Welcome to the forum, David. This is a helpful group. I grow over 300 daylilies, but I can use help with my growing iris interest too. I have recently planted a small bed of iris for my 87 yr old mom. I didn't add any bone meal but had read about it before. Should I wait until Spring to sprinkle it or do it now?

Teresa in KY

Teresa, I would do it now if I were in your zone. It takes a long time for it to break down, so it wouldn't be available to them until spring anyway.

Yup -- what Tom said!!

Ok, and how much are we talking about? How close to the rhizomes?

Such additions should never touch the rhizome--true for other elements besides bone meal.

I sprinkle a handful around each rhizome. Didn't know that it shouldn't touch the rhizome -- thanks for that info Lucy. Pretty sure I never touched the rhizome in the past, but that's good to know.

I would sprinkle a handful a few inches away from the plant and work in lightly. Good contact with the soil will help it to breakdown more quickly.

Thanks for this info - I've been reading this thread and have really enjoyed the conversation. I started adding bone meal to my iris patch and bulbs in particular this past summer. I am hoping to see an improvement next year when the weather warms - I think it will help my plants increase faster to a clump size. I added several SDBs this summer and I'm looking forward to seeing their blooms next spring for the first time.

Thanks, I just love to see a big ole healthy plant. I try to make mine as happy as possible. so thanks for the tips!
Last month I dug a big box full of historic purple iris and the grape koolaid smelling iris. Mom hadn't thinned them in several yrs. What a job, but I am looking forward to see new colors in that bed. I need to add some bonemeal to hers too. I have yet to replant them

Get them somewhere, pots or ground, before winter comes.

After reading this interesting thread I feel that I have not been doing right by my irises! So today I went shopping for them. I bought Blood and Bone, which may be the equivalent of your Bonemeal. I also bought Super Phosphates. So it is the end of the bloom season here in Australia and I will give them all some TLC and food as soon as rhe weather allows. Thankyou all for the information!

Welcome to ATPs Orchid. I grow a variety of plants and there is just so much to know/learn about each of them. This is a great place for that.

Thankyou for your welcome, Theresa. I am enjoying finding my way around here. It's a very friendly place!

Hi, Orchid... Better check that mix on the "blood and bone"before you use it. Blood meal is usually higher in Nitrogen. I'm sure that, being an "organic" fert., and therefore somewhat "time release" you will be ok, but, better safe than sorry...Arlyn

Val -- the reason that Arlyn is warning you about Nitrogen is that fertilizers high in Nitrogen will encourage leaf growth at the expense of bloom.

Thankyou Arlyn and Mary Ann. I am aware of the effect of Nitrogen in fertilizers, thankyou both. I have tried to work out if there is too much in what I have got, but it's so complicated! I'll write it here and perhaps you can translate it for me please.
The Blood and Bone is
Nitrogen 7.7%
Phosphorous 5.0%
Potassium 1.2 %
Sulphur 1.6 %
Calcium 10.0%
the Superphosphates is 0-9-0-11
I look forward to your advice! Many thanks,
Val

7 + % nitrogen is not too bad, easy on the amount, however.

Lucy would know, Val!!

Thankyou Lucy! I will be careful about how much I give them.
Val