Among the most beautiful of naturalise flowers , fleur-de-lis add a touch of refined elegance to the garden with large , intricate flowers in a rainbow of color that sit atop stately stems in a fan of foliage .
They grow from storage rootage known as rhizomes , andmost varietieshave excellent cold hardiness down to Zone 3 – which mean they can pronto winter in situ without harm .
However , sometimes we may find ourselves with later - season divisions or small potted works that expect wintertime protection until they can go into the earth .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
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The process is much like lifting and storing other rhizomes , like dahlia .
But iris require sure aspects of forethought and a storage environment that are just a small snatch unlike to see they ’re healthy and vibrant at the start of spring .
So , let ’s get ready with a look at five easy steps to store iris rhizomes in wintertime .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Storage Basics
Iris rhizomes are blockheaded and gnarly , underground stems that grow laterally just below the land aerofoil . These produce roots and shoots , and store food for thought for the plant .
Because they ’re prone to dehydration and can hold freezing temperatures , they ’re commonly leave behind in the dry land for overwintering instead of being lifted .
When store , they can also be dependent to bacterial and fungal diseases , as well as pest infestation . tutelage must be taken to dry out out excess moisture , but not to take so much as to step down them .
5 Easy Steps to Store Iris Rhizomes for Winter
Here are the five steps to control that your rootstalk stick healthy and vivacious until spring .
1. Lift, Clean, and Trim
The respectable time to lift rhizomes is after the plants have finished blossom , from midsummer to former fall .
Use a garden fork to mildly dig in about six in deep then ski tow and pry surface rootstock and their roots from the soil , giving about four inches of ease all around to preclude spiking underground section .
After lifting , use sporty , acuate garden scissors to disregard back the leaf to about three column inch and slay any dry or perish leaf nigh to the base .
off and discard mat of fibrous root word tissue paper , and dress the roots to about three inches .
crop away any rhizome region that are dried , kitschy , shriveled , soft , or smelly .
Lay them out to dry out in a single layer in a protect , sunny location for a few days or until they feel dry to the touch . plough them over once for even drying .
Once they ’re dry , remove any remaining turd with a soft - bristled brush , but do not lave them in water – adding any moisture at this point in time would necessitate a longer curing stage .
2. Cure and Dust for Good Health
After they ’ve been cleaned and trimmed , rhizomes need to heal before going into storage .
Spread them out on a flat surface like a tray or large piece of cardboard , allowing at least one column inch of buffer space around each patch .
If a second layer is needed , spread over the first with lightly crumpled newspaper bag or newspaper before layering on top .
localize in a dark , ironic , and tender location with full air circulation – the idealistic temperature for curing is around 65 to 70 ° F .
Cure for two week , then coat with powdered garden atomic number 16 or another fungicidal agent to prevent disease , infestation , and rot .
Bonide Sulfur Plant Fungicide
Bonide Sulfur Plant Fungicide isavailable at Arbico Organics .
3. Wrap for Protection
After cure and disperse , the net footmark is to wrap each industrial plant severally in a piece of newsprint and commit it in a corner for storage .
The boxful can be unlifelike , rattan , wicker , a conducting wire basketball hoop , or one made from some other type of breathable cloth . quash plastic , because it does n’t allow for equal aviation circulation and can promote rot .
If a second layer is involve , lay down some gently crease newspaper first before adding more .
4. Place in Storage
target the corner in a coolheaded , blue , and dry location with logical temperatures between 40 to 50 ° degree Fahrenheit .
Temperatures below 35 ° F can vote down the rhizome . Above 50 ° F , the heat can get moisture departure and dehydration .
5. Schedule Regular Check-Ups
Ensure your Malcolm stock stays healthy by marking a date on your calendar , like the first of the month , for steady monthly check - ups .
To preclude transference of rot , any bulb that are mushy , balmy , or smelly should be discarded quickly ( but not in the compost ) along with the report it was wrapped in .
Once spring come , give them a concluding health arrest , then plant out into container or the garden as outlined inour guide on growing flag for fragrance and color .
Beautiful, and Tough!
Along with their outstanding beauty , irises are tough and built to withstand arctic temperatures .
But if we ’re go forth with unplanted rhizome when frosty conditions arrives , it ’s skillful to know they can be lifted and stored safely for give planting .
For success , be sure to pick , cure , and dust them first , wrapping for protection , and maintain cool temperatures .
And do n’t forget to do monthly check - ups to ensure the root that you design to constitute are healthy for next class ’s growing season .
And for moreiris growingknow - how , check out these article next :
Photos by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photo via Arbico Organics . Uncredited photo : Shutterstock .
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