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How to help my Iris?

Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 36
in Plants
My Iris flowered for the first time this year, three years after planting! Normally the leaves are munched by something before they are two inches tall.

I have dead headed them, should I remove the seed pod things?

They are quite flimsy as you can see!  what can I do to help them be successful next year? 

The area is very shaded and gets waterlogged in winter

Thanks very much, I'm very much learning! But loving it🙂 and I'm sorry but I can't work out how to rotate the photos!

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,816
    Which iris are they.  Some like moist soils but others need to be sun baked.

    If you have dead-headed them properly there will be no seed pods, thus leaving all the energy to go into making a healthy root/bulb/rhizome for next year's flowers depending on which kind you have.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Beebop164Beebop164 Posts: 36
    According to my note book,  I have an iris chrysographs (went in this year) and the other two are "sparkling rose" and "flight of butterflies" I've written "mulch in Autumn or Spring".

    Just wondered if I should be doing something now or just enjoying the leaves? It's a west facing area and gets the  morning sun. The soil can be rock hard in dry periods so I think some organic material would be a good idea
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 28,816
    I have no experience with your black iris but this link may help - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/96505/i-Iris-chrysographes-i-black-flowered/Details

    I have grown iris sibirica before tho not in this garden yet.  It needs a moist soil and is best divided every 3 or 4 years to maintain vigour - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/170793/Iris-Sparkling-Rose-(Sib)/Details
    - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/44855/Iris-Flight-of-Butterflies-(Sib)/Details 


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,213
    edited July 2021
    Chrysographes need permanently moist soil to do well. A newly planted one won't produce a lot anyway. If the ground dries out in summer, adding more organic material will help. They won't mind being wet in winter. 
    Like many irises, they don't flower for very long anyway, but are beautiful when they do. 


    I split mine last year,  and the slugs got the original plant before it really got going this year. Such is life   :)
    Sibiricas are more forgiving, but they generally like a moister soil too, so the organic matter will help those too.
    Should have added - yes, take the seed pods off.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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