Not any problem that I can see. You only planted in the fall, you are lucky to get any bloom this year. Next year they should all bloom. Iris need time to settle in. Had you planted mid summer the expected percentage for first year iris is still only 50-60% bloom.

i agree.. your only problem is your high expectations ...

ken

huh. I planted 6 or 7 types of bulbs last year, and all the others bloomed at a rate of almost 100%. But, maybe it's because irises are bigger, they need to set up a bigger root system or something. I did read up on irises before planting them, but none of what I read mentioned that few would bloom the first year after planting. I wouldn't have been annoyed if I had expected that.

Iris are not bulbs. Bulbs, like lilies, daffodils and such perform differently than bearded iris.

Large rhizomes with 7+ leaves 'often' bloom the first year. Fertilizers with a high middle number encourage blooming (9-52-9, 0-45-0, etc). Fertilizers with a high first number encourage leaf growth only (29-6-12). Small rhizomes with fewer leaves or rhizomes planted late in the season usually need an extra year to develop a bud. Look forward to next spring.

Kristee