On 27 May 05 at 11:04, John Lonsdale wrote: > Iris winogradowii is a royal pain to grow! Quite the contrary! <smug grin> I've had it in pots for years and my main problem has been preventing excessive dessication during our dry summers. The best Iw ever did for me was in a large terra cotta pot plunged in a raised sand bed; every morning before I made tea I'd rush out the back door in my bathrobe and pour yesterday's cold tea on the pot. Worked great. A suggestion that might help others in unsuitable climates: when you plant your bulb(s) of Iw, completely surround the bulb with clean sand so it is not in direct contact with the soil, whether in a pot or in the open ground. I have the idea that this helps prevent fungi from getting to the bulb; and it certainly won't do any harm. BTW, pronunciamentation refresher: that specific epithet "winogradowii" is a Latinized version of the German transliteration of a Russian name. Say "vinogradovii". -- Rodger Whitlock Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate on beautiful Vancouver Island