Soaking then popping them into a pot with a good potting mix is about it. Give them a bit of extra water the first week to get the roots established and they will take it from there.

Note: do not over water them as that can cause rot. Let the soil dry out between waterings.

Then enjoy watching them grow!

I add some perlite to my potting soil for better drainage. About 2/3 potting soil to 1/3 perlite.

Thank you Leslie and Iciris for the planting advice. I have a feeling that they will grow similar to my daylilies in pots. Lots of good drainage being key for both. I may even try one in the ground, except it's getting a little close to our normal first frost date the first week of November. With the tuber at ground level I may be better off not chancing it. Any thoughts?........Maryl

Since I live in dry CA, I think others who live in states around you should comment of the planting depth.

iciris said:Since I live in dry CA, I think others who live in states around you should comment of the planting depth.

sorry maryl, i too, live in dry so. cal near the ocean, and it's my first season with irises in
this clime. it's pretty sunny here most of the year. altho', we get a humid bit during monsoon season with moisture coming from the gulf of mexico, some hail in the winter, but no snow that i know of, and temps down to the 30's (f) ocassionally for about 3 wks. but no more than a wk-at-a-time.

the ones i planted in the ground just have their roots in the soil, most of the rhizome is out.

on some, the toe might be buried a little more.

Maryl, last year I planted about 60 irises in October here in zone 5. All of them lived, and some of them bloomed this summer. I would think you are OK to put some in the ground in Oklahoma. If nothing else it would be a good experiment.

I planted here in NC last year in late September/early October and many of them bloomed.

"Gulf of Mexico"?????????


Might I assume you mean the Gulf of California or the Pacific Ocean?

That's encouraging Leslie. So did you plant the tuber a little below ground or did you have it sitting right on top with just the roots buried? I mean if the tuberous part is sitting on top of the ground won't freezing weather split it or something? I guess I don't get the concept of NOT putting the tuber a few inches below soil level..........Maryl

Misawa77 said:"Gulf of Mexico"?????????


Might I assume you mean the Gulf of California or the Pacific Ocean?

when the weather person describes the origin of the' monsoonal moisture', they show arrows of prevailing winds from the gulf of mexico... i live in san diego county. that's how the experts describe? not from gulf of california or pacific ocean? lol i'm not the cute weather girl

Maryl, bearded irises prefer having their rhizomes exposed on top of the soil. No need to worry, they're extremely cold hardy. If the rhizome is covered it can lead to rot. As a youngster when I planted my first irises I believe I may have planted some a bit too deep. They recovered and the new rhizomes that grew were on top of the ground, but it did take them an extra year to bloom.

I'm in Ky & I've transplanted as late as November before. They survived just fine & a few even bloomed. I was surprised since they were just divided from my garden. Usually the purchased ones have been pumped up with fertilizer, etc & I expect bloom the next year, but I rarely do anything extra for my plants.

OK Neal and Alilyfan. I will probably plant at least one of the new ones in the ground. Maybe 2, but I think I will still pot up Batik as it's the main reason I have any of them. I'll feel safer with it overwintering in my attached garage I think. ....Thanks for helping me out everyone...........Maryl

Iris survive the winter fine here north of Boston. Late plantings can have a rock or brick on top of the rhizome to prevent heaving, although I don't think you will have the problem.

The only one I have is Batik. I thought I had lost it several years ago, but it popped back up this spring -several rhizomes of it too. It has never been great here, multiplies well but just doesn't bloom every year. I don't fertilize or anything though, so that may make a difference, although my other iris never seem to notice. However, it got moved to its new location so maybe it will do better now.

Batik behaves the same for me, increases well but doesn't bloom every year- maybe it just doesn't like conditions in Kentucky. Its in a prominent spot and I've been considering replacing them with another variety.

Well, from what you say about it being a shy bloomer, Batik should be better off in a container anyway. When it is not performing I can move it out of line of sight, the advantage of containers. However, if all I'm left doing is dividing a non productive plant every other year, then it may need to find a new home......BTW, although I haven't been back for ages, I grew up in the Louisville area and remember my home state quite fondly. I usually watch the final 4 in basketball if any Kentucky teams make it (which they do frequently), and seldom miss the Derby. Go Kentucky!..........Maryl

I got Millennium (not sure of spelling) Falcon last year, same general color I think as Batik, but it bloomed this year & looks like it should bloom next year too. Of course, it is a bigger plant than Batik too, so might not be what you would want. And as gemini sage said, maybe it just doesn't like KY soil.

I love the Louisville area! Seems the river makes for good growing conditions, I've always noticed the nicest roses growing in yards when I'm there.

There are other broken color irises besides Batik. Millenium Falcon has a nice pronounced floral sweet perfume too.