About Louisiana Irises: What Are They?
Louisiana water Irises are easy-to-grow aquatic marginal pond plants grown from rhizomes. These resilient plants may be cultivated in pond-immersed containers or in your flower garden. From harsh, frigid frosty winters to warm, tropical locations. Louisianas thrive in a broad variety of climates and soils in Australia.
Louisiana Iris After Purchase to Planting Time Care
Rhizomes should be submerged in shallow water until planting time. The vegetation ought to be above water. For about a month, the irises can stay in this state.
Are Louisiana Irises Semi Evergreen or Evergreen?
Louisiana Irises are evergreen in mild Australian winters. In frosty cold, icy climates, Louisiana Irises remain short and semi-evergreen all winter.
What do Louisiana Irises Look Like?
Louisiana Iris has extra long roots that grow deep in the soil, upright long green sword ready leaf blades and long sturdy flowering stems with showy beardless flowers. The flowers can be pendant shape or recurved others have short erect standards.
Irises were first distributed all over the world by an Australian breeder who specialised in Louisiana irises.
Australian Breeder Distributed Louisiana Iris Worldwide
Breeder Peter Jackson’s modern varieties are notable for their big blossoms with thick textured petals, magnificent ruffles, petals horizontally flaring, laced blooms with elegant steeple signals. Let’s bring on a new generation of breeders!
How Deep to Plant Louisiana Irises and Why?
Plant rhizomes of Louisiana Iris 5cm below the surface of the soil to avoid sunscald. If the hot summer sun strikes bare rhizomes planted above the soil, this can cause the rhizomes to become mushy and eventually rot away.
Can Louisiana Irises Grow in Garden Beds?
Louisiana Iris may also be planted in standard garden beds however, they must not be allowed to dry out. They must be consistently saturated with a great deal of water. They must also be mulched to retain moisture during summer and winter.
What Happens If My Louisiana Irises Dry Out?
If a shortage of water causes your Louisiana plants to go dormant in the summer, the plant will be weakened and flowering will be affected.
When is the Best Time to Lift and Divide Louisiana Iris?
Late summer and autumn are the optimum periods to lift and divide Louisianas. Depending on the size of the pot you may have to do this every year, large pots not so often.
When is the Best Time to Buy Louisiana Iris in Australia?
After November’s flowering, we wait until MARCH when new offsets are mature. After this, rhizomes may be safely dug up and replanted at any time of the year. Although it’s not a good idea before flowering time, since this might hinder full bloom.
When are Louisiana Iris Dormant and Semi Dormant?
Spring and autumn are the vigorous growth seasons for Louisiana Iris and become semi-dormant in the summer months. If not watered they can become dormant. If left to dry out for too long during summer chances are the plants will die.
Important Factors – LA. Irises Grow and Care
- Prepare an acidic humus-enriched soil with a pH of 6.5 or less
- Louisiana Irises should be planted one metre apart, they are hungry, heavy feeders making them fast multipliers.
- Maintain the soil acidic at all times.
- It’s important NOT TO FEED Louisiana Iris chicken manure, wood ash or lime, these soil amendments are used naturally to alkaline the soils pH.
- To allow for growth, plant rhizomes trimmed end close to the pot’s edge and not in the middle of the pot.
- When Louisiana Iris are first planted in pots or ground, water sparingly until they get their roots down into the soil. Too much water at this time will cause the cuttings to rot.
- Use a slow-release manufactured fertiliser particularly developed to nourish acid-loving plants low in nitrogen required to feed Azaleas, Camellias, Roses and Gardenias.
- Gently fertilise the plants twice a year, once in early spring and once early autumn.
- Each year top dress with more well rotted manure as the Louisiana Iris rhizomes usually work themselves to the top of the soil.
- If you have fish in your pond their manure is enough to fertilise your Louisiana Irises.
- Once plant roots are established, always remember to give the plants plenty of water.
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