Why Do My Iris Flowers Not Bloom?
Around 200 species of iris grow in North America. According to the University of Illinois Extension, it's one of the oldest garden flowers in existence. The most familiar species is the bearded iris. Growing them is fairly easy, but you need to do certain things if you want them to flower. Does this Spark an idea?
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Dividing
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Most iris varieties need to be divided every three or four years in order for them to bloom. Irises are energetic growers and will stop blooming when they get overcrowded. When dividing and resetting your flowers, leave 18 to 36 inches of room between them. Siberian irises don't need to be divided as often, and may go 12 years or more.
Sun
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Irises need at least a half-day of full sunshine in order to produce flowers. A full day of sunshine is best. They also need good drainage. Don't overfertilize. A light application of a low-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring, when the bloom stalks are starting to form, is all they need.
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Herbicides
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Don't use herbicides around irises. Herbicides can kill them. If an herbicide doesn't kill them, it may eliminate the bloom.
Transplanting
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Only about 60 percent of irises bloom the spring after they're transplanted. If your irises don't bloom by the second or third year, and they're receiving plenty of sunshine, try moving them.
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References
Resources
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