How do I transplant and care for iris plants?
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I have been offered some beautiful iris plants, zone 7b. Googled but am looking for real experience with transplanting (when) and caring for them. TY
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They're sturdy, just remember they have corms not bulbs attheir base. Transplant them with at least one quarter of the corm protruding from the soil.
My neighbor in TN used to thin hers and toss them across her farm road and they grew along the fence there all by themselves! It depends where you live. When we lived in could country we would mulch ours for winter protection and water them when we had a dry spell. They are a bulb flower so bone meal in the spring is good for them to feed the bulb etc. Irises are easily grown in most places without much maintenance. If they get thick, divide and give some away! That is about all they need. We have never done anything to ours except bone meal in spring, the mulch, and then as needed.
If someone gives you the rhizomes/corms, trim the leaves to about 1" and trim off any root hairs, leaving an inch or so. These corms will keep in a cool, dark place for months and still grow after planting. When you are ready to plant , till the soil so that you have a couple of inches of loose soil, place the corms into the soil with about 1/4-1/2 of the corm showing. Water well at the beginning and then occasionally afterwards. They are very forgiving. Really you can water regularly or not. They will grow in shade or full sun. After they have all bloomed, use a weedeater with a blade or scissors if that is what you have and cut them back, leaving 2-3 inches of leaf. Most varieties will bloom once a year, some twice. I have lots of iris and love them all. They are just beautiful!
If you are in Alabama then I'm guessing frost is past. I live in Central CA and we don't get hard, ground freezing cold here, so I can plant most any time of the year. I have kept corms in a paper bag in the garage for a couple of months until I have time to plant. Your colors sound beautiful. I would be happy to pay postage if you could part with some. Best of luck.
Hi Kathy, hope this helps you out,
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/iris/dividing-transplanting-iris.htm