I'm new, very new to gardening and I was told to take off any seed pods from my irises to keep them healthy. Without looking into it or anything I did, but now I'm wondering if I should have let them mature first and tried to grow them next year. Is there any way to save them once they've been detached from the parent plant?

Thanks!

You have to let the seed pods ripen on the plant. They will turn brown and split when its time to harvest. Iris grown from seed will take 2 - 3 years to bloom and won't look like their parents if you have several colors in your garden.

I've never heard leaving the pods weakens the plant. All plants put all their energy into seed production but a healthy plant won't have problems.

Thanks for the information!
So there is nothing I can do with the seed pods already taken off the parent plant?

My guess is probably nothing you can do. The seeds need to develop on the plant. But you can plan for next year!

Although leaving the pods doesn't weaken the plant, it is good to remove them if you are not trying to save the seed because if the seed develops and falls to the ground, they may germinate and eventually the new iris plants will be competing with the original plants---and they may be inferior blooms. The new ones may even crowd out the originals.

Do you have a picture of the seed pod? If it was brown and ready to crack open then the seeds may be ok. If it was green and immature then there's probably nothing you can do.

How long ago were the plants flowering? I've gotten germination with seeds from a pod that broke off only three weeks after pollination. Not guaranteed, but then again, the seeds from mature pods aren't guaranteed to germinate either. Worth a try.

Thank you everyone! The seed pods are still green and not even close to opening. But I will definitely watch for them next year and see what I can do.

Thank you everyone! The seed pods are still green and not even close to opening. But I will definitely watch for them next year and see what I can do.

to the iris forum blackthumbk

you evidently have busy bees in your garden. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks everyone!