Iris Bearded - the Basics of Growing and Care

Do not know what to plant on your site, then pay attention to the bearded iris, which is represented in a wide range of colors. This plant has soft bristles, located on the outer bent to the bottom of the perianth. It perfectly combines with other plants, creating original compositions.

Irises bearded in landscape design

More often in the countryside there are whole oris gardens, called iridarians. When choosing varieties, consider the size, color, beginning and duration of flowering, and also a combination with other plants. Flowering irises of the bearded can decorate various flower beds. Plants grow rapidly and add bright colors to the landscape.

1. Flowers with two or more shades are recommended to plant in the presence of a monophonic background.
2. The landing can occur in height, for which high, middle and dwarf elements are used.

Iris bearded - varieties

Up to 35 thousand varieties of these flowers are known, which grow in different territories. There is no general classification, and the plants are divided according to height, term of flowering and color. The best varieties of irises of the bearded are short, medium and tall. If you focus on the flowering period, then distinguish such groups: early, medium, medium, middle and late. As for the color classification, one can find iris bearded monochrome, two-tone, two-color, bordered and iridescent.

The most famous varieties include:

1. "Arkady Raikin" . Tsvetonos reaches a height of 1 m. Buds are painted in a reddish-pink color. It has a bright aroma.
2. "Beverly Hills . " The height of the peduncles is 80-85 cm. The flower has undulating upper lobes colored in light pink color, and the lower ones are paler.
3. "The burgomaster . " Peduncles can grow more than a meter in height. The outer lobes are colored in purple-lilac shade, and internal - yellow.

Tall bearded irises

These are the most common varieties, which look great separately and in different compositions. Powerful plants have a branchy flower stem with a large number of buds. The height of the bearded iris, which belongs to high grades, can reach up to 71 cm. As for the flowers, they are large and can be up to 20 cm in diameter. If the height of the iris is less than 70 cm, then this is a medium-sized variety that is divided into three groups : curbs, intermedia and dining rooms.

Dwarf bearded irises

Recently, small flowers are gaining popularity, which look great in different color compositions and many gardeners prefer to plant them at home. The description of the bearded iris indicates that the height of the miniature varieties is 5-20 cm. The peculiarity of this culture can be attributed to the fact that the flowers bloom early, so in some territories this occurs in the first half of May.

How to plant irises bearded?

For planting this flower culture, it is best to choose open areas that are well illuminated by the sun. Will fit and flower beds with penumbra, on which there can be plants no higher than 1.5 m., Since it is important for the bearded to receive sun in the first half of the day. Do not like these flowers of the wind, because of the large flowers can break down flower stalks. Finding out how to plant a bearded iris, it is worth noting that light loams are best for this plant.

Planting of bearded irises in spring

There is a definite planting instruction, which must be followed so that the flower begins, develops well and blossoms:

1. Dig out a small hole and in the center, fill a small mound, on which you must place the rhizome, and spread the roots on the sides. Sprinkle them with soil and lightly compact it. The rhizome itself needs to be covered with coarse sand, the layer of which should be 1-2 cm.
2. Planting irises of the bearded should not be cramped, as the plants will be difficult to develop and often ache. The distance between high grades should be 50 cm, and dwarf - 30 cm.

It is recommended to pre-plan the planting of flowers. Note that due to the appearance of new annual links rhizome will move forward every year, and there will be sprouting in the sides, as axillary buds are awakened. There are several popular landing options:

1. Chess. Irises are planted towards each other so that there is a minimum of 50 cm between the plants. A scheme for high varieties is often used.
2. "Dogonyalki." Plants are located in fans in one direction, and they will grow as if "after." The distance between the irises can be about 40 cm.
3. Round dance. Using this scheme of planting, the distance between plantations is even smaller and is about 30 cm. It is important not to plant closer to the edge of the flower bed, otherwise a few days the flowers will "slip" off it.
4. Original iris bearded looks, when it is grown in groups . It is recommended to use different color combinations.

Planting irises of the bearded summer

Planting flowers can be done in the summer and you need to do this before the flower bud has become tied. It is important to wait a little while the root system does not have new links. Completely the bush is not excavated, but the good links from the rhizome separate the sharp knife. The instruction how to plant iridescent beards in the summer is identical to the one indicated above for spring planting.

Growing irises of the bearded

There are several characteristics concerning the cultivation of this plant:

1. Rhizomes in irises grow horizontally and often appear on the surface of the earth. Given this, you must always cover them with earth and peat so that the flower does not become cold.
2. Irises of the bearded in the garden like to move and for a year they can move a few centimeters. To get an even row, plants plant a fan of leaves along, rather than across the row.
3. You can not plant irises deeply, so they either will not bloom or they may even disappear altogether.

Soil for irises of the bearded

You can plant flowers on different soils, but the most unacceptable are raw, heavy and acidic soils. If there is no choice, then it is necessary to make large sand and peat, if the earth is clayey and heavy, and if it is acidic, then liming is carried out. Alkaline and slightly acidic soils are optimal. Growing irises of the bearded can be carried out even on slightly stony areas. If the soils are too moist, then drainage is carried out under them.

Experienced gardeners argue that the ideal option for irises is light, loose and clean from weeds. The presence of a large amount of organic - is unacceptable, as this will eventually cause various diseases. If possible, you can add to the selected area, well reparted manure to a depth of 15-20 cm in the top layer is recommended to add ash, coarse sand and even a small amount of crushed stone.

Reproduction of irises of the bearded

There are several ways to increase the number of flowers on your site.

1. Division of the bush. The procedure is necessary at the end of summer, when the temperature drops. Carefully dig out a group of rhizomes, so as not to damage anything. Divide them by pulling them in different directions with your hands. If using a knife, then it must be wetted in a 10% solution of bleach. Good rhizomes are approximately 2 cm thick with healthy roots and at least one leaf fan. Rinse them off the ground to make sure there are no larvae. Old, soft and rotting rhizomes should be thrown away. Cut the leaves so that there are 10-15 cm left.
2. Use of the kidneys. At each annual link, you can find spare axillary buds, which are represented on the stalk by a small tubercle. It is necessary to divide the rhizomes along and into the links with the kidneys. You can also cut the kidneys wedge-shaped. The slices are treated with an antiseptic and planted for growth.
3. Use of seeds. It remains to find out how to multiply the bearded irises with the help of seeds, so they sow in autumn, after harvesting the planting material. When breeding in the spring, the seeds need stratification. They are soaked, combined with coarse-grained sand and left in the refrigerator in the vegetable section for 14 days. During autumn sowing, the seeds are embedded in loose soil to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. This method is used for hybridization and for obtaining new varieties.

Transplanting bearded irises

If you have to change the place of cultivation, that is, to perform a transplant, it is best to do this procedure 2-3 weeks after the flowering is over. When transplanting at other times, it is important to preserve the integrity of the earthy coma. Finding out when to transfer irises bearded, it is worth pointing out that in one place flowers can grow 3-5 years, and pygmy 6-8 years. The rules for planting this plant have been mentioned above.

Care for bearded irises

The presented flower culture is not demanding in care, but some recommendations should be considered:

1. It is important to remove the weeds in time, as the root system of irises is almost on the surface. In the second half of August, weed is better to pull the weeds manually to avoid damage.
2. As for watering, unlike many flower crops, the plant does not require abundant watering. The procedure is mandatory only during planting / transplanting and during the dry season.
3. In the spring, the process of caring for bearded irises means proper feeding.
4. Gardeners recommend preparing for wintering. After the flowering has ended, break off the flower stem at the base, and before the onset of the first frosts, cut off the leaves half, and remove the yellow ones completely. For comfortable wintering beds with bearded irises cover a layer of peat 10 cm thick. In the spring it must be removed.

Feeding irises of the bearded

There are a number of rules that apply to the application of fertilizers, to which iris reacts well.

1. If the flower grows for a long time in one place on impoverished soils, then carry out regular fertilizing with mineral fertilizers , it is better to refuse organic additives, as they are an ideal place for the development of diseases.
2. In early spring, the flower of the bearded iris should receive nitrogen and potassium, which is important for the rapid growth of the vegetative mass. When the top layer dries, it is recommended to add ammonium nitrate and potassium salt, taking into account that 1 m ² should account for 20-30 g.
3. The next time to use potassium-nitrogen fertilizers in these dosages is necessary when buds are formed. Thanks to this, their number and size will increase.
4. When the bearded iris begins to bloom, a period of rest sets in, and a month later a wave of secondary growth begins. At this time the plant needs the addition of phosphorus fertilizers. For each square meter, use 50-60 g superphosphate and 20-30 potassium salt. It is important to make fertilizer in moist soil, and then, loosen it.

Iris bearded - diseases and pests

The only disease that can affect this flower culture is the rot of the rhizomes and this problem arises in most cases in damp cool weather or after a mild and rainy winter. Determine the presence of the disease can be on the yellowed leaves of the bearded iris, which naklanyayutsya to the ground. To cope with the problem, it is necessary to carve rotten places up to living tissue and sprinkle them with powder of "Fundazol". Allow the wound to dry in the air. After this, you can again plant the flower in the ground.

Among the common pests can be noted iris fly, beetle deer and beetle bronze. The first is planted in buds, and others prefer blossoming flowers. As a result of the attack of insects, blooming is deteriorating. To destroy parasites, treat beds with any universal remedy. Do this in early spring. One-time treatment with drugs from the group of neonicotinoids is recommended.

Many gardeners-beginners are interested in why the bearded iris does not blossom, and there are several reasons for this:

1. The plant is too deeply planted. It is important that the root neck is 1/3 above the ground.
2. Lack of lighting. Iris can grow in shaded areas, but you can not achieve flowering in this case.
3. Tightness. Flowers of this culture grow rapidly and if they are very close to each other, then plants will not be able to produce peduncles.