I have an iris that's about to bloom. It's planted in a bad spot (not enough room) because it was a single fan that didn't increase until this year. One flower stalk rotted. There are two more. One will definitely bloom but the flower stalk has cracks in it. What causes this? Is there any way to prevent it? As soon as it is done blooming I will dig it up and replant it someplace more suitable. Here are some pictures.

Something knocked it? Children? Pets?

Looks like weather damage. Have you experienced any nights with freezing or near-freezing temperatures recently?

I know I've bumped into the leaves by accident but I didn't think I'd hit the flower stalk. I can be clumsy .

Yes, we have had temps dip way down recently but I don't know how low. Definitely in the mid-30s. Maybe lower.

Is there anything I should do? It looks like it will bloom very soon.

I had one break like that last week. Noticed it after I had been weeding around it awhile. I just figured I had inadvertently knocked it, because it had been okay the day before. The stems can be brittle.

I was recently informed that my cracked stalks were caused from periods of dry weather, followed by some rain.

I had no idea. They seem so sturdy!

I was wondering if it had something to do with too much rain. In daylilies the scape can literally explode if there is too much rain. We had been lacking in rain earlier in the year but it's been very rainy the last month or so.

From now on I'll be much more careful around my iris. I'm definitely moving it further away from the patio.

UndertheSun said:I was recently informed that my cracked stalks were caused from periods of dry weather, followed by some rain.

Thank you Rob. I had a few stalks do this after we had a long dry spell and then rain. I was thinking it was from a critter. Now I know.

I'd put a stake on that cracked stalk. I had (at least) one like that this year that was it's first, and only stalk that toppled to the ground before I could see the bloom.. Cursing myself for not seeing it and staking it

Well, mine did happen right after a rain. That's interesting.

I'll definitely stake it today just to be safe! This is the first time it's going to bloom for me.