Last year, we had a discussion on the forum about different "pre soaks".....water, weak Miracle Grow solutions, and a dilute solution of hydrogen peroxide. Seems everyone had their favorite method. So, I took some comparable sized rhizomes, soaked two on water, two in the MG, and two in H2O2. I also left two "dry" no presoak. These had all dried for 6 days, in the shade, after being dug....and were all (except the "dry"ones) presoaked for (I *think* , 6 hours) after a few weeks in the ground, the "dry " ones were the last to show new growth, the rest all started new growth at about the same time. By the end of the growing season, the "water" soak ones were just as large as both the MG soak, and the H2O2 soak, and the 'dry ones had caught up. This year, it was pretty apparent to me that both the "water" soak, as well as the "dry" ones ....were the best looking plants of the group !.....more increases...and larger, as well. I'm "re doing" part of this
experiment" this year, but, for my part....IF I presoak extra dry rhizomes, I use plain water...and don't soak them very long, and anything , either freshly dug, or not overly dry....goes right into the ground.
Every body has to do what they feel is correct for their "dirt", and their climate, though
. I am pretty well convinced that Mother Nature and Father Time have a whole lot more to do with the success of my garden, than I do....and that the iris seem to do pretty good "despite" the care I give them !
