Muddymitts said:So you're saying that the chemical applied to treat rot, distorted the blooms? Crap. Damned if you do and damned if you don't, eh? I thought you were going to say that this was drift from your neighbor spraying..................

I'm sure it was something...or a combination of somethings.....that I applied, MaryAnn.....I can see where the Comet cleanser *could* damage the plants......not so much from the "bleach" part...I think that's pretty small, but, it's a "soap" so it's very alkaline (high ph). (that, in fact, is what I was *hoping * would stop the soft rot). The Agrimycin 17 is pretty strong stuff, as well, and I have seen no "data" on if it affects "bloom on irises".....it IS meant for use on plants, and, in fact, is even used by "organic" growers.....but that DOESN'T mean that it's "safe". Since I'm neither a botanist or a chemist, I can't say for sure, but I think the list of "what affects the plant", or, "what affects the BLOOM on the plant, is a pretty long one !
I do know I've grown this one for years, and have never seen these types of bloom before, and other "plants" of it, in untreated areas , are blooming "correctly" (as are many blooms on THIS clump, for that matter). I do believe that if the little "growing point", or "nub" or whatever you want to call it......that "bit" that's going to be a bloom stalk ......is 'adversely affected 'by cold, heat, physical damage, or any one of a host of chemicals.....you get a screwy blossom !

Said much better than I could have.

Arlyn, the first few blooms on Honey Glazed here this year showed some white on the falls, had me wondering at first if it was a virus. I could have sworn I'd gotten a photo but I'm not finding it. Anyhow, only the first blooms were affected, the rest looked normal. I haven't applied anything to the bed, so I assumed it was cold related.

So much of the stuff we put on our beds to keep irises from rotting kill the good fungus in the soil. The majority of vascular plants have mycorrhizae. This is a GOOD fungus that assists in the absorption of minerals and water from the soil and defends the roots from other fungi and nematodes, while the plant provides carbohydrates to the fungus. It is a symbiotic relationship that a few plants cannot live without and only a very few do not use it. We must be mindful of what we are doing to our soil at all times.

gemini_sage said:Arlyn, the first few blooms on Honey Glazed here this year showed some white on the falls, had me wondering at first if it was a virus. I could have sworn I'd gotten a photo but I'm not finding it. Anyhow, only the first blooms were affected, the rest looked normal. I haven't applied anything to the bed, so I assumed it was cold related.

And it very well could be, I suppose....we have had some ridiculous temperature variations...all year !

That's a good point Bonnie. Somewhere along the way, I decided that I am not going to try to salvage rotting Irises. I did try last year, and was not successful -- so this was an easy decision to make. All I'm doing is removing the rotted fan/stalk and putting them on the burn pile. In most cases, the other fans are unaffected at the moment, so I'm hoping they will be ok. If not -- so be it. Another thing I am doing is removing all spent leaves, even if they weren't rotted. I'm trying to keep the beds as free from debris as I can -- mostly so that air (and maybe sun?) can get to the base of the fans.

I suspect hail damage on what I think is Evolution. Maybe? It smells like cake.

It doesn't look like cake.

A new one opened today and looks much better. IT doesn't smell like cake, sort of spicy.

I get lots of chimera on Burseens it appears.

Here is Roper's Revenge with parts missing:

And then there is poor Awesome Alex - 2 different freaks

The first is a squished little twofer that looks to be saying "Feed Meeeee"




This one is really interesting - not so much from the outside, but...



On the inside you see that a beard is growing up the standard!

DH looks at these, then at me. Yeah...like I know why this happens.

I was out taking pics before more rain comes and spotted this one.

Zencat said:A new one opened today and looks much better. IT doesn't smell like cake, sort of spicy.

Looks like "Evolution" not cake ! I may have to "beg" some back from you...mine's not doing very well !

It has increases... So, sure! Next year it will have enough to return some.

Zencat said:DH looks at these, then at me. Yeah...like I know why this happens.

I was out taking pics before more rain comes and spotted this one.

I have gotten these on four different iris this year! What the heck are they?

Lestv said:Poor little Sensationalizer bloomed all deconstructed...

Well on it's second try Sensationalizer gave me the entire bottom but forgot the standards!

Look at those Poms!!

I really like your pic of the one that got it's stuff together.

Curious to see how this duckbill looking one turns out.

I have had a few of those this year. They never develop more than a standard or fall and a beard. Just so weird.

More of the same on that one yellow NOID. I have never had one do anything weird on them until this one plant. ALL the flowers were oddies. There are 2 in the first pic.