Iris Trouble

[FlowerNerd817]

Hi, I have some very strange irises coming up this year. The rhizomes on some of them are weird - not segmented at all, just a single, thick rhizome, and then the swords that are trying to grow out are very stunted and crowded - it looks like a little shriveled-up version. I pulled several out of my bed. There are many more irises in the bed that look completely normal, and this isn't something that I've encountered in previous years (I've had these iris beds for many years). Does anybody know what causes this and what I should do to prevent it from spreading?

 

[Meadowlark]

First, welcome @FlowerNerd817 . I'm always glad to see another Texan here

I don't know the cause or the prevention for certain, but I believe it could very well be because of the fact you haven't rotated those beds "in several years".

Recognizing that growing veggies isn't the same as growing Iris, but I know for absolute certainty if I did not rotate certain veggie crops, they would absolutely fall victim to all sorts of decline.

If it were mine, I would definitely look into rotating into a new Iris bed.

 

[Owdboggy]

Did you lift and replant last season when the flowers had finished?
The recommended advice is to do that frequently and to refresh the soil when you do. I think the problem may well be a nutrient problem rather than disease.

 

[tyronee]

That does sound unusual, especially since your iris beds have been healthy for years. Stunted growth and oddly shaped rhizomes could be signs of iris borer damage or even a fungal issue like soft rot. If the rhizomes are mushy or smell bad, it’s likely rot — in that case, it’s best to remove and discard the affected ones (don’t compost them), and maybe treat the soil with a fungicide before replanting. Also, overcrowding can sometimes cause issues with airflow and moisture buildup, so if the bed is dense, dividing and re-spacing might help prevent further problems. You might also want to browse eflorist — they occasionally have care tips and healthy plant options if you end up needing to refresh part of your bed.