"Iris" in translation from Greek is meant by "rainbow". This plant is popular with gardeners for graceful beauty and unpretentiousness in cultivation.
Leaving after blossoming
In the people the irises tenderly call kasatikam. Their big bright flowers can various shades, they decorate flower beds from May to July, depending on characteristics of the landed grades. That irises long grew on one place, kept decorative effect during blossoming, it is necessary to provide them the correct care after completion of blossoming.
After blossoming it is necessary to cut peduncles or to break out them at the bush basis. After foliage has begun to turn yellow, it is also necessary to cut off it at ½ lengths. It needs to be made in order that nutrients collected in rhizomes. The correct fertilizing stimulates formation of rudiments of flower kidneys the next year.
In month after blossoming it is necessary to feed up irises phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, dissolving on 15 g in 5 l of water on one bush. It is impossible to fertilize bed with irises manure as it provokes development of root decay. If to overfeed plants with nitrogen fertilizer, then it stimulates growth of foliage, greasing of plants, but blossomings will not be. If irises do not blossom, it is possible also that they are put in shadow. The reason can sometimes be in excessive acidity of the soil. These plants prefer neutral and subacidic soils. If necessary it is possible to improve structure of the soil introduction of compost, humus, dolomite powder, lime slaked lime, chalk or wood ashes.
Preparation of plants for winter
If in the region where irises are grown up, cold snowless winters are frequent, it is necessary to warm rhizomes in the fall. For this purpose it is possible to use straw, opit, humus or peat. However in this case in the spring, after approach of steady above-zero temperatures, it is necessary to remove the shelter in time, otherwise roots can wet through, the plant will die. Can Vyprevat rhizomes of irises also in the summer if long time there is damp rainy weather. In this case plants also more often are surprised fungal infections. To avoid death of bushes, it is necessary to remove the roots struck with decay as soon as possible and also to choose the soil around them. For this purpose it is possible to dig out completely rhizome, to attentively examine it, to cut the damaged places and to process 20% formalin. After that to dry roots and to plant plant on other place. For prevention of fungal diseases it is possible to process in the spring irises fungicides. Are effective Fundazol, "the Dithane of M-45", etc. Time in 3-4 years is recommended to replace bushes, at the same time carrying out division of bushes. At this procedure it is necessary to use sharp knife, to powder cuts with pounded coal or ashes and to dry before landing. It is necessary that the soil on bed with irises was free from weeds. Only meeting these conditions, it is possible to achieve long and abundant blossoming.