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iris are a wide-ranging group of flowering plants which are suited to growing in a wide scope of different office , from moulding to garden pool .
However , if you are consider growing iris , you might be wonder about container growing .
Iris reticulata
Should You Grow Irises In Pots?
“ Many of us have small gardens and container growing is a requirement , ” excuse Simon Dodsworth , owner of The English Iris Company .
“ Tall , whiskered irises produce really well in potentiometer as long as you allow the correct care . ”
As Simon says , almost all irises can be grown in containers as long as they are give the right environment and cared for correctly .
Iris reticulata
However , the irises best suited to container ontogenesis are those which care full sun and free drain conditions : bulb fleur-de-lis and border sword lily .
Bulb irises are the most uncouth pick for container growing , but little types of mete irises can also often work very well in pots .
Taller coinage can also be grown in containers , but will usually require some support .
Choosing Suitable Containers
When take a container for iris , one key consideration will be which specific iris you plan to grow , as they can vary significantly in sizing .
belittled bulb irises , likeIrisreticulata , will develop to around 15 cm marvelous and need to be spaced just 5 centimeter or so apart .
However , some border iris can grow up to 1 m in height and require a great deal more space .
When prefer a container for irises , you will not only need to see the size of the plant and its specific demand , but also its geezerhood .
“ Choose a pot that is wide and shallow , rather than one which is narrow-minded and deep , ” says Simon .
“ Depending on how many irises you require to grow , I would recommend start with one that is 38 - 44 centimetre across and 20 - 26 cm mysterious . This will allow you to plant at least five irises .
“ You could also try something smaller and start with implant three and see how you get on . For this , utilize a pot with a width of 28 - 33 curium and a deepness of 20 - 26 cm . ”
recall that most bulb type and border sword lily expect free - enfeeble conditions , so ensure that the container you choose has drainage holes so that water can drain freely from the radical .
“ Fill the base of the stack with beat out - up plant pots or brick rubble , with a intermixture of coarse gravel to ensure effective drainage , ” Simon intimate .
Irises which like free - draining atmospheric condition should be planted in a general - purpose potting mix with some horticultural grit fuse in , or a homemade equivalent .
“ I apply a peat - gratuitous compost with plenteousness of pea plant shingle mixed in for my potted iris , ” say Simon .
However , remember that the medium must also retain water reasonably well and you should mulch the top to aid care in this .
Potting Up Iris Rhizomes
Bulb iris can be planted on their own in a container oras part of a mixed bulb lasagneplanting outline alongside a range of other natural spring ephemeral .
Plant the bulbsas presently as potential after you purchase them .
Bulbs are typically planted at a astuteness of twice their height , though for more long - lasting container displays , planting iris bulbs at least 15 cm deep can be beneficial .
Planting at this depth can mean that the flowers bloom more faithfully the undermentioned class .
Border ( rhizomatous ) irises which come in containers are pot up in much the same room as any other perennial .
“ get out the top of new imbed iris rhizomes let on so that they can be sun - soak during summer , but be careful to work the dirt back in amongst the root to anchor the plant life well , ” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
New border sword lily rhizomes are establish between July and October , while potted fleur-de-lis should be pot up between March and mid - November .
At a minimum , electric light flag should be planted around 5 curium apart for longer - lasting displays or around bulb width asunder for a seasonal container showing .
It is a near melodic theme to layer unlike irises which bloom successionally for a bloom display through leaping and into the summertime .
Individual margin iris purchased in pots should usually be place into a container just a little larger than the one in which they came , though you could also consider farm these in a with child container alongside other plant which like similar turn conditions .
If establish more than one borderline iris , remark that larger plants require 30 cm between them and midget works should be position around 15 cm apart .
Simon recommends embed tall whiskered irises at a spacing of 22 curium .
Potted Iris Care
Water iris lightbulb but take care not to overwater when grown in container .
place to keep the soil for all fleur-de-lis that like free - drain condition moist , but remember that they do n’t like sit in muddy soil .
Otherwise , Iris bulb are very humiliated - maintenance .
Just leave the leaf to expire back of course after spring flowering .
With bearded irises , remove any yellowing leave through the season if hope and deadhead when the flowers have turned brown or wilt .
“ use bone meal or seaweed feed to your pot iris diaphragm , ” says Simon .
“ Also , be very vigilant for slug and snail . ”
If you no longer like to pot up border iris diaphragm , you could divide the plant and place the department each in its own potbelly .
