Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - June 12, 2014
From: Newport, RI
Region: Northeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Reblooming Potted Iris
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I have a pot of iris bulbs that are giving me just a bunch of leaves this year. Last year I had wonderful big blooms. Any suggestions about what I could do to get some flowers?ANSWER:
Reblooming potted bulbs, whether they are iris, lilies, daffodils, amaryllis or tulips takes time and patience. Since the plants give almost all their energy to grow and bloom the first time, it could take several years of leafy, vegetative growth before the bulbs are of a size that they will bloom again. So all you can do is have patience and give your potted iris ample sun, water and fertilizer while it is actively growing so that it builds up stored energy reserves. When the leaves start to turn yellow and dry up just set the pot on its side so that the soil dries out a bit.
Additional information is available from the Planttalk Colorado website in the "Saving Forced Bulbs" article.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Blossom fall after rain on Polystachys lutea, Shrimp Lollipop
July 17, 2008 - I live in San Antonio and had previously bought shrimp lollipop plants and after the rain we had recently all the blooms fell off. So my question is did it die or should I just leave it alone?
view the full question and answer
Vascular plants and mosses from Toledo OH
September 03, 2009 - Why do vascular plants grow taller and thicker than mosses?
view the full question and answer
Will non-native hostas do well in South Carolina from Seneca SC
May 20, 2013 - I am moving to SC from CT and want to bring some of the hostas I grow in CT. If I plant them in the shade in SC, will they do well down there?
view the full question and answer
Need to identify hemp-like plant in Bastrop, TX.
June 09, 2014 - What is the large stalky, hemp-like plant that populates our creek bottoms and ditches here in Central Texas? It has large 5-6 in. lobed leaves, and a fibrous central stalk that gets up to 7 ft tall. ...
view the full question and answer
How do I prepare blackfoot daisies for winter in Austin, TX
October 19, 2010 - I have blackfoot daisies in my garden that have bloomed all summer. They are cascading out of the bed onto my lawn/grass. They have been so beautiful that I hate to cut them back. How do I prepare t...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |