Newbie, gifted irises,......

15 years ago

Ok, first of all, can I just say I'm SO creeped out by the whole 'iris borer' thing. A few of us ladies can admit to being a total 'girlie girl' when it comes to something. Shoes, clothes, snakes, whatever. For me it's moths/bugs and hence moth wormies even more so creep me out!

While I had been eyeing some irises, I really didn't know where to put them and made no effort to buy them. What do you know? Someone asked me if I wanted some that they were looking to thin out. "Of course!", I said. *rolling my eyes now*

So in researching how to transplant them, the 'iris borer' emerged into my knowlage base. (I could have done without thank you) Long story short, they are soaking in bleach water as I type and if ONE wormy thing appears in the water I think I'm going to throw a girlie 'ewwww fest'. That is, if I can hold my lunch down first. You can also bet that I'm not going to be surgically removing them either. Just thinking about them makes me queezy.

So in my best Bartels and James impression, "Thank you for your support".

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Comments (7)

hosenemesis
15 years ago
We all have something we can't take. I can squish grasshoppers with my bare hands and carry wriggly grubs to the chickens, but I have to close my eyes and think of England if I am exposed to kid snot. Gag reflex kicks in every time. It's among the top ten reasons I have no children.

The difference is that I don't miss children one bit and you will miss out on beautiful irises. What a dilemma. I hope no wormy things appear in your bleach stew. If I was in your neck of the woods, I'd come squish them for you.
Renee
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
since you have posted the girlie girl issue..

how about i give you the manly man answer ... lol

why dont you worry about it IF IT EVER HAPPENS ...

in the 10 years i have been at this house.. i have only had one bad year ... ITS NOT THAT BIG A DEAL .... psychosis aside.. lol ...

and if they do happen.. leave them to eat the whole plant.. then the iris are gone.. and you dont have to deal with it again.. lol ..

ken
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marricgardens
15 years ago
Some growers are experimenting with using dormant oil on irises to help control the borers. Everybody gets them sooner or later. Some people just squish the larva in the leaves when they see them. Since we usually get them here, I'm going to try the dormant oil next spring. Another alternative-move out west, I don't think they have them there. Marg
alaMel
Original Author
15 years ago
Update. Good news, no wormies but evidence of some past invasion. Not much though. An old rizome looked like it took some buckshot, but it was a dead piece the feeder roots were hugging. One rotten one out of like fourty and no brown spotting on the leaves. I definatly got more than what I had room for. Anyone looking for ten or so purple ones? I can't give them away apparently none of my neighbors are interested.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
the buckshot holes.. w/o a picture.. pure peculation...

the holes are where roots rotted off the the rhiz ... they were probably all on the bottom ...

yes???

ken
hosenemesis
15 years ago
Glad to hear it! If you keep the dead foliage picked off you should be able to keep the bugs at bay. Very kind of you to offer rhizomes. Wish I had more room!
Renee
sylviatexas1
15 years ago
Those holes are likely just where old roots have died.