constantly. i'm always walking around taking off the spent blooms. i'm not looking for seeds/seed pods, so i rather it conserve its energy.

maryanne

Me, too.

I deadhead and water - they seem to last longer that way, plus I hope they will spread instead of producing seeds I do not need. Also, I really love looking at iris plants and flowers and do not appreciate seeing them less than perfect, i.e., with hanging, curled, wilted petals. Iris are definitely my favorites among perennials.

Now that the rain has done in my irises, can I cut the stem off near the bottom or do have to just take the flowers off and keep the stem?

You can cut off the stem near the bottom.

Yes, I deadhead, especially if I am having visitors to see the irises. I want guests to see them at their best. And for "showing" single specimens at a Flower Show, I find that if you carefully snap off the spent blooms and smooth the beige "sheath" nicely, you can barely tell that there was a bloom there before.

Yes, snap off that ovary too and the flower judge can't tell .... I learned that at our local Iris Society once upon a time. The program was on How to Show an Iris. I wish more people would join up. I've learned alot about irises, seen some good slide shows, been given lots of free irises, seen many pretty ones at the official AIS shows....I could go on and on! Val Walker

I've also noticed that should a well-placed fall from a collapsing flower happen to drape itself over a bud, it will keep the bud from opening properly. Deadhead, by all means!

- Steve

Always. I love my iris and since the TB season is only about 3.5 weeks long, it's not that big of a chore. I go out almostevery day and groom them. Makes me closer to them. I love my iris!