In nature, you can find plants with yellow flowers, similar to the garden iris, along the banks of reservoirs. This variety of marsh iris is called for its ability to develop and reproduce in water. Nowadays, the plant is cultivated in their gardens by summer residents, using the beneficial properties of a representative of the Kasatikov family.
Swamp iris: description and characteristics of the plant
The herbaceous perennial grows successfully in water.Its rhizomes develop well in an aquatic environment, accumulating nutrients. The growth point is located on the side of the roots, so the side shoots are deviated in different directions. They grow horizontally, filling the free space. Leaves and flowers form from the buds on the rhizome.
The iris has sword-shaped leaves that are light green or variegated in color. Together with the stem, they can have a length of 2 meters.
The buds are located on tall peduncles. There can be up to 12-15 of them on branched stems. There are 3 petals in the outer and inner circle. In addition to the yellow color with an orange spot in the middle, they have blue and white.
After the flowers fall in mid-July, a seed pod forms in their place. As the fruit ripens, it releases its seeds into the water. This is how the aquatic species of iris reproduces in nature.
Outwardly, it resembles the marsh calamus plant, hence its second name, iris calamus.
In addition, the flower is a medicinal plant. Its rhizomes are used for coughs, migraines, sore throats, and gastritis. Iris leaves are rich in ascorbic acid and amino acids.
The nuances of growing in open ground
For summer residents with swampy soil, marsh iris will be a real find. It takes root quickly and is easy to care for. By selecting the desired varieties of the species, you can decorate the pond with them.
Selection of planting material
It is better to plant calamus iris with seeds. To do this, you just need to bury the seeds from the cultivated plant floating on the surface of the water. There is no need to process the seed; it takes root well and sprouts.
The rhizome for planting is selected with a bud. There will be shoots from her. Before planting, inspect the roots, freeing them from damaged and rotten parts.You can treat the rhizomes with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Soil preparation
To grow, the marsh iris needs an open sunny place, protected from the winds. It grows well in the shade. Pay attention to keeping the soil well moist. On dry sandy soil the plant will die. You can choose a site in a reservoir where it is shallow. The acidity of soil for flowers should be within 7.0. Do not forget about the nutritional value of the soil, fertilizing it with organic substances.
Planting scheme
Plants planted in August-September take root best. Prepare a hole for planting flowers with a depth and width of 40-60 centimeters. It is necessary not to plant irises close to each other. As they grow, they can crush their neighbors. The gap is 80-100 centimeters. Over time, plants form beautiful decorative groups.
To ensure that irises bloom brightly and for a long time, the plantings should be mulched with peat or humus.
Specifics of plant care
Caring for swamp iris is standard. Humidity and nutrition are important for him. Otherwise, there are no special care requirements.
Lighting
Swamp iris, unlike other relatives, does not need much sun. In illuminated areas, the flowering of ornamental crops will be brighter. But the flower also withstands partial shade well. Therefore, it can be planted on the banks of a pond near trees.
Top dressing
If the rhizomes are planted in soil rich in organic matter, then at first there is no need to feed the flowers. Before flowering, when the buds appear in May, you need to apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. You can replace them with wood ash. It is buried in moist soil next to plant stems. Take 500 grams of fertilizer per square meter.
Watering
If irises grow in water or near a pond, then it is not necessary to water them. But plants planted on the site require plenty of moisture. They constantly make sure that the soil does not dry out.
Preparing for winter
The horizontal arrangement of the root system of irises requires shelter for the winter. It is necessary to sprinkle the plantings with a layer of peat and humus of 10 centimeters. You can cover the top with straw. Do not forget to feed the plants in the fall so that they survive the winter well.
How to deal with diseases and pests
Diseases are rare in Iris calamus. Mold may appear on the roots. But then you need to transplant the plants to another place and disinfect the soil.
Among the pests that attack flowers, gladiolus thrips. Brown-colored insects measuring 1.5 centimeters in size fly from plant to plant. Climbing into the buds, insects and their larvae damage the flower stalks. The buds look burnt, do not open, and dry out. They suffer from thrips and corms.
To combat thrips, iris bulbs are discarded before planting. Healthy ones are pickled in a Karbofos solution. Insects are controlled by spraying plantings with insecticidal preparations in dry weather.
Reproduction
You can choose either seed or vegetative methods for propagating irises. The seeds are collected at the end of summer and dried. You can sow them in winter or spring. Shoots will appear quickly. But the plant will bloom only in the 3-4th year.
Rhizome division is the most common method of propagating swamp irises. They are harvested after the plants have flowered. It is necessary to cut the material with buds. It is washed and damaged parts are removed. Can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar. Planted in the spring in a selected and prepared place.
Use in landscape design
Yellow and blue iris are loved by designers for their unpretentiousness and decorativeness. Where garden flower species do not grow well, the marsh iris will take root. It is planted in flowerbeds arranged in lowlands. It goes well with annuals. By selecting flowers by color, you can enliven them with blue and yellow varieties of the crop.
Calamus-shaped irises look good in water, near an artificial or natural pond. Their tall stems can be combined with thickets of bergenia and juniper.
The bright inflorescences of the plant in the form of a hedge, on the border of the zones of the site, are pleasing to the eye.
