For irises (also known as irises) to thrive in the garden, they need the right location. We show when and how to properly plant the rhizomes and bulbs of the iris.
If you want to plant decorative irises or irises, you should first choose the right time and location. We will show you what is important and why the iris's outlasting organs play an important role in location.
Planting irises: The perfect time
The ideal time to plant irises is between July and October. Late planting in November or spring planting in March are also possible.
The right place to plant irises
Iris plants love the sun and should be planted in a warm, full sun. There are two types of iris based on their outlasting organs:
- Onion Iris: It is known by this name, although in reality it does not form bulbs but bulbs. Onion iris species need a lot of humidity.
- Rhizome Iris: It has rootstocks as outlasting organs. Rhizome irises prefer rather dry to normally moist soil and are sensitive to too much moisture.
When buying irises, pay attention to which outlasting organs are present. Both the onion iris and the rhizome iris thrive in loose, well-drained, humus-rich and nutrient-rich garden soil. But irises are also good for rock gardens.
The marsh iris (Iris pseudacorus) and the Japanese marsh iris (Iris ensata) have slightly different habitat requirements, as their names suggest . They need moist, spring-wet soil to thrive well. They feel comfortable both at the edge of a pond and on loamy soil.
How to plant iris rhizomes and bulbs
Once the right location has been found, the soil must first be loosened up a bit. To the permeability of the soilTo increase, you can also work some sand into the substrate or fill a layer of sand about 2 centimeters high in the planting hole, on which the irises will later be placed. Cut back the roots of the irises to about 6 centimeters in length and shorten the foliage to about 10 centimeters. Now the rhizomes or iris bulbs can be planted. The planting distance should be 25 to 40 centimeters. Place the rhizomes or tubers flat in the ground so that about a third is still visible. The irises need light to grow well. Fill the planting hole with soil and press it down well. Then water the iris well.
Smaller iris species in particular are also very suitable for planting in pots on the balcony or terrace. A peat-free potting soil, such as our Plantura organic potting soil, is ideal as a substrate. Choose a suitable pot with a drainage hole so that excess water can drain away when watering and there is no waterlogging. In addition, you can put some potsherds on the bottom of the planter or work some sand into the soil.
Once the irises are planted, the young plants need to be watered regularly until they are well established and established in their location. You can read about other care measures that are necessary for magnificent iris flowers in our article on the iris.