Buds not opening on Iris

My dark purple bearded iris are in full bloom now and are just lovely. However, there are many buds with a white covering that are not opening - - many of which don't appear to have a bloom inside. Does anyone know why this has happened? Thanks, Nat

Nat, I've seen that some years, it seems to me it might be a problem in cold and wet springs, as the buds are forming. I don't think there is any way to prevent or control it... Glad you have some blooming to enjoy! John

John, I thought it might be something like that. We did have a cold snap about 2 weeks ago where it got down into the 20's for two nights. And it has really been wet here. But no complaints - - they are prettier than they have been since I bought this house 3 1/2 years ago.

But I have alot of different bearded iris and they bloom at different times over about 6 weeks. I am looking forward to my other colors - - they shouldn't have been hurt by the cold.

Nat, what a great photo of some gorgeous Iris. They look like the old-fashioned blue flags I have grown for years. Always the first to blooom, followed by the other colors and varieties. Here in NJ it is still a few weeks until the Iris begin to bloom. Will post some photos, have lots of new ones, hoping they bloom! John

John, I look forward to your photos, as iris are my all time favorite flower. The lady that owned my house previously had them planted everywhere. But many of them never bloomed as they were in the shade. So, my DH and I dug them up, divided them and made several large beds. We had so many that we gave away baskets of them, and still we had over 3,000 tubers.

As many of them had never bloomed, we are surprised with new colors every year. But we don't have any of my favorite, the old fashioned white top/purple bottom. I may have to break down and order some. I want to divide the bed shown in the picture this year even thought it could go another year -- in an effort to get my beds on a cycle where they don't all have to be done in the same year. Nat

Nat, let's see if I have any of the white top, purple bottom. I don't remember, as there were a lot of 'new' iris added last summer. I do know I have a lot of the old-fashioned yellow and purple, which are very vigorous and should be blooming for the first time soon. How often do you divide, perhaps every three years? John

John, I divide when the foliage is so thick that air circulation may be hampered and when the tubers start to look crowded and push out of the ground- - which here would be every 3 to 4 years.

I like to look of round beds but when it comes to weeding, the long narrow beds are much easier to deal with.

This particular bed was divided three years ago and is already needing to be divided. I will have extra to give away and but can't guarantee what color as my colors are so mixed up.

I also have a patch of Siberian iris that very much needs to be divided if you would like some of those (mine are purple). I have mine planted close to some tickseed coreopsis and the bright yellow and purple color together are beautiful.

Why can't I see anyone's pictures??? I love irises. When my Daddy found out he had cancer, my mom stopped gardening, and soon developed dementia, alzheimer's, and then her once beautiful garden turned into 5 ft. weeds. I was away, and didn't know she'd so neglected her home and garden, but as soon as I came home to care for Daddy and her, I began pulling all the weeds. Of all the beautiful flowers that once filled her garden, the ones I most remember being unscathed were the irises...I told Peter that when we get a house, I'm planting irises!! Have you all seen my reblooming fragrant iris posted yesterday? Champagne Elegence...in photos...since I can't see your pictures, you'll have to go see mine!!!!

Meiyu, I don't know why you cannot see my picture. When I have more colors blooming, I'll post some more pictures. Lucky you, I don't have any reblooming iris. I'll go check out your picture. Nat

nat, lots of people are having trouble with pictures not downloading, dave is working on it. Found bloom stalks on my bearded iris today! Won't be long now... John

Meiyu,go to Daves page and see how many people are having the problem......