Description of the best varieties of reticulated irises, planting, cultivation and care

People who prefer to grow perennial bulbous flowers often plant reticulated irises. These compact flowers are ideal for decorating a small flower bed. Before you start cultivating, you need to understand the features planting and caring for reticulated irises.

Iris reticulum: biological description

It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the biological description of the plant in advance. This will help you learn in more detail the characteristic features of this variety of iris.

Reticulated iris or iridodictium is a small bulbous plant that grows up to 15-17 centimeters in height. The main feature of this flower is its early flowering, which begins in the spring. With the onset of summer heat, flowering stops and the above-ground part of the plant dries out.

During the flowering period, flowers with a diameter of 6-8 centimeters appear on the bushes. They can be blue, purple, white, red or pink. Some varieties of iridodictium have reddish blotches on the flower petals. Also, boxes are formed on iris bushes, inside of which there are seeds. Ripe seeds are collected in the summer and immediately planted in the ground.

Varieties and varieties

There are several varieties of reticulated iris that are popular among gardeners.

Mrs Dunford's Iris

This is the earliest flowering variety, blooming in mid-April. The bushes grow up to 10 centimeters in height, which allows them to be planted in compact pots. 1-2 months after planting, flowers with yellow petals appear on denford seedlings.

The variety can be grown in open ground, as it is resistant to frost and high humidity. There are several characteristic features that distinguish denforda from other irises:

• miniature;
• sterility of flowers;
• absence of the upper row of petals.

Hybrid Katarina Hodgkin

A hybrid variety of flowers that was bred in the 60s of the last century. Many gardeners consider Katharina Hodgkin the best variety of bulbous irises.A distinctive feature of the plant is its huge flowers, the diameter of which reaches ten centimeters. The petals of the hybrid have a bluish tint and a pleasant, fresh aroma.

The main advantages of Katarina Hodgkin include resistance to waterlogged soils and temperature changes. The flower is grown in one place for 3-5 years, after which it will have to be replanted.

Pauline

The plant is considered one of the most beautiful varieties of reticulated irises, which bloom in the first half of March. Paulina bulbs are ovoid and slightly elongated, their surface is covered with fleshy and dense scales. The leaves of the plant have an oblong shape and a bright green color.

Peduncle Paulina grows up to twenty-five centimeters in height. The flowers are painted in a rich purple color, their diameter reaches nine centimeters. In order for the plant to bloom on time, it is planted in the soil no earlier than mid-September.

Jenin

People who want to admire flowers in mid-spring often plant Jenin. Flowering begins in April and lasts for one and a half months. The dwarf bush Jenin grows up to 12-15 centimeters, the diameter of the flowers is 6-8 centimeters.

Jenin is not afraid of night frosts, and therefore it is grown in open ground. You can also plant it in pots and grow it indoors.

Joyce

This is a unique plant that amazes with its charming beauty. Joyce begins to bloom immediately after the snow melts and the soil warms up to a temperature of 5-6 degrees. Among the features of the variety are rapid growth and bright blue color of the petals.

Dwarf bushes reach ten centimeters, after which they stop growing. Most often, flowering begins in March, but sometimes flowers appear in April.The diameter of the flowers does not exceed eight centimeters. Joyce can be grown for four years without replanting. Then the bulbs will have to be dug up and planted in another place.

Harmony

An early flowering plant that is covered with miniature flowers one and a half centimeters in diameter. Blooming of Harmony begins in spring, when night frosts weaken. The variety has large bulbs covered with dense scales, which protect them from freezing.

There are different varieties of Harmony, which differ from each other in the coloring of the petals. They can be red, orange, purple, yellow, white and blue. Some petals are two-colored.

Natasha

Among the most winter-hardy types of irises, the Natasha variety is distinguished, which is frost-resistant. The height of the bush reaches fifteen centimeters when grown outdoors. In a greenhouse, the bushes grow up to 20-25 centimeters.

Natasha has a late flowering period, beginning around the twentieth of May. The flowers fade after 30-35 days, when the summer drought begins. In summer, the ground part of the flower completely dies. Re-sprouting of the bulbs begins in the spring.

How to grow in open ground?

To properly grow irises in the garden, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of planting flowers in open ground.

Soil preparation

Before planting any plant, the soil is pre-prepared. For growing reticulated irises, areas with slightly acidic or neutral soils are selected, in which the acidity level does not exceed 6.8 pH. If you plant a flower in soil with high acidity, the bushes will stop blooming and begin to grow greatly. To reduce the acidity of the soil, dolomite flour, ash, chalk and lime mortar are added to the soil.

Experienced gardeners do not recommend planting iris bulbs in areas with heavy soils, as under such conditions they will grow more slowly. To improve the growth of flowers, the entire area is dug up in advance and fertilized with organic fertilizers.

Planting bulbs

Most often, iris bulbs are planted in the autumn or at the end of summer, when all the flowers stop blooming. You cannot delay planting until mid-autumn, since late-planted plants do not take root well in a new place.

When planting bulbs in a flowerbed, holes are made, the depth of which should be 10-11 centimeters. However, if the bulbs are too large, the size of the holes is increased by 3-5 centimeters. The distance between the dug holes should not be less than 20 centimeters. If you plant irises too close together, they will grow slower and bloom less well.

Propagation of reticulated iris by seeds

There are several methods for propagating irises, but many gardeners use seeds for this. To propagate a flower using this method, you must use only ripe seeds. Full ripening occurs a few weeks after flowering.

Mature seeds are collected from flower boxes, soaked in water, germinated for 2-3 days and only then planted in the soil. Seeds are planted in the fall or spring, after the weather warms up.

Care in spring and summer: watering and fertilizing

Irises, like other flowers, need proper care. Planted bushes must be watered regularly so that they grow faster. However, they must be watered carefully so that the soil is not always wet. High soil moisture leads to the development of root rot and plant death.Flower growers advise watering irises with heated water 2-3 times a week.

Iris seedlings have an increased sensitivity to chemical components, and therefore only organic fertilizers are used as fertilizers. Humus with compost and wood ash is added to the soil.

Pruning and covering iris for the winter

Before the onset of winter frosts, all flowers are pre-cut and insulated using a special shelter. To trim the above-ground part of the flower, use pruning shears or ordinary scissors.

After pruning, they insulate the bulbs. They use straw, dry leaves and tree branches as shelter. They are laid out on the surface of the flowerbed in a layer 2-5 centimeters high. The created shelter absorbs excess moisture and reliably protects the iris bulbs from frost.

Diseases and pests: preventive measures

People who have been growing irises for a long time often encounter pests and diseases. The most common disease is bacteriosis, which appears due to waterlogging of the soil. To prevent the development of pathology, you need to water the plant properly. Also, to prevent bacteriosis, all bushes are treated with insecticidal preparations that repel disease carriers.

The most common insects that appear on irises are mole crickets. They feed on the roots and stems of plants, which leads to the death of flowers. To prevent mole crickets from appearing on seedlings, the soil will have to be dug up, loosened and mixed with ammonia.

Iridodictium in landscape design

Net irises are often used in landscape design to decorate a summer cottage. The popularity of iridodictium is due to the fact that it goes well with other flowers.Experienced flower growers advise planting it together with primrose, crocuses and hyacinths.

Landscape design specialists use irises to create alpine slides. They are planted on the south side of the laid decorative stones to create a bright flower meadow.

Conclusion

Flower growers often plant flower beds with reticulated irises, which are known for their beauty and compactness. Before planting, you should familiarize yourself with the known varieties of the flower, as well as the peculiarities of its cultivation and propagation.