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Author Topic: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture  (Read 7642 times)

BULBISSIME

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iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« on: November 04, 2009, 07:53:52 PM »
Who is growing this species ? and How ???  ???
I've really no success with it since many years, although having no problem with many others.
As it's really a splendid plant, I'd like to get it into flower...  :(
Fred
Vienne, France

( USDA zone 8 )
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/IrisOncocyclus

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2009, 06:55:35 AM »
Fred,
I grow it.
Do you want it to grow in pots, bulb frame or outside?
Hendrik

BULBISSIME

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2009, 07:02:31 AM »
Hello Hendrick,

at the moment, I grow it in pot, in a bulb frame like many other species but it does'nt grow well, never flowers and stay very small  >:(
Fred
Vienne, France

( USDA zone 8 )
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/IrisOncocyclus

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2009, 07:00:33 PM »
Hello Fred,
Indeed, looks very miserable.
Looks what's possible in a pot!
Sorry that I make you jealousy, but I will contact you again as soon as possible (next week) with more information.
Hendrik

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2009, 07:02:41 PM »
Sorry, have take a wrong picture
Hendrik

BULBISSIME

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2009, 07:26:28 PM »
Thank you Hendrick !!
I've just posted in onco topic  ;D
your plants looks gorgeous !!!
Fred
Vienne, France

( USDA zone 8 )
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/IrisOncocyclus

Hans A.

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2009, 07:45:26 PM »
Hi Fred - this is also for me one of the species which cause some trouble.
I think the problem I have/had with it are to hot temperatures and to dry soil in summer. Rhizomes are quite small and so they tend to dry out to excessively - a problem which seems to be easier controlable in central europe. Now I have planted the plants in the shadow (north of a wall where my other "northern" Oncos grow - until now they seem to like it, the leaves are allready up to 15 cm long (what does not cause any problems here as light intensity is high and will get any frost).
Hans - Balearic Islands/Spain
10a  -  140nn

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #7 on: November 05, 2009, 08:22:00 PM »
Hi Fred - this is also for me one of the species which cause some trouble.
I think the problem I have/had with it are to hot temperatures and to dry soil in summer. Rhizomes are quite small and so they tend to dry out to excessively - a problem which seems to be easier controlable in central europe. Now I have planted the plants in the shadow (north of a wall where my other "northern" Oncos grow - until now they seem to like it, the leaves are allready up to 15 cm long (what does not cause any problems here as light intensity is high and will get any frost).

I agree completely with you Hans!
This species is more a mountain onco, not a steppe/desert species.
You can see it clearly on my pictures from Turkey: there is a lot of other vegetation around the plant and I can tell you that the soil is really heavy and rich of minerals. Do you agree with me that onco's like a lot of minerals (bonemeal)? Otherwise nitrogen is fatal.
The gorgeous picture with the many flowers is taken nearby a big river; plants grow only 0,5 m above water level!
I think that during heavy rains, the plants must be submerged by water!
Otherwise, even during  a dry summer there is always enough capillary water...

Hans A.

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2009, 09:11:32 PM »
So I will hope to have better results in future with this beautiful plants.  :)

Nearly all Oncos grow in mineralic/chalky heavy soil here and cannot say I am dissatisfied with the results using only small quantities of synthetic fertilizers with low nitrogen. Also to high phosphorus concentration seems to be dangerous as it may result in plants which might flower to death - so, as so often: less might be more ;)
Hans - Balearic Islands/Spain
10a  -  140nn

BULBISSIME

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #9 on: November 05, 2009, 09:16:09 PM »
I agree with you Hans, not too much fertilizer !
But you're also right Hendrick, Onco I've seen this spring in Lebanon and Syria grow in a rich soil, even in lava with lots of plants around
Fred
Vienne, France

( USDA zone 8 )
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/IrisOncocyclus

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2009, 08:46:28 AM »
So I will hope to have better results in future with this beautiful plants.  :)

Nearly all Oncos grow in mineralic/chalky heavy soil here and cannot say I am dissatisfied with the results using only small quantities of synthetic fertilizers with low nitrogen. Also to high phosphorus concentration seems to be dangerous as it may result in plants which might flower to death - so, as so often: less might be more ;)

Probably I have expressed me wrong.
There is a big difference between cultivation in pot and in open ground (or bulbframe)!
Here in my wet maritime climate I have no other choice than growing this irises in pots in my alpine house. I know, not ideal and really the most difficult method. But it is possible.
Early leave development (even without water!), cloudy weather and sometimes cold winter temperatures (last winter - 17°C) makes bulbframe cultivation even very risky. In my basic soil mixture for pot cultivation I use a organic fertilizer (NPK: 7-6-12 + 4 MgO ) as standard feeding. During and after flowering onco-irises form their new buds; in this period they need really some extra feeding; so I give them 2 or 3 times some liquid feeding; for this purpose I take a fertilizer low in nitrogen (tomato fertilizer). In my soil mixture for onco's I use 1/4 akadama (burned clay pellets from Japan - see Google for more information ); akadama is a fantastic product, but expensive (onco's are too expensive). Akadama is largely used for bonsai, japanese Hepatica's, ...
With akadama I try to fulfil their need for a clayed soil. With Akadama the soil soil is never wet, even not after a gently water gift! Together with grit, coarse sand and a good potting soil (+ chalk) you achieve a very open soil mixture and an excellent rooting medium. 
Look at the picture.

Luc Gilgemyn

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #11 on: November 06, 2009, 09:05:39 AM »
Very interesting discussion folks !!
Learning a lot here !!  8)
Thanks and please don't let me interrupt the discussion  ;)
Luc Gilgemyn
Harelbeke - Belgium

Hendrik Van Bogaert

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #12 on: November 06, 2009, 09:42:18 AM »
Very interesting discussion folks !!
Learning a lot here !!  8)
Thanks and please don't let me interrupt the discussion  ;)

Sorry Luc, I have to stop the discussion until Sunday evening.
Enjoy another elegantissima from Turkey.

arillady

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #13 on: November 06, 2009, 10:39:10 AM »
I agree Luc I too am learning much.
Iris iberica ssp elegantissima is one that I have never flowered and I do think it needs a cooler climate - with snow. The rhizomes haven't died here - just developed into small/tiny clumps. Next week we are expecting record highs all week for November since the late 1800's. Not good as watering is tricky in the garden (not arils) as the soil heats up so much.
Have enjoyed all your photos on the Onco thread and this one Hendrik. So good to see where the different oncos grow.
Pat Toolan,
Keyneton,
South Australia

BULBISSIME

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Re: iris iberica ssp elegantissima culture
« Reply #14 on: November 06, 2009, 03:32:53 PM »
Hendrick,

your plants looks very healthy, with nice leaves, not elongated !
Congratulations.
I also grow part of my collection ( for spare plants ) in pot, in a bulb frame without problem ( except I. elegantissima  ??? ), and I also use tomato slow action fertilizer.
Fred
Vienne, France

( USDA zone 8 )
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/IrisOncocyclus

 


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