Cindy: You know if that is true, I would like to know from the others, cause if so.I am being very overprotective of my little roots. That will also throw out my theory that when vendors send Irises with lots of roots, though they can be trimmed, they take off much better. We will see what the others think or know.

As to the roots....if, for example, you are "moving an iris from one area of the garden, to another…..and it's not 'out of the ground very long,,,, the roots will stay "viable". But, for one that's been dug, dried, and shipped somewhere, a few days away, it's very unlikely that any of the "original" roots will 'come back to life"....their only real purpose will be to hold the plant in place, while the "new" roots develop . That doesn't take very long, either. Most rhizomes have new 'root buds" that are starting to "show", and all it takes is some moisture to get them going. (those "root buds" are the small yellow / white "nubs" directly under the "Fan" end of the rhizome)

I have actually received many boxes from overseas with very good an alive roots.

It differs from vendor to vendor and also between years. Some almost never ship with viable roots and some ship very good quality roots. I do always try to plant as soon as possible after arrival as I think that makes a big difference.

On occasion, I have had reason to dig up a relatively newly planted rhizomes. I have then been able to see that the old pruned roots have continued to grow and branch out in new side roots. So at least for me, the quality of the roots are very important.

If the roots are fresh enough, they will be able to grow on when planted. As I recall, I had at least two orders with live roots this year and they start growing again as soon as they are potted.

Arlyn, William, and Lilli: Thanks So much for the information on the roots. I was not aware that new roots form that fast. So I learned from this as well.

Arlyn: I didn't mean to give you 10 acorns, just one. I think I have an Acorn Viris But for all the info you share, it's more than deserved.

Looks like you got a refund?

Yes and it won't even tell me who gave the refunds. Maybe I need to turn my phone off and on

Elsa.

I have a tendency to plant mine fairly close together as I don't have a lot of space. I need to make more beds when I have a spare minute. Friend is separating so I have little gifts I have to get into the ground. sometimes if it is later in the summer I put a brick on top of the rhizome for the winter to prevent frost heave. I remove the brick in the spring.

@cinvasko

The blog of the American Iris Society recently has a message about this. https://theamericanirissociety...

I have always covered the rhizome with a very thin layer of soil in both New York and here in Utah, not the hottest or coldest of places.