I know this is a subject of a personal nature to some. When you fertilize your irises, do you prefer a liquid or a crystal form. What brand do you use?

I live in an area that's kind of limited of choices to Wal-Mart, Home Depot and a local nursery that's knowledgeable but close a lot cause he cant find good help to run nursery when he does landscaping jobs.

So I am just using compost mixed in the soil and Alpaca Manure, but I know the manure is not a fully balanced plant nutrient I don't think.

I just use a basic 10-10-10 for basic fertilizing( I was told by an old farmer this is all they use. So I went with it and it works sprinkle it down and let it go. Now when I am planting new rhizomes in the ground I use triple super phosphate. 0-45-0

5-10-10. the alpacca manure sounds great.

I find for my own personal use, most things come best from Mail-Order, so that's how I get my
fertilizer, and I use JACK'S BLOOM BOOSTER, which was recommended to me for my Clematis
by a Clematis hybridizer in the Netherlands. I also used it (once) on the Iris in the Spring this year.

Bloom boosters are great as they are usually low in nitrogen. Miracle Gro makes a bloom booster that is 15-30-15 that you mix with water. This is great for annuals and used in a weaker form, more water in the mix than suggested, it works well for irises too.

Richard - if you have Lowes in your area they have a 5-10-10 bulb booster that I use in the spring.

Brand of basic fertilizer makes no difference usually. Keep the nitrogen low and if over 10-10-10 sprinkle lightly before a rain; if all 10's or less can put a little more on. Rebloomers take more later in season so good to keep them in separate bed so the others don't get overfed. I have watched 2 front lawn iris beds each on a steep slope for almost 10 years; none has had fertilizer or weeding but full mowing around a month or so before the killing frost. They come back, they bloom. Of course not as nice as other gardens but they are survivors.