Iris Seedlings ?

I have a very large seed pod on one of my white iris. Has any one tryed to propagate a new plant from seed ? I was wondering if this is a waste of time or does it realy work. Would be interested in hearing any results.

Here are some links I posted a couple weeks ago for someone else who had an iris seed pod:
http://www.signa.org/index.pl?Germinating
http://www.ehow.com/how_5562533_plant-iris-seeds.html
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Seeding-Propagation-733/2009/6/iris-seed-pods.htm

The catch is that your iris were most likely hybrids, so the seeds won't necessarily look like the parent.

But that is how all of the zillions of different irises happen! I have 2 bee pods this year as I quit deadheading near the end of the bloom period. I want to see how hard the seedlings are to grow. 2 late-bloomers would likely hybridize to create more late bloomers, do you think?

Yes, that's how a lot of different irises happen...but some people always hope to get something that looked like the parent plant so I wanted to point out that it doesn't work that way. Of course you could end up with something you like even better! As far as your late bloomers...there's a good possibility that you'd get late bloomers but it may not be a guarantee. Not being super familiar with iris genetics I'm not sure if that's a trait that would tend to breed true or not

To show the result from seed sown iris, here is my pod parent BUFFAWN. I have about 7 iris seedlings planted in my coldframe. Three seedlings have bloomed. It gave me the idea that the bee visited GAY PARASOL growing near BUFFAWN.

Below is the photo of BUFFAWN.

Here is are 2 seedling from the same seed pod

Here is one with 2 blooms. How different they all are coming from the same pod. They other seedling will bloom next season. Those that bloomed are 18 months old. That pod spurred me to hybridize. I now have 80 pods maturing. All are my own crosses and are labeled.

This message was edited Jul 18, 2011 12:31 AM

blomma,they look beautiful.
How long did it take for them to sprout ? did you plant the seeds right after harvest and drying them ? light or dark ?
I'm willing to try some this year.

Eglantyne, thanks. It is my very first iris from seeds so I am new at it. I have about 10 more iris plants from the same pod that didn't bloom this year. Will next year.

Wait until your pods begins to split on top before harvesting it. After you picked it, open it up to remove the seeds. Allow them to cure for 1 week on a paper plate. You can store them in the fridge until fall once they have cured.

When you are ready to begin germination (any time between Oct through Feb), soak the seeds in a container with hand hot water overnight. Allow to cool. The seeds need to remain in the water for at least 3 weeks. Change the water out daily using a strainer to catch the seeds (so as not to lose any). No nicking is necessary. This soaking and rinsing treatment is to remove the seed germination inhibitor present in the seed or seed coat. Outdoors, the fall rains and melting snow in winter do the same thing over a 3 to 4 month period.

Sow Iris seeds in pre-moistened potting soil 1/2" deep in a container such as plastic shoe boxes (cheap in Walmart). I covered the containers and left them out all winter long on North side of my house. Can also be left in an unheated garage or shed. Iris seeds require 12 weeks of less than 40 degrees temperature to break dormancy. They will sprout during spring when temperature reaches 55 to 70 degrees. Check the box during spring and plant any that sprouted in a 2” or 3” pot. Grow them under plant lights until all danger of frost is gone in your area. Harden them off. Then place the pots outdoors to get some more growth before planting in the ground. Feed with plant food low in nitrogen, 5-10-5 is good at ½ strength. First number is nitrogen.

If you are in a hurry to get them to sprout and gain more growing time, bring the box in to room temp early spring. The seeds will soon begin to sprout at higher temperature.

Good luck.

Below is one of my pods from last season to show what Iris seeds look like.

I got some Japanese Iris seeds in trade, and winter sowed them (my first year winter sowing anything).

Just one seedling came up, and it looked a lot like a stalk of grass. Might that be a Japanese Iris? Mostly just one long, slender leaf or thin stalk.

I'm planning to keep it going a while in its 3" pot, then maybe plant it somewhere this fall. If it's still there in spring, I'll try to guess again: grass or iris?

Corey