Iris not flowering anymore -- please help

I have various clumps of these Iris around my garden but last year none of them flowered.
This photo is from 2006.
They have always been fantastic but last year rubbish.
Was it just because of the terrible weather or some other reason ?
I'd love to know.
Thanks,Dan

 

Possibly the weather Dan mine weren't too good either, thats a beaut in your picture.

 

My yellow ones went 'dormant' flowerwise a few years ago but I thinned the corms and they were OK again. Mine were good last year. Pity the flowers are fairly short lived.

 

Hi Dan,Welcome to GC.I grow a lot of Iris in my garden and the one in your photo looks like it could be a Siberian Iris.Nice colour as well

Do as John says and try to thin out the clump and either put the splits somewhere else in the garden or give them away it is up to you.Mine are just starting to reshoot so when yours start wait until the shoots are a few inches high,then gently dig up the clump and break them apart making sure you have roots on each bit.

I sometimes pot them up in a multi purpose compost if the weather isn't too brilliant or if there isn't room in the garden at the time and let them grow happily in the pots until conditions are ideal.

You might also need to feed the clump as that could be the reason why they are not flowering,use Growmore or Blood Fish and Bone because Iris are hungry plants.

It is best to dig up most Iris and split them up about every three years to keep the palnts going or else in the end they start to die off.

I have about six clumps of Ensata Iris round my front garden and they flowered last year for months,this year not one clump has flowered so mine are going to need looking at.

Good Luck and keep us posted as to how you get on with them.

PS Love the size of your onions :D

 

Thanks for the advice.
I'll definately be dividing them.
When's the best time to do it?
I have also heard that the base of the plants(i.e the corm or rhizome or whatever its called) needs a good baking by the sun during the year.
Mine have been getting progressively sheltered by my out of control Crocosmia,I suppose this could be a factor ?

 

I must start to fully read posts before replying,as you have already given me all the answers I need.
So I'll wait 'till they've got shoots about 3 inches long then carefully dig up and divide.
I must remember to feed also.
Great,Thanks a lot.
Dan

 

Hi Dan,if you have Rhizomes,{ looks like a flat sausage}then they like to be baked in the sun so need to lie on the top of the soil or pot.
If the growth is like thick blades of grass and you see there is no Rhizome then they often like moist conditions.The variety you have in the photo could be 'Perry's Blue'but unless I check I am not 100% sure.

[ 05. February 2008, 06:16 PM: Message edited by: Kandyfloss ]

 

Agree with Kandy regarding the thinning out - have had the same problem in the past - thin out and feed...........

 

Thanks,I'll have a look and re-plant accordingly when I get round to doing it.
Thanks,Dan