In the case of the irises, also known as irises, propagation can also take place via the seeds that develop on the flower stalks. Of greater importance in these perennial plants is the root rhizome in the ground, from which new lateral rhizomes grow every year.

The best time to divide the iris is after flowering

Divide irises for propagation purposes

You can also propagate your irises in the garden from seedlings if you don't cut off the wilted inflorescences before the seeds are ready in late summer. However, it can take up to two or three years after sowing before the first flowers appear on the young plants. In comparison, dividing the rhizomes is a relatively easy-care method, which sometimes allows for a flowering period that is rich in flowers as early as the following year.

Get lazy irises going with the division

If the irises in your garden produce little or no flowers, then this can have various causes, such as:

  • a location with insufficient sunlight
  • poor soil conditions such as waterlogging
  • aging of the rhizome

An overaging of the rhizome can be assumed if the site conditions are otherwise good and there are still a few flowers in a ring shape around a bare spot. The flowering of irises is usually not a question of nutrients, since the very undemanding plant needs little to no fertilization, depending on the garden soil. In the case of ring-shaped flowers, all the rhizomes are dug up and only the outer, young parts are planted again at regular intervals in order to fill out the bed in a visually appealing way again.

The best time to divide the irises

One can distinguish different types of irises that bloom early or late. In any case, the time after flowering is ideal for dividing the rhizomes if there is no extreme summer heat and drought at the same time. In this way, the newly planted offshoots can form roots at the new location in autumn and sometimes bloom again the following year.

The correct procedure for dividing irises

Since the shape of the rhizomes above ground cannot be estimated well, you should not simply prick iris offshoots out of the ground with a spade, as is possible with some perennials in the garden. Dig out the rhizomes as gently as possible with a digging fork so that no leaf bases break off. Then break up the rhizome, slicing off hand-sized pieces with a clean, sharp knife or spade. Make sure that the cut surfaces are as straight and small as possible so that the attack surface for germs does not become too large. Discard the oldest rhizome parts if you don't necessarily want to increase the number of irises.

Prepare the soil before replanting

Due to their frugality, irises do not necessarily need regular fertilization. However, you are doing the plants a favor if you loosen up the soil with some stored compost as part of the division propagation and improve the nutrients. If possible, also dig up the soil and, if the soil is clayey, add drainage materials such as gravel and sand.

tips and tricks

Don't overdo it when dividing iris rhizomes: choose a size for each piece where each piece has some roots and leaves. In addition, proportionally large cut or broken areas also make the rhizome more susceptible to diseases.

Category:

Vegetable garden