stop blooming?
But, as iris rhizomes spread, they become crowded. This stresses the plants and can even cause them to stop blooming and become susceptible to pests, such as iris borers. By dividing and transplanting your irises, you will rejuvenate the plants and be rewarded with a greater number of healthy blooms in the spring.
How to divide a clump of weeds?
Divide the Clump Into Sections. Shake off loose dirt, and divide the large clump into sections by tugging it apart with your hands. The old center section, which is usually quite woody without any remaining roots, can be discarded. If you wish, you can divide the clumps into sections with a knife or sharp pruners.
How do bearded iris grow?
Bearded Irises Grow from Rhizomes. Bearded irises grow from fleshy underground stems known as rhizomes, which produce the roots that draw nutrients and water into the plant as well as the shoots that will eventually form leaves and flower buds.
Dividing dietes aka African iris aka fortnight lily
I have a ton of these and would like to move some to different areas of the garden. I've never divided anything but have read it should be done in the fall. Could I do it now? Or should I wait?
Comments (3)
back in the stone age .. lol ... pre WWW ... when i HAD A TON OF SOMETHING .... i just went at it ... tried a bit of everything ... took some with a big gob of soil ... bare rooted some.. just to look at whats under there ... potted a few if i had pots and media around [gave them away as garden gifts if they lived] and most importantly..
How to solarize African iris?
Solarize the soil by loosening it and covering it with transparent material. This heats up the soil killing any harmful life form that may affect the African Iris rhizomes.
How long does it take for an African iris to produce flowers?
There is an orange outline on them. An African Iris starts producing flowers within two to three years. They produce several flowers on the flowering stem. Each flower has a life span of two to four days. The flower stems on African Iris are perennial. Gardeners leave them on the plant after flowering.
What are the two groups of iris?
Depending on how they reproduce, there are two groups of iris plants. They are Rhizomatous Iris and the Bulbous Iris. African Iris is a rhizomatous iris. They propagate through their rhizomes and are fast in doing so. Within a year or so, if unchecked, they are sure to fill up your flower beds
What type of soil do African iris prefer?
African Iris prefers semi-dry, sandy and gravelly soil. Avoid clayey soil as they hold moisture – not good for African Iris. In case your garden soil retains water, a raised bed is useful to drain out extra water. You may also add gypsum or sand to lighten your soil. The pH of the soil needs to be neutral to slightly acidic.
What happens if you overwater African iris?
If you over-water African Iris, the rhizome may rot. This can eventually kill the plant. Water only when the soil is dry. If you are in a rainy area, use raised flowerbeds to drain out excess water.
How to get rid of a clump of rhizomes?
Use a shovel to dig out the clump. The best way is to hit the shovel around the clump and cut away the fibrous roots coming out of the rhizomes. Then lever out the entire clump out of the ground. Remove the loose soil on it.
How tall do African iris plants grow?
hardiness classification, it can grow in zone 8 through zone 11. It blooms white flowers all throughout the year. African Iris grows to a height of two to 5 feet and has flowers that are about three inches in diameter.
How to grow African iris from seed?
Sowing requirement: Sunny location with good drainage, moist soil, 15-25C (59-77F), for not fresh seeds better to soak in water at least 12 hours. Saving seeds and care until sowing: Dry and dark place, better to keep in in the refrigerate before. Sowing season:
What color are the leaves of the sward?
Leaves color green and narrow like sward shape leaves grow in groups linked together.
Is African iris a perennial?
African iris plant grow and care – herbaceous geophyte of the genus Dietes also known as Butterfly iris or Fortnight lily, African iris perennial evergreen used as ornamental plant for the flowers, it’s drought tolerant plant and attract pollinators also can be used for cut flowers, can grow in tropics, mediterranean, desert, ...
What is the genus of butterfly iris?
The butterfly or African irises consist of several species in the genus Dietes and are used extensively in landscapes and around water gardens. Natives of southern Africa, these plants are tolerant of drought conditions and will remain green over the winter, unless temperatures dip below 25 degrees F.
How to remove deadheads from a flower?
Deadhead dying blooms or seed heads by pruning just below the flower. Do not remove the flower stalk, as successive blooms are produced on the same stalk. However, when the flower stalk begins to decline, prune it back to the crown.
How to overwinter African iris?
You can overwinter African iris rhizomes by digging them up before the first fall frost. Allow the rhizomes to dry in a cool, dry place for about a week before packing them in peat moss for storage over winter. Replant in the spring when the soil warms.
What is an African iris?
African iris is a great all-purpose plant for home landscapes in Zones 8 and above. Its sturdy, reed-like foliage is evergreen and a wonderful accent plant in the landscape. Count on bright white flowers to decorate the clumps of 2- to 4-foot-tall plants from spring to fall. Call on African iris to add color and texture to tough landscaping areas, such as parking strips, flanking driveways, and dry patches near a home's foundation. It stands up to heat, drought, and neglect.
How much sun does an African iris need?
Plant container-grown plants or divisions from a friend in the spring. African iris grows best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate several hours of shade but requires at least 6 hours of bright sun to bloom well. Water plants regularly for the first growing season after planting.
