I just ordered three Japanese iris, and have never grown them before!!

Anyone grow them? Any tips?

All I can tell you is how I grow mine !! I "dug out" a trench, about 16" deep, 3' wide, and as long as "needed(for the number you intend to plant), lined it with rubber roofing membrane (a few layers of plastic sheeting would work), but leaving the top 4", or so, of the trench "uncovered".....then filled it to the top with "peat" soil , mixed with "composted cow manure", and some "river muck" I got from our local riverbank......the "peat" is naturally acidic (slightly), and really holds water (as does the "cow poop", I added some "garden sulfer" to get the ph where I wanted it, planted the rhizomes, and mulched the area with pine straw (also helps with ph)…...twice a year.....spring and late summer....I fertilize and add more sulfer. Our dirt is very sandy, and while our springs are "wet", our summers and early falls are dry..."rain wise". The humidity is brutal, though, once the corn gets going !!
Anyway, that has worked well for me for the JI's, and LA's

Sounds like a pretty good summation. JI's love water so they will respond well to being given an extra watering during dry periods. Because they like so much water they are heavy feeders (the water dilutes out the fertilizer) so the compose, manure and fertilizer keep them happy. Whatever you do, do NOT feed them any bone meal or spread lime near them. Both will kill your Japanese iris.

Arlyn, I'm assuming the trench and plastic is just for water retention?

The place I was thinking of putting them that is 'wet' (is where I have gutter overflow during storms) and I've only gotten a hosta to grow) would be an 'ok' spot is exposed to the north and I'm worried what the winter will do..

I did see the post on the AIS blog about containers for JI's.. Is this easy to keep watered?

You may want to check out this piece from Chad Harris who has hybridized some fantastic JI's.

http://mtpleasantiris.com/cult...

Yes, the "liner" is to keep the moisture from seeping away, in our sandy soil. As to "winter"....I have the same...or slightly colder...weather as you, and mine do fine, but, as I said, I DO have them mulched with pine straw.

This is the article I seen, just on the AIS blog. This section is what has me questioning if I should just plant them underground to start with...

Winter Dormancy:After a light freeze, cut all foliage off at container level. In mild winter areas (USDA Zone 8-9 for Spec-X and Iris laevigata), containers can remain in the pools all winter (Japanese iris, zone 9). In colder climates, lift the containers from the flooding pools and bury to the rim in a prepared bed with a good mulch cover. In the spring, return the containers to the flooding pool, fertilizing after new growth starts to appear. After bloom, lift the plants, divide and start over.

If I need to bury them for the winter, wouldn't it be better to just start them there?

Good luck Jess!

Great growing tips Arlyn and Leslie!

I plant my JIs in the "bog," a handy little spot that is perpetually wet because grey water drains there. I keep the spot topped off with goat compost. The JIs seem happy.

Ok I think I have a first year solution. I wanted to find a place where I can keep a close eye on them and easy access to a water supply. This is easy faceing and full summer sun until 2 ish. I have peat and soil to mix. But I haven't find a local source for pine straw.


What do you think?

Should work fine, I would think ! As to the pine straw mulch....for winter protection, almost anything that "doesn't pack down" would be OK. The benefit of the pine needles, for me, is as they decompose, they help acidify the soil. My neighbor has some pines, and, if I time it right.....after he rakes, and before he burns...they are REAL easy to get !

JI like acidic soil which is why they like New England. We don't happen to grow them, but they do well here.

Keep them moist and they are going to love that location. Pine mulch will be a good sub for pine needles. Don't use cedar mulch as cedar has growth inhibitors.

Ok I think I have a first year solution. I wanted to find a place where I can keep a close eye on them and easy access to a water supply. This is easy faceing and full summer sun until 2 ish. I have peat and soil to mix. But I haven't find a local source for pine straw.


What do you think?

I think you should also add some aged manure, like Black Cow. They do like it. I have tons of pine needles, but usually mulch mine instead. Silly of me really since the pine needles are free.

Jess ~ Are you growing bearded irises or Japanese Irises?

evelyninthegarden said:Jess ~ Are you growing bearded irises or Japanese Irises?

The ones for this spot are Japanese. They came in this week, and we are having a cold snap this weekend.