An
iris plant has a thick, fleshy root called a rhizome. The
rhizome is where most of the nutrients for the iris are stored.
For best results, an iris should be planted in a sunny spot
with well-drained soil. The rhizome should be closer to the
surface of the soil than the rest of the root system. As the
rhizome grows, new bloom stalks will emerge in later years.
These flowers will be identical to the original iris. This
process is called vegetative propagation.
Iris
plants grown near each other will become crowded from the
ever-growing rhizomes. To help spread them out, they should
be divided every two or three years. To divide an iris, cut
the newer parts of the rhizome from the older ones. The older
rhizomes can be discarded, and the newer ones transplanted.
This is another way to propagate iris plants, and should be
done about one or two months after the bloom season, usually
in July or August.
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