Breaded Iris - Rotted and died

[EmeraldDragon]

Yesterday, while I was watering the plants. I noticed one of my DW breaded iris was rotted and died. the leaves were shredded like something chewed on it. The root were literally gone. We could not figured out why, but we think it was one of the critters (mouse, etc..) that was roaming around our backyard. But then, my DW noticed another iris that starting to turn yellow. It was in a different spot. So, she think it might be getting way too much water.

Trying to see what is the root of the problems. Can anyone tell me why? So, that we can prevent it in the future, if possible. Thanks in advance.

[gander]

mine froze out so I am no help

[EmeraldDragon]

mine froze out so I am no help

At least you knows why your died.

[batman]

This type of iris don't require a lot of water like it's water loving cousins. They fourish in a sunny well drained location. Dig up the one turning yellow. Look for iris borers. There are many photos on web. This is what attacks ours and the insect damage leads to bacteria damage. I'd spray all of them with a combination fungal and insecticide . In the past ones we didn't want to loose they were cut back, dug out, dipped in a bleach solution and let dry for few days before replanting.

For us the very old hardy varieties seem to have a natural resistance and don't need spraying. The new varieties are terrible for this.

[EmeraldDragon]

Thanks Batman. Yeah, we seems to have these borers running around the yard. I had killed some of them already. Will try to do the solution you recommended.

[One Poet's Garden]

we seem to have these borers running around the yard.

Sunny,

First, make sure you know what you're dealing with. Iris borers are much more common east of the rockies. And at this point in the gardening year, you'd be unlikely to see them, as they start in the leaves and then live in the rhizomes. Here's a good picture:




Under most conditions, at this time of year, you could douse your iris bed with fungicide and insecticide and not even get close to the borers themselves. In Southern California, the time to do that would have been March-April. If you do have borers, here's a decent site with some info: https://getbusygardening.com/getting...f-iris-borers/

Here's a decent general purpose Bearded Iris site: https://www.americanmeadows.com/blog...rded-iris-care

I may just be an old California hippy, but even before all the things we've learned about mycorrhiza and gardening in the last 20 years, I would have thought three times before I sprayed fungicide and insecticide in a garden with a pond.

Good luck!

Best,

Bill

[EmeraldDragon]

Thanks Bill, for the info. Yea, our Iris that died looks similar to the one in the picture. But I was not quite sure, since my DW was the one that threw it away. I only saw the leaves not the roots.

I am like you. I won't spray any fungicide and insecticide that easily. Well. let's see if more iris will starts to go that way. (hopefully not) I will keep an eye on the rest o the irises.

I go with non-chemical way, (organic) my DW and I has always been doing it that way. That's why we started planting our own garden and making our own organic garden soil mixed/fertilizer. (from watching YouTube) Of course, from time to time we have to buy soil from Home Depot/Lowe. But that to the minimal.

[batman]

Often even at early stages the insect damage leads to other bacterial issues. Only way to know is to dig a few up and inspect all of the plant. If it looks to be bacterial only sometimes all they need is the bleach dip treatment and a location change.