JAPANESE IRIS CULTURE
Adolph Vogt was a Iongtime member of LAIS and an
internationally known and respected hybridizer of Japanese irises. Until shortly before
his death in 1992 he was an active participant in LAIS activities and encouraged its
members to include his beloved Japanese irises in their gardens. He won many national
awards for his iris creations over the years. His "Oriental Eyes" won the Payne
Medal, the highest AIS award for Japanese irises, the year he died. Some of his irises are
still being considered for AIS awards. This culture sheet is his work.
Japanese iris are not difficult to grow, but their
culture is different from other types of iris. All that Japanese iris need is an enriched
heavy type soil that is slightly on the acid side (pH 5 to 7) and plenty of moisture.
Moisture is essential for good growth. They will, however, grow well and give you a
rewarding bloom when grown under ordinary garden conditions if you will do a few things to
conserve moisture. So, do not plant in raised beds. Plant as they do in dry farming areas,
in a valley or depression. By planting in a 3 or 4 inch depression the roots are deep in
the ground where they will receive maximum moisture between rains. This saucer-shaped
depression will collect water during a rain and provide a basin to hold supplemental water
if it does not rain for two or three weeks.
A heavy soil like the muck of a lake will hold moisture
better than soil mixed with sand, sawdust, or peat moss. Japanese iris will indicate that
the soil is too alkaline by yellowing of the foliage. Alkaline soil or alkaline water can
be neutralized with granular ferrous sulfate.
Japanese iris that are not growing well can be rejuvenated
by potting, using good garden soil and adding 25 to 50% cow manure and placing the pot in
a shallow pool with one to two inches of water. In good growing weather they will develop
a new root system in thirty or forty days. When the roots reach the bottom of the pot, the
iris can be removed without disturbing the root system and replanted in the garden. If
they are planted in a depression and watered for a few days their growth will continue.
The top of the rhizome should be about one inch below the surface. Japanese iris will grow
and bloom better if planted in full sun.
An inexpensive child's plastic play pool makes a good
shallow pool. Drill a 3/8-inch hole three inches from the bottom to limit the water level
during a rain.
If you have a wet area, or can plant around a pond or lake,
you have the ideal place and you can forget abeut conserving moisture. They will also grow
well in a small sunken garden near the house if you can divert the water from the roof
into the area. Plenty of water does make a difference.
Japanese iris will respond to an application or Rapid Gro,
Miracid of camellia-type fertilizer. Apply early in the spring just as they start to grow,
and again after they bloom to improve new rhizome growth for next year's bloom. Do not use
commercial fertilizer in your potting soil mix as it may cause crown rot and destroy all
the growth buds. Only apply high nitrogen fertilizer to healthy, growing plants that have
a good root system.
Two tablespoons of Cygon 2E per gallon of water will
confrol insects and borers. (Ed. note: Read label completely and observe precautions.)
As to Japanese cultivars that may interest the beginner
For white, DRIVEN SNOW, LOVE GODDESS, FROSTED PYRAMID; for pink, ENCHANTING MELODY, MAGIC
OPAL, WORLEY PINK; for dark purple, MIDWEST SPLENDOR, MY FANCY, SUMMER STORM.
Anyone can grow Japanese iris if they give them a little
extra water and TLC. - Adolph Vogt
*Note: Louisville city water has a pH
of nearly 9, so you need to acidify before using on Japanese irises. You can also use
vinegar as an acidifier at the rate of 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls per gallon of water. |
