My iris garden is at a different property that is 3 hours away. So, I usually cut mine after the pods are fully developed (~45 days, sometimes earlier). That way I don't have to worry about animal damage, worms, rot, drying and dropping seeds while I'm not there, etc. I cut the stems about 12"-15" long and put them in a vase with a couple inches of water. I change the water and re-cut the stems about once a week. (I don't know that re-cutting the stems has any effect, but that's what I do.) When the pods start to shrivel and brown a little I remove them to a dry vase and let them stay there until they start to open on their own (usually around 60-80 days from pollination.) This technique has served me well for years. I hope this helps!
