I think they sometimes dry off during summer in the wild too, -and prefered water depth depends on the species involved. I only grow fulva and x fulvala though, but "dural White Butterfly" is a pretty fantastic variety which would make a good contrast to Black Gamecock. Peter (UK) On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 9:20 PM, AW <awilson@avonia.com> wrote: > Ahah! That is not something I have ever seen in any of the books I've read > about them. Sounds like the books only deal with the plants in all their > glory. Thank you so much. > > Andrew > San Diego > > > From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] > On Behalf Of Tim Chapman > Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 12:10 PM > > Here in Louisiana they are pretty much shot in the summer. You might get > some to stay evergreen, but you shouldn't see much active growth if at all > in the heat of summer. They often look very ratty if they don't go > dormant. > > > Tim Chapman > > On Aug 14, 2011, at 1:50 PM, "AW" <awilson@avonia.com> wrote: > > > In the last issue (Summer) of The Bulb Garden Margerite English writes > > about various kinds of irises, including Louisiana irises. These > > beautiful plants are not ones with which I have much experience. > > Starting las year I acquired several, planted them out in a pond where > > they grew slowly but apparently quite healthily all summer and winter. > > This year, in April and May the display was superb. The variety was, I > > believe, Black Gamecock. Each day there were tens of blooms open on > > these plants and this went on for well over four weeks. I was most > > impressed. After the blooming ended the plants produced no new growth > > and the existing foliage turned yellow. The plants, while not mushy at > their roots, show no signs of active growth. > > > > Could Marguerite, or anyone else here, care to comment on this? > > > > The plants were planted in wide containers with the tops of the roots > > about two inches below water level. I did try lifting them above the > > water level after yellowing took place. It made no difference. After > > consulting with Dennis Kramb and indirectly with other people > > knowledgeable about these plants it appears that the climate, the > > water depth andwater temperature were all in the right ranges. They > > received full sun all day after March and full sun part of te day > > earlier in the year. I have tried applying a fertilizer to attempt > stimulation of growth. So far, nothing has succeeded. > > > > The only explanation I can offer is that the plants just bloomed > > themselves to death. They had been quite healthy before blooming and > > acquired the yellow pallor thereafter. > > > > If anyone has a better suggestion to offer I would appreciate hearing it. > > > > Andrew > > San Doego > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >