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Iris reticulata

Penny19Penny19 Posts: 53
in Plants
I grow iris reticulata in bowls every year, when the flowers are over, I move the bowls out of sight and leave them for the summer. However   they never seem to come back and the one or two pots I have turned out just seem to have empty nets and not much else. Is it a waste of time to try to keep them going and better to pkant fresh every autumn?
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,913
    They seem to come back more reliably if planted deep, in the ground. Maybe try planting them out straight after flowering, and see if they come back then. For the bowls it sounds like it's be best to have new ones each year.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    They are best in very free draining mix. As I understand it, they do not naturalise over time like snowdrops, crocus or cyclamen, and tend not to last many years.  Not sure why.

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,913
    They usually do several years in the ground for me but gradually get fewer each year. I do have sandy pebbly soil though, and they go in an area that's not been amended.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,260
    They diminish over time, but you can give them a small feed after flowering, as they die down. It's just the way they are, like Dutch Iris. 
    Even in containers, I don't find they last more than a few years at most.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Penny19Penny19 Posts: 53
    Thank you all. Sounds like fresh bulbs for bowls are best. But like tulips.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,260
    What did you mean by empty nets in your opening post @Penny19? Or was that a typo of some kind?   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Iris retic. are native to bone dry mountains of Turkey. They need bone dry conditions through the summer. Maybe a rocky gravel garden will suit them best. I planted a lot last year in very sandy soil w very low nutrition and sharp drainage. It will be interesting to see how many return over the coming years. It was wet in London throughout the summer, and not hot, so not the best conditions for their return.

    The retic. subset I. histrioides maybe more likely to return, but it also likes rocky soils.



  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,260
    With the best will in the world, I can't replicate the conditions they need here, because I can't stop the rain, and I can't create heat when there isn't any. Not many places in the UK can [ same with many tulips ] and they're inexpensive, so it would be counter productive to try.  :)
    The conditions many areas of the UK had in summer [and spring] this year, are what we would normally have most years  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    @Fairygirl the comment was more directed at the OP @Penny19 who asked the question.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,211
    Many of our bulbs planted in pots are searched out and taken by...we think mice.
    We have IR in the ground and as others have said they don't double as many other bulbs do.
    However they are such a great start to the Spring year we are happy to buy more and replant.
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