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/