I have three (smallish) pots of tall bearded irises. This is only the second year I've had them. Last year, I got a few flowers; they lasted only a week or two, and I didn't get any more for the rest of the summer and fall. This year the stems are about 8" tall and continuing to grow. But from what I've read, they should start flowering in early spring and last all summer.

Am I doing something wrong? They're in full sun. Is it because they're in pots (actually in three pots - should I plant them together in one large pot)? I didn't plant them as bulbs; they were given to me with short stems. I am using a good soil sold by my local nursery. Do the irises require a certain soil.?

I searched the iris database for this topic and didn't get any results. I hope I'm not posting a question that appears in a different thread.

Thanks
Melissa

In my experience, Bearded Iris bloom for only about 2 weeks. To bloom all summer, you would need iris that bloom early, mid-season and late.

Was your iris supposed to be one of the repeat bloomers?

Hello Melissa. Welcome to the iris forum. Any questions here are always welcome.

Re-blooming irises bloom in the spring and fall and repeat bloomers bloom in the spring and can bloom sporadically throughout the summer/fall several times. Different classes of irises bloom in different weeks during the spring bloom period. The smaller classes usually bloom before the taller classes.

I hope this helps. If you are new to bearded irises this may just be muddying the waters. I would recommend going to the library and checking out a book on growing bearded irises.

Once again welcome and once again any questions here are always welcome.

Thank you all! I guess I need to learn more about bearded irises, and you've all given me good idea on what I should look for.

Thanks
Melissa
=^..^=

Melissa ~ to the Iris Forum!

Melissa,

One contributing factor may be overcrowding. A single iris rhizome will grow into a clump of iris rhizomes over a few years and once your rhizomes reach the edge of your pot they will start growing over each other. This makes it difficult for the roots to reach the soil and may diminish flowering. Several iris vendors offer advice on their websites. This is the link to Schreiners' growing tips and it contains a section on "Why won't my iris bloom?"
https://www.schreinersgardens....

There is an example of what a very overcrowded iris clump looks like here
http://alcatrazgardens.org/blo...

melissa.

each single blossom may last a day or three. but if you had a whole clump with many stalks, then your blooming irises (as a whole clump) would give you a flower show for many weeks depending on how many rhizomes and their growing conditions. each flower only lasts a few days.

if they are crowded as robin mentioned the flowers will diminish in size and production.

hope this helps a little, and didn't confuse you more?

Robin, thanks for the links. They were very helpful. As you and Daphne pointed out, I think it's likely that they're overcrowded. In one of the articles your links took me to, the author said this is a good time of year to divide and re-pot the rhizomes, so I think I'll get a large pot and combine the plants in my three small pots in it.

I was totally surprised by their watering needs. Summers here have temps always in the high 90's and often over 100 deg. I'm used to watering every morning. Letting the irises go a week or two before a deep watering just seems wrong to me. I may have to research that some more!

Melissa and good luck with your irises!

Lilli