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?
