Small-bulbous irises are correctly called iridodictiums, they are classified as irises due to their belonging to the iris family (Iridaceae). And they are sold more often as irises..
Iridodictium reticulated is used in distillation (Iridodictyumreticulata) different tones of blue and purple and yellow iridodictium Dunford (Iridodictyumdanfordiae), they are complemented by a purple-violet hybrid of iris mesh (I. histrioidesxI. reticulata) "George". Each bulb gives only 1-2 peduncles during flowering, so it is worth stocking more bulbs, at the rate of 9 pieces per pot or bowl with a diameter of 12 cm, so that the flowering of these miniature plants is more lush.
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Iridodictium bulbs over 6 cm in circumference (6+) are suitable for forcing. They are small, dry out easily, so they are stored before planting in a not too warm place, at a temperature of + 23 + 25 ° C until mid-September, then at + 17 ° C.
Any of these species require a 15 week cooling period for the bulbs. Under industrial conditions, they begin to be planted in pots as early as September 1 for flowering from mid-January - for such an early distillation, reticulated iris is most suitable. For home distillation, they are usually planted at the same time as tulips, hyacinths and other small-bulbous (crocuses, snowdrops), i.e. from October 1.
Priming. As a soil for forcing, you can take a purchased one for flowering plants, or just a mixture of peat and sand (1: 1), with the addition of a small amount of dolomite flour for deoxidation (bulbous irises like neutral or slightly alkaline soils).
Landing. A little sand is poured at the bottom of the pot as drainage, then the pot is filled with soil up to half the height and the bulbs are planted. From above, they are completely covered so that the tops of the bulbs are deepened by 2 cm.Water and sprinkle the soil after subsidence.
Cooling. Immediately after planting, the pots are placed for the cooling stage in a dark basement or refrigerator with a temperature of + 9 ° C. At this time, the development of flower rudiments and rooting of plants take place. It is advisable to avoid temperature fluctuations throughout this time and do not forget about watering, for which check the plantings once a month.
Attachment. After 15 weeks of cooling, the plants are transferred to an attachment in a room or greenhouse with a temperature of + 12 ° C. The earliest changeover when planting in early October is possible from mid-January. By this time, the plants show sprouts several centimeters high. To obtain strong peduncles, additional, but not very strong lighting, and high humidity (60-80%) are very important. If you have planted only one pot of irises, it is quite possible to drive it out without additional lighting on the south window. With a large number of plants and a lack of natural light, it is necessary to organize additional lighting with a phytolamp with an output of 60 watts. It is fixed at a height of 30-50 cm from the plants.
Flowering occurs within 1-2 weeks, and the closer the spring, the shorter this period.
If you have several pots of bulbs, taking them out in turn can extend the total flowering period by 2 months, from the beginning of February to the end of March. And you can prolong the flowering of irises in your only pot by planting 2-4 species and varieties together, which will surely bloom a little at the same time. This is a very good technique, because the unfortunate fact is that the flowering period of these ephemeroids is too short, only 3-4 days, and even less in a hot room - 2 days. Therefore, to admire the flowering, keep the flowering plant in a cool place. And in order to hold it until a certain date, place it in the refrigerator at the stage of extending the buds, allocating a place for it with a temperature of + 2 + 5 ° C. So it can be stored for 3-4 days, after which there is a danger of stretching and curvature of the peduncles.
After flowering. The development of irises, like other forcing plants, is due to the stock of the bulb, therefore, during the period of short addition, irises are not fed, during a short growing season they do not have time to assimilate additional feeding. When the distillation is over, and the flowers have withered, it is worth watering it once with a solution of a special complex fertilizer for bulbous plants and leaving additional lighting for a week. Now we are faced with the goal of obtaining larger replacement bulbs, so we provide the faded plants with food and light.
During this week, you need to moisten the soil quite a bit, and with the end of the additional lighting, stop watering completely, otherwise the bulbs can rot. When the leaves turn yellow and begin to dry out, the bulbs are removed from the soil, dried and stored in dry peat, first at room temperature, and in summer at + 17 ° C. At the end of September - beginning of October, chopped onions and children are planted in a garden for growing.
