Irises are beautiful perennial flowers which serve as an eye-catching addition to your garden and work great for floral arrangements. Here are some tips for iris flower care that will let you enjoy the beautiful blooms for years to come.
Iris is a beautiful garden plant belonging to the family Iridaceae with showy, beautiful, somewhat oddly shaped flowers that make them a popular choice in gardens and floral arrangements. The iris flower is considered the sacred flower of Iris, the Greek goddess for the messenger of love. It, thus, symbolizes communication and messages, and stands for eloquence and beauty. Also based on their color, the iris flowers convey varied messages. Therefore, while the purple iris flower is symbolic of wisdom and compliments, blue iris signifies faith and hope. The flower meaning of a yellow iris flower is passion, while the meaning of a white iris is purity.
The name is derived from the Greek word for rainbow. This is because of the wide variety of colors which can range from blue and purple, white and yellow, pink and orange, brown and red, and even black. In fact, the genus Iris has about 200 species which are native to Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. However, there are two major groups of irises known as the rhizome iris and bulbous iris. Classified as perennial herbs, Iris plants grow from either rhizomes or bulbs. The two most common type of Irises grown are the Bearded and the Siberian Irises. Members of the genus Iris bloom between the months of February and May, depending on the species.
Tips for Iris Flower Care
Planting Site Preparation: Before planting the iris plant, you need to choose a planting location for your Iris flowers. The place should receive between six and eight hours of direct sunlight each day and have good air circulation. Two weeks prior to planting the Iris rhizomes, the soil needs to be prepared by spreading two to three inches of organic compost over the planting site. Use a tiller to break the soil up and mix in the compost. Remove any visible rocks which can serve as an impediment to the root system.
Iris Flower Planting: Dig a hole large enough to hold the Iris rhizome and form a small cone in the bottom of the hole. This allows the pointed tip of the rhizome to emerge from the surface. Now place the rhizome in the hole, and spread the roots out as much as possible. Fill the hole with soil and water. This should help compact the soil around the roots and fill up any air pockets in it. Allow a space of at least eight inches before planting the other Iris rhizomes. This allows sufficient room for root growth.
Watering Requirements: For encouraging a nice flush of blooms, you need to keep to keep the soil moist (not wet). Water the Iris rhizomes thrice a week and then reduce it to twice a week after growth begins. This should be done so as to allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. In winters, the iris flowers need to be watered just once a week and only on weeks with no rainfall.
Fertilizing and Mulching: You need to use fertilizer once a month during spring and summer. In the fall and winter seasons, fertilization is not needed as the Iris plants do not absorb all the nutrients and the excessive fertilizers in the soil can result in root burn. Water the soil after applying the fertilizer to help it integrate into the earth. Also, just before frost, you need to spread the mulch around the Iris plants. This prevents the temperature of the soil from fluctuating, resulting from constant freezing and thawing.
Maintenance: Once the flowers have faded to an inch or two above the rhizome, cut the flower stalks back. This should prevent seed formation and allow vigorous growth. In the fall season, you need to cut the leaves back to 6-8 inches above the ground to prevent future insect and disease problems. If heaving occurs, it is best not to force the plants back into the soil and instead, cover the rhizomes and the roots that are exposed with some soil.
After 3 to 5 years, once the clumps become crowded, it may be beneficial to divide them. This can be done 4 to 6 weeks after flowering. All you need to do is cut the leaves to one-third their length. Dig up the clump and wash the soil off the roots and rhizomes. Then divide the iris by cutting the rhizomes apart so each section has at least one or two healthy fan of leaves, a firm rhizome, and white roots.
Although it is true that iris flowers are easy to plant, require minimum care, and readily multiply, appropriate care can help you enjoy the blossoms of this perennial flower for many years to come.
