Hi, I am new to iris growing, well I did buy some and plant them a few years ago but they all died, I think putting them between the fence and some shrubs maybe they didn't get enough sun? Dunno but I figured I'd try again. My mom always used to have iris around when I was growing up but she lives in the desert where it is 120 degrees in the summer so she can't grow them now.
I also grow tropical hibiscus, plumeria, epiphyllums, echinopsis and a range of cacti and succulents. I had roses years ago but found them to be an enormous ongoing thorny chore to maintain so most of the roses are outta here now.
I'm preparing a couple of beds that are in full sun most of the day with a bit of afternoon shade in some sections and I received a notice that my order from Schreiner's is on the way so now I am nervous!
I would like to see what I can do with those that rebloom and I thought I'd try a section on the far side in full sun all day for some aril hybrids, which I finally found at Superstition Gardens here in CA, I'll have to get my order in for the Arilbreds soon.
I also joined the American Iris Society and am looking forward to receiving whatever journal they produce. Hope to get to know you all better in the days ahead.
Welcome to our addiction ! Glad to have you, Geneva ! How many did you order ? I hope you have room for expansion, as we are great "enablers" ,here !....Arlyn
Hi Geneva! Welcome to our little corner of the world. I'm glad that you're giving Irises a *second chance* -- if you make them happy, they'll reward you generously.
I envy you that you can grow tropical hibiscus. I have to grow mine in pots -- and bring them in in the winter. For this reason, I only have two -- but they're beautiful! Can we see some pictures please?
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
You sound like a pretty well-informed gardener, so I doubt it needs saying, but just in case: Be sure not to plant them too deeply. I somewhat hesitantly admit that when I first started trying to grow irises I was one of those people who thought rhizome = bulb and used some kind of math that I forget now but that had me planting them 2 or so inches deep. Many died, and the few that survived didn't bloom for several years (in which they slowly clawed their way to the surface).
crowrita1 wrote:Welcome to our addiction ! Glad to have you, Geneva ! How many did you order ? I hope you have room for expansion, as we are great "enablers" ,here !....Arlyn
Thanks, I ordered about two dozen different varieties plus they included some freebies. I am preparing another bed on the side of the driveway that is about 25 X 6 and hopefully will be able to add more in there when it is ready. I wish I had gotten an earlier start but I think since we have warm winters I can plant through the fall and be OK.....at least I hope so.
Muddymitts wrote:Hi Geneva! Welcome to our little corner of the world. I'm glad that you're giving Irises a *second chance* -- if you make them happy, they'll reward you generously.
I envy you that you can grow tropical hibiscus. I have to grow mine in pots -- and bring them in in the winter. For this reason, I only have two -- but they're beautiful! Can we see some pictures please?
Hi Mary Ann, where I live it dips down to freezing at night in the winter and last winter we had about three solid months of freezing nights, I ended up hauling all the hibiscus in the house (they are in pots on the patio). And I sure hope I don't have to do that again!! Yes I'll post some pictures as soon as I get used to how the forum here operates.
You sound like a pretty well-informed gardener, so I doubt it needs saying, but just in case: Be sure not to plant them too deeply. I somewhat hesitantly admit that when I first started trying to grow irises I was one of those people who thought rhizome = bulb and used some kind of math that I forget now but that had me planting them 2 or so inches deep. Many died, and the few that survived didn't bloom for several years (in which they slowly clawed their way to the surface).
Hi Brettttt, that may very well have been my problem way back when, I don't really remember now but I think they may have been planted a couple inches deep plus behind some shrubs so didn't receive any sun. Thank you for the warm welcome!!
Yup -- Irises like sunshine! And the rhizome is actually a leaf (or so I've read) -- so if you plant them too deep and in the shade, you're really minimizing the likelihood of survival. Plant them so that the top of the rhizome is above ground where the sun can shine on it, and you'll have happy Irises.
Every day is a second chance. Every day is precious time.
Dunno but I figured I'd try again. My mom always used to have iris around when I was growing up but she lives in the desert where it is 120 degrees in the summer so she can't grow them now. 
