Juno (Scorpiris) - Season 2010

[David Shaw]

As part of my seed allocation I have three packets of juno iris (albomarginata, caucasica turcica and nicolai). I could save myself a lot of effort and just dump them all on the compost heap  but, up to the challenge, I want to give them my best shot. To help me on the way does anyone have any special suggestions for sowing?

[Sinchets]

Imho I'd just keep them dry in the fridge and sow in autumn.

[Janis Ruksans]

As part of my seed allocation I have three packets of juno iris (albomarginata, caucasica turcica and nicolai). I could save myself a lot of effort and just dump them all on the compost heap  but, up to the challenge, I want to give them my best shot. To help me on the way does anyone have any special suggestions for sowing?

Here I would be soaking seeds now for 24 hours, after that scrapping by sharp knife seed coat to open a little white endosperm and then I would saw seeds in pots keeping them in cellar as outside is too cold. If in your place started warm weather, then best to keep dry seeds in fridge up to next autumn. But you are from Scotland, so I suppose the best to saw now.
Janis

[Maggi Young]

Various Forumists have reported that they add a little bleach to the soak water, David.

[Rodger Whitlock]

Various Forumists have reported that they add a little bleach to the soak water, David.

But just a very little and, unless I've missed something, intended to remove seed-borne disease organisms, primarily fungi. Dilute hydrogen peroxide is reported to work too.

I suppose as a side effect, using one of these disinfectants stops the soak water from turning cloudy. Even so, there will still be seeds where you need to change the water repeatedly as it leaches growth inhibitors out of the seed coats. Glaucidium palmatum is a notorious example of such a plant; its seeds demand a very long soak, with many changes of water. Some have been known to tie their glaucidium seed in an old sock and suspend it in the toilet tank where the water is changed with every flush.

Another tip for David and his juno seeds: be sure to use a good soil-based compost for sowing. Soilless composts such as mixtures of peat and vermiculite break down after about a year, and you need a compost that will retain its structure possibly for years. Sow in pots that will last, too. Dykes, in one of his books on irises, mentions a species that took 19 years to germinate. Your seed pots of juno irises could become family heirlooms!

[Rodger Whitlock]

Here, Iris cycloglossa is just beginning to emerge from the soil. It will flower in May or June, often just on schedule for display at our local rock garden show.

I grow it in a large pot that's left out in all weathers, with the sides of the pot shaded from the sun in summer so the soil does not overheat.

It seems to be a good multiplier and can endure our wet winters.

The flowers are often described as "clove scented" but in my opinion that's a mis-statement. It's a good fragrance free of the decadent cheap-soap taints of Viburnum × bodnantense 'Pink Dawn' and the purplish form of Daphne mezereum, but to call it clove scented is overstating the case.

[Maggi Young]

The flowers are often described as "clove scented" but in my opinion that's a mis-statement. It's a good fragrance free of the decadent cheap-soap taints of Viburnum × bodnantense 'Pink Dawn' and the purplish form of Daphne mezereum, but to call it clove scented is overstating the case.

Rodger, the scent of Iris cycloglossa is one of the best around.... I agree that it has little to do with cloves. When I think of cloves in relation to the scent of a flower I think more of some dianthus fragrances. That of Iris cycoglossa is so much more subtle but not weak. It is very hard to describe a scent.... I used to be regularly made a gift of a hand wash .... made by   he company Yves Rocher... which smelled perfectly of this gorgeous Iris... they called the fragrance "Hamamelis".... it was nothing like that !

[Diane Clement]

As part of my seed allocation I have three packets of juno iris (albomarginata, caucasica turcica and nicolai). I could save myself a lot of effort and just dump them all on the compost heap   but, up to the challenge, I want to give them my best shot. To help me on the way does anyone have any special suggestions for sowing?  

All the germinations I have had with junos has been immediately after a period of cold.  Last year, several pots of junos that had been outside for 4 or 5 years germinated in March (along with some colchicums), and this was after a prolonged period of cold nights and around zero daytime temperatures last February.  However, I don't think sowing them now outside at the moment will work, as I think they need warmth first.  I have been successful with a warm sowing indoors, then after 2 months, put the pots in the fridge - some actually germinated in the fridge and some immediately after coming out.  So, yes, I agree with Simon, sow in the autumn, alternatively speed up the seasons with inside sowing and then fridge.

[Tony Willis]

Various Forumists have reported that they add a little bleach to the soak water, David.

I suppose as a side effect, using one of these disinfectants stops the soak water from turning cloudy. Even so, there will still be seeds where you need to change the water repeatedly as it leaches growth inhibitors out of the seed coats. Glaucidium palmatum is a notorious example of such a plant; its seeds demand a very long soak, with many changes of water. Some have been known to tie their glaucidium seed in an old sock and suspend it in the toilet tank where the water is changed with every flush.

An interesting comment on the glaucidium seed. I sowed mine direct from the pod on the day they ripened and they have already germinated (and probably died in this cold weather)

[David Shaw]

Thank you for all of these interesting responses, far more than I expected and they will give me something to think about. I will probably get on and sow the seed straight away, Simon, as I am naturally impatient and Rodger has already upset me by suggesting that I may have to wait up to 19 years to see a flower - I am 66 years already so, rather than heirloom, I would expect to be taking it with me! I can keep the seed in a cool room for a couple of months and then, maybe, give them another couple in a fridge - we will see.
Janis, thank you for publishing your book 'Buried Treasures' as I am finding pictures of plants in this that I cannot find anywhere else. I keep referring to it.

[Rodger Whitlock]

Rodger has already upset me by suggesting that I may have to wait up to 19 years to see a flower - I am 66 years already so, rather than heirloom, I would expect to be taking it with me!

Apologies for having upset you. I am the same age but I don't let that stop me. Keep in mind that there have been centenarians who were busy planting trees they'd never see mature. Rather like Capability Brown planting landscapes that took a century to really come into their own.

Look at it this way: waiting for those seeds to germinate, grow, and flower gives you something to live for, and the will to live is an important element in attaining a great and highly disreputable age. I presume that you, like me, have that as a goal, no?

[David Shaw]

 

[Janis Ruksans]

Janis, thank you for publishing your book 'Buried Treasures' as I am finding pictures of plants in this that I cannot find anywhere else. I keep referring to it.

Pity, but not all pictures in Buried Treasures are correctly named. One caption was corrected in second print of book. As Iris narynensis really was picture of another form of I. hippolyttii. Those, who have first print - please correct name in your copy. True narynensisis much less spectacular plant, interesting only for those, who want complete set of Juno Irises.
Just got mail from great Allium specialist Reinhardt Fritsch that few Iranian Alliums in my book are incorrectly identified, too. I'm not great in Allium taxonomy and followed the names under which I got those plants from another great specialist in Alliums - Arnis Seisums. I completely trusted to his identification and didn't checked his opinion. Really there are very little information about Iranian Alliums and just recently a lot of new species were described and this summer I will have great job checking my stocks of Iranian Alliums to put them under correct names. Unfortunately the last complete revue of Alliums in this district is Wendelbo's treatment in Flora Iranica, now much out of date. Sorry, but each book can show only situation of knowledge at the date when book is going to printer. At present so many researches are maid using modern technologies. From other side - each botanist think that just his opinion is the best and correct. I was something shocked when recently hear that my plants are used as standard for naming. Of course, I'm never intentionally sending wrongly named plants instead of true, but labels can show only my opinion (knowledge) at current moment.
Janis

[BULBISSIME]

Hans, I MISSED your picture.... 

How could I survive
I'm absolutly JEALOUS 
Congratulations for your culture and this display .
I suppose your camera has been working for a long time on the front of this Iris bed.

Nothing else to add, As rafa said,  "Iris master" your are....

I'm going to drown one's sorrows ....

[Hans A.]

Thanks Fred - I am not a master, just have good luck with my climate and in mixing a soil they seem to like.

Here an Iris galatica