I'm so bummed. We are under a freeze warning tonight and Sunday night with rain and wind. I've been so excited to see blooms from the iris I bought last fall. I was going to cover them with socks like some folks suggested, but not with the 100% chance of rain in the forecast. I may cut the 2 stalks that are closest to opening and bring them in...do I have any alternatives?

Hi Cindy,
I am in the same situation here in Louisville,Ky.The forecast is 30 degrees and a freeze warning tonight.I have 250 iris and about 25 in full bloom and probably 140+ with tall bloom stalks.
It is hard to cover tall bloom stalks with sheets etc.
It is pouring rain now but is suppose to stop around 5.
I plan to go out and see what I can do to see if I can use light weight sheets.The stalks will be wet as well.
I thought about pillow cases on iris that are blooming and maybe on real tall bloom stalks?
I am as sick about this freeze as your are.
Who knows if I can cover the bloom stalks now.It was so much easier a few weeks back when bloom stalks weren't so high and only a few starting to bloom.

Try large plastic bags.

I'm not going to cover them - I think it would be worse to have wet socks/cloth touching them if it freezes. I don't remember having any freezes this late before so I guess I'll learn the hard way. I don't have any blooms yet but I have 35+ stalks of buds. This is the closest (so close!!!) I am to seeing a bloom and it's the only stalk (with 5 buds) and I'd really hate to cut it down;

urania1 said:Try large plastic bags.

would Walmart bags work? What about where they come in contact with the plant - does that get worse damage? (I work for Walmart and I have a bunch of their plastic bags, sad to say, lol).

Hi Cindy,
Me again.
I read that plastic is bad for buds up against them ??I have read for hours yesterday and this am on line about every possible suggestion believe me!
I did however put a section of plastic tarp over an area back a few weeks ago with no damage. However, it didn't rain before the freeze.
It is going to be hard for you with both rain and then wind to secure anything over your iris.
Evelyn suggested big garbage cans.Unfortunately,I only have 1 large rubber one.It may go over 1 or 2 iris.Ordinarily I would have been out at Lowes or Home Depot for stakes,covers but with the virus I am staying home and too late to order:(

I'm just throwing this out there. Instead of covering the stalks can you create a micro climate by stringing lights up (like Christmas or patio) around the irises?

Well, I decided to cut three of the stalks that are closest to blooming - maybe they are far enough along that they will bloom inside. As for all the rest, they are on their own. It's been raining for hours and the wind is steady and picking up - so whatever happens, there's always next year. It would be sweet if the worst of it missed us - it wouldn't be the first time the weatherman was wrong! (fingers crossed). If nothing else this is a great learning experience for me. Lights aren't an option (thank you for trying to help!) and I think covering them would be bad. I hope all of us that are predicted frosts and freezes avoid much damage! I start a new position at work tomorrow and I asked for 5am-2pm shifts (and got them, yay!) so I'd better get up early enough to scrape the windshield too, haha

good luck to all of you with freezing weather coming on. i wish it weren't so. i, too, look forward to your photos.

about 15 + yr ago, i did some research on protecting plants from freezing weather, and i remember there was some kind of spray that one could use to prevent sunburn as well as frostbite. i don't know if it is still available? also, there was a roll of non-woven light weight covering that could be placed over hoops to protect crops from insects and some inclement weather. wish i could remember the names. all i remember of this fabric was that it was breathable, and film like. anyone else know what my memory fails me?

I remember the frost cloth and the spray. I've bought the frost cloth before at our local nursery.

Cindy ,I just finished covering all my iris
30 sheets later,pillow cases,2 tarps.
I posted pictures on Season 2020 forum.only broke off 2 blooms,1 bloom stalk.However,I probably will have a lot of less than upright iris tomorrow am.
I shall see if my efforts worked.It was time consuming.
I hope yours come through ok.
Read there is an anti-transpirant spray for plants,don't know if it works on iris and frost cloths too