The iris has long been one of the most popular flowering plants in this country that can be cultivated outdoors all year round. When it comes to fertilization, less is often more in the plant family also known as iris.
How should you fertilize an iris?
When fertilizing an iris, you should use it sparingly because its roots are sensitive to s alt. Use a mixture of 1 part nitrogen, 2 parts phosphorus and 2 parts potassium as a complete mineral fertilizer. Also make sure there is enough sunlight and loosen up clayey soil.
The right location for the iris
Basically, the he alth and prosperity of the relatively easy-care iris depends primarily on the selection of a suitable location. To do this, you should inquire carefully about the needs of the iris rhizomes you have purchased, as the different subspecies like to have different levels of moisture. The most important source of energy for the iris is the sun. Irises can produce magnificent flowers even on poor soil and without fertilizer, as long as they receive enough sunlight.
Be careful when fertilizing
If you want to fertilize your irises, you should do so as sparingly as possible. Finally, the fine roots on the rhizomes of the iris are very sensitive to s alt, which is why over-fertilization can cause the roots to rot all too easily. In this context, you should also make sure to loosen up soil that is too clayey with a little sand before planting the irises so that the root area does not become waterlogged. A mixture of complete mineral fertilizer (€11.00 on Amazon) for irises should be composed in the following ratio:
- 1 part nitrogen
- 2 parts phosphorus
- 2 parts potassium
Growth and flower abundance of the iris and its factors
The lack of flowers during the flowering period of the iris is rarely due to a lack of nutrients. If the location is in full sun, loosening the soil around the plants may help. In addition, certain types of irises have to be dug up and divided if they multiply too much in the bed. When planting, the rhizomes should not be completely covered with soil, but should stick out a little from the soil.
Tips & Tricks
After flowering, you can cut off wilted inflorescences about 10 centimeters above the rhizome if you do not want to propagate them by seeds in the garden.
