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holes in bearded iris tubers - sick plants
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Posted by ReginaP NSW Aust (My Page) on Sun, Jun 12, 05 at 5:09
Hi. I have a lot of bearded iris' "growing". I have problems. They've been really neglected, which I thought would have been good for them, but for the last 2 - 3 years they aren't growing or flowering like they should. I know I should have done something about it sooner rather than later, but later is better than never!
Anyway, the iris leaves themselves are not as dark green as they used to be. The fans are also very small - less than 30cm, where originally they were huge, with no damage on them that I can see.
We tried watering, moving some (made no difference), fertilising, moving the mulch away etc etc, but today I lifted some to move them and the rhizome itself is full of holes.
I'm guessing that this is the problem... but what's doing it and how do I get rid of them?
I want my irises back!!
Thanks masses if you can help.
If I had a camera I'd take photos. There's a great many holes about 2mm wide and dig into the rhizome. All on the underside.
Don't know how else to describe it. I've googled until I cant read anymore, with no avail. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: holes in bearded iris tubers - sick plants
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| Hi ReginaP, Sorry I don't have a solution, but if it was me, I love irises, I'd take a sample to either your local nursery or the nearest DPI, and see what they have to say. Sounds like perhaps a borer, but that is strictly a guess. Good luck Marnie. |
RE: holes in bearded iris tubers - sick plants
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| We do not have borer in Australia and we are unlikely to get it here, because it has bearded iris only as an intermediate host, and I believe temperatures play a part in it's lifecycle too. The little holes are simply the holes where the old roots used to be, and are no longer. They are not a pathological problem. New roots grow from the heel of the rhizome and from the heel of each new offset. Old rhizomes should be discarded unless they have strong new side growths showing. There may be a soil problem here that is not allowing for good strong root growth and development. |
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