I have one small LA seed pod that (surprisingly) issued up seeds, and two very large seed pods that haven't split yet. I anticipate a lot of seeds so need to know if anyone has started LA seeds before? Is it the same process as starting bearded iris seeds? I know I started Japanese iris seeds much like the bearded iris. Just need to know before I start so they have the very best chance!

With Louisiana Irises, you should plant the seeds immediately and not allow them to dry out.

@KentPfeiffer - No soaking first? Should the pods be opened before they split? Because otherwise the seeds are dry by then.

Yes, open the pods as they start to turn yellow, plant the seeds immediately, and keep the planting medium moist. If they are allowed to dry out, they will still probably germinate but it will be delayed by a year or more. I don't think soaking is all that useful because the seeds float. You should probably also plant them a bit deeper than you would plant bearded iris seeds because they are buoyant enough to float to the top of potting soil as well.

I expected to plant them deeper. One pod is turning yellow so I will pot it up this weekend along with the seeds from the small (dry pod). The other pod is still pretty green.

Kent's instructions got me searching, and I found an interesting fact from Zydeco Louisiana Iris Garden. Once you remove the increases from the mother rhizome, you can cut 2-3" sections of the mother rhizome, immerse them in bleach and water, then place the sections in a growing medium (they suggest a mix of sand, peat and potting soil) and cover with more medium. Keep it moist and new increases will form on the sections! I have to experiment with that!!

Wow, no wonder the pods are so big, the seeds are huge!

Lestv said:Kent's instructions got me searching, and I found an interesting fact from Zydeco Louisiana Iris Garden. Once you remove the increases from the mother rhizome, you can cut 2-3" sections of the mother rhizome, immerse them in bleach and water, then place the sections in a growing medium (they suggest a mix of sand, peat and potting soil) and cover with more medium. Keep it moist and new increases will form on the sections! I have to experiment with that!!

That works with bearded irises, also...I did a bit of "mad scientist" a few years back....I didn't bleach, but did dust some of the sections in rooting hormone....but saw no difference between the "dusted, and the "undusted".

Arlyn ~ I just love your experiments!
You've done some others as well...
Thank you for sharing with us!

@crowrita1

I love Arlyn's experiments too!

thanks arlyn for doing the experiments, then sharing the results with us in a post.

Think I will try it on a couple of LA's first. The rains this year did a number on my TB's so I don't have any I want to experiment on at the moment. !!