9 reasons why irises don't bloom
When spring confidently "strides" on the ground, purple, yellow, orange and white flowers with velvet petals bloom on the flower beds. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, so many are interested in why irises do not bloom, and how to solve this problem. Although the culture is considered unpretentious, in some cases it requires special attention. Indeed, without love and care, even lawn grass dries up. In order to "force" the plant to release its buds again, it is important to understand the reason for the "disqualification", and then, consistently eliminate it. Let us examine the factors that disrupt the development of culture, depriving it of a chic outfit.
Why irises don't bloom and troubleshooting
Therefore, they began to call flowers:
- northern orchids;
- cockerels;
- magpie flowers;
- braids.
It is noteworthy that, depending on the variety, the petals of the culture are painted in almost all shades of the rainbow. How sad if in the spring they do not open their magnificent buds. To remedy the situation, we will analyze the main reasons why irises do not bloom and how to deal with it.
Uncomfortable place
If you settle a person on Mars, can he live there without oxygen, water and food? Of course not. So why do some people think that unpretentious irises will grow and delight the eye with buds anywhere? They plant them next to shrubs, trees and high walls. Flowers deprived of enough sunlight do not develop well. This unfortunate location is the first reason why irises have only leaves and they do not bloom. Despite this, the problem is easy to fix.
At their summer cottage, they choose a spacious flower bed, where there is an abundance of sunlight. First, they dig it up, and then transfer the culture. Planting is carried out immediately after flowering or at the end of August. For several seasons, the distribution of irises on the sides is controlled. Otherwise, they can independently move to a shady place.
When planting a culture, it is advisable to direct the back of the main rhizome to the south side so that it warms up well.
Violation of agricultural technology
For each type of culture, there are generally accepted rules for planting in a flower bed. And, of course, irises are no exception. They have a voluminous rhizome, which consists of several parts. When planting, the upper area is left open to receive the sun's rays. Thanks to this, processes that stimulate flowering take place in it. Specimens that are too deep almost never bloom.
When planting, it is advisable to use large rhizomes, which have 7 or more leaf plates. Such irises will bloom next season.
Forced "starvation"
Unpretentious "existence" in a flowerbed does not mean that the plant does not need feeding. Ignoring this fact often leads to frustration. Such gardeners often wonder why irises do not bloom every year, but have a rather "gloomy" appearance.
The reason is a lack of nutrients, which is recognized by the following signs:
- slow growth of shoots;
- fallen inflorescences;
- twisting of sheet plates;
- drying out of the rhizome.
Eliminate the problem with special dressings, which are applied to the soil 3 times per season. Use a mixture before flowering ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate (30 g per 1 m²). The second time, superphosphate (60 g per 1 m²) is added to the existing components. After flowering, irises are fed with potassium sulfate (20 g per 1 m²) mixed with superphosphate (50 g per 1 m²).
To make the buds larger, wood ash is introduced into the soil during budding.
Overgrown rhizomes
Lush plantings of blooming irises are very pleasing to the eyes of their fans. However, after a few years, they completely fill the site. If it has limitations, irises stop blooming. It turns out that they have no room for shoots with buds. In addition, some bushes are exposed to shade, which deprives them of enough light.
Solve the problem with drastic measures. Immediately after the expected flowering period, old specimens, which are about 4 years old, are dug out of the flower bed. This gives the young irises room for lush bloom.
Excessive humidity
In regions where it rains a lot in summer, the rhizome of the culture begins to rot. No wonder the irises don't bloom and the foliage looks dull.
To return them to their former beauty, a number of procedures are performed:
- dig up damaged bushes;
- remove the rotten rhizome area;
- "Live" section is sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate.
A new site is being prepared. Before planting, the soil is treated with the active substance "Fitosporin". The rhizome is placed so that the neck is on the surface of the soil. In addition, only suitable varieties are grown in regions with a humid climate.
To neutralize acidic soil, it is advisable to apply wood ash under each bush annually.
Drought
Despite the fact that irises do wonderfully tolerate lack of rainfall, sometimes it affects the flowering activity. Most often they are transplanted in the last month of summer, when there is intense heat in most regions. Deficiency of moisture has a detrimental effect on the plant, taking away all its strength. As a result, it is unable to form buds. It becomes clear why after transplanting irises do not bloom until the end of the season.
The problem is solved quite simply. For 21 days, culture provides additional watering... Since the fleshy rhizome is capable of storing moisture, the plant easily tolerates a period of drought. Already in the next season, slender inflorescences resembling orchids will appear on it.
Some types of irises begin to bloom 2 years after planting. Therefore, prudence should be exercised in each individual case.
Pests and fungal infections
Unfortunately, irises, like other plants, are susceptible to various diseases.
Under unfavorable conditions, they are not bypassed:
- gray rot;
- mosaic;
- leaf spot;
- bacteriosis.
All of them influence the process of culture budding. For treatment, substances containing copper or ready-made fungicides are used. In some cases, the bushes are completely removed from the flower bed.
Irises are often "visited" by insects, which cause irreparable harm to them. For example, the caterpillars of the winter moth completely destroy the base of the peduncles. As a result, they first turn yellow and then die completely. They also damage the rhizome, which leads to bacterial rot.
An important aspect of protection is knowing what to do with irises in the spring just before planting. First, carefully prepare the site. The soil is treated with fungicides to prevent pests from settling. Only after these procedures begin to plant irises according to the traditional scheme.
The plant is also affected by bears, May beetle larvae, slugs, wireworms.
Freezing of the kidneys
Another reason for the lack of buds on iris bushes is severe winter frosts. Some varieties cannot withstand changes in temperature, so flower buds are damaged. These irises are unlikely to bloom next season.
The problem is solved with the help of additional shelter.For thermophilic varieties, pine bark, sawdust or spunbond are used, which is harvested in mid-spring. In autumn, when the air temperature drops to + 5 ° C, the root collar is abundantly sprinkled with soil or humus. The height of the layer is approximately 20 cm.
We have popularly discussed the main reasons why irises do not bloom and how to eliminate them. Each of them deserves attention. Thanks to this, even an inexperienced gardener will understand what needs to be done in his situation. Let's keep our finger on the pulse, controlling the flowering of magnificent rainbow flowers.