Contents
Irises are perennial rhizomatous ornamental plants. The family has more than 800 varieties distributed on all continents. The culture needs care and periodic feeding, which is required taking into account the time of year, the growing region and a number of specific features. Feeding irises in spring ensures rapid vegetative growth and abundant flowering without delay.
Types of top dressing for irises
For top dressing of iris in spring and summer, both mineral and organic complexes are used. The plant needs the following fertilizers:
- Wood ash. It is an excellent source of phosphorus and potassium, as well as a full range of trace elements that support plant immunity. Soil microorganisms feed on wood ash, which improves the quality of the soil.
- Compost. Source of humus and nutrients. The loose consistency of humus improves the air permeability of the soil.
- Humus. Contribute in liquid form (no more than two shovels per bucket of water). If the root system was damaged during the introduction of humus, it is necessary to treat these areas with dry ash or a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Bone flour. It takes time to completely dissolve, so it is recommended to fill it with hot water and wait for it to cool completely. After pouring the solution into the soil, the bacteria begin to gradually process organic residues.
- Potassium sulfate. Used to support flower stalks.
- Sulfur is necessary for a full-fledged cellular metabolism and increase resistance to fungal infections and pathogens of various diseases.
- Ammonium sulfate used to acidify the soil. It is used in areas with neutral and alkaline soil. In acidic soil, in addition to ammonium sulfate, you need to add a little ground chalk.
Terms of feeding irises in spring, summer and autumn
Care for most varieties involves the following terms of fertilizing:
- the first procedure is carried out after the snow cover is completely gone. In some regions, the snow melts already in late February – early March, in others – only by mid-April;
- the second top dressing is done during the active formation of buds, the third – in the summer, when the plants are preparing for wintering.
How to feed irises
It is necessary to select fertilizers based on the time of year, soil type and other factors. Mineral mixtures are used to feed irises in the spring in the country, since they have a higher absorption rate than organic ones. In the case of the use of organic fertilizers in early spring, the soil is prepared by watering with a solution of urea. It is not only rich in nitrogen, but also prevents the reproduction of pests.
How to feed irises in spring after winter
Top dressing of irises after winter is based on nitrogen fertilizers, which are necessary in spring for the active formation of green mass. The plant needs magnesium, which saturates the cells with chlorophyll. Irises during early spring also require the following fertilizers:
- potassium or ammonium nitrate;
- compost;
- balanced mineral complexes.
Fertilizers with a predominance of nitrogen are applied at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. for every plant. To improve digestibility, top dressing is diluted in slightly warmed water and gently poured over the soil around the irises with the resulting solution. Sandy soils hold nitrogen very poorly. It settles in the lower layer of soil, from where the roots of the iris are not able to extract it.
How to feed irises in spring for abundant flowering
In May, active bud formation takes place, therefore, at the end of spring, before flowering, irises need potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, which provide the plant with energy and essential substances. A good source of phosphorus is considered to be bone meal and double superphosphates obtained as a result of its processing in industrial conditions. They differ in worse solubility than nitrogen supplements, so they are introduced into the grooves of small depth.
For lush flowering in the garden, you need to feed the irises in the spring with potash fertilizer. You can start feeding after the first buds form. The ratio of potassium to phosphorus in the fertilizer should be approximately 1:3. For the next top dressing, which is performed in a month, fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium are needed in the same proportions. Superphosphates increase the acidity of the soil, so they can only be used on sandy loams with low pH.
You can improve the decorative qualities of iris by removing wilted flowers, followed by cutting off the peduncle near the base.
Slices should be sprinkled with a small amount of crushed coal.
Fertilizing irises in summer
Top dressing in the summer directly during the flowering period is not practiced. Fertilizer may be required only if the iris grows on depleted soil. Signs of a lack of nutrients in the soil are an unnatural shade of foliage, as well as insufficiently opened buds and a lack of lush flowering. The last top dressing is carried out at the end of August – after the end of flowering. Use fertilizers with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus, which are necessary for normal wintering.
When flowering ends, a period of calm sets in, characterized by a sharp slowdown in growth. After a few weeks, secondary vegetative growth begins, accompanied by intensive root formation, the laying and formation of buds and the formation of new shoots. During this period, irises are in dire need of phosphorus top dressing. For each square meter, 22-30 g of potassium salts and 55-60 g of superphosphates are added.
How to fertilize irises in autumn
Autumn top dressing is not practiced, since the plant manages to stock up on the necessary nutrients during the spring and summer. If you feed irises in the fall, then with the onset of winter, the condition of the flowers can only worsen. In the case of an excess of nitrogen introduced during the end of the growing season, the plants suffer from fattening and are distinguished by a delayed onset of flowering.
How to properly feed irises
If the irises have not been covered for the winter, fertilizer granules are scattered over the snow cover before it begins to melt. Top dressing in dry soil is not practiced, since in this way the root system can be burned. Compost is spread directly under the foliage in a thin layer. To evenly distribute nutrients, irises are watered. Wood ash is a good top dressing necessary for flowering irises in the spring. Three tablespoons of ash per bush is enough to significantly reduce the likelihood of diseases and stabilize the acidity of the soil.
Advice of professionals
There is an opinion among flower growers that manure is the best fertilizer for most ornamental crops. However, it is absolutely not suitable for irises, since it can greatly slow down growth and provoke decay of the root system. After fertilizing with manure, irises get sick, dry and throw off their leaves, and flowering becomes short and rare. This top dressing attracts various pests, so it is not recommended to use it. Experienced gardeners give the following advice regarding the fertilization of irises:
- Organic substances should be used with great care, diluting them with water in a ratio of 1:20.
- It is preferable to apply dry top dressing, providing the flowers with thorough watering.
- When top dressing with compost from the foliage, it should be scattered around the roots, followed by loosening the soil.
If flowering is delayed, but there is an abundant growth of green mass, the problem may be excessive acidification of the garden plot. In this case, it is necessary in the spring, even before flowering, to feed the irises with phosphorite flour, which will increase the pH of the soil to an optimal state.
Conclusion
Feeding irises in the spring is a process that requires knowledge and extreme caution. Do not overfeed the plant with fertilizers and mineral supplements. It is better to introduce them gradually, starting with a low concentration.
