We always have to talk, Paul. thank you for explaining what I meant.

Paul2032 said:This is not of earth shaking importance but I agree with Lucy...If you plant three do so in a triangle with the toes pointing the same direction. Increase usually comes on the heel of the rhizome so this method forms a clump. Toes pointed inward can end up with a clump with an empty center. In you own garden do just what you want. Experiment. It's not going to make a great deal of difference. Are we grinding it a little fine

Toes pointed inward (which is how the rhizomes are shown on the diagram from the AIS) would than indeed cause a clump with an empty center. I think I now know how I am going to plant my rhizomes.

In my experience -- that doesn't happen. Increases form on the side of the mother rhizome -- and then on the side of the increases, etc. Yes -- it's at the heel end generally -- but at the side of the heel end. And, as time goes by, the side increases move around to fill in the center again until there's a multiple layer with rhizomes on top of rhizomes, if it's not thinned.

Does this not happen to anyone/everyone else?

Pretty much, Mary Ann. Generally, if I "leave them alone," in 2-3 years, I have a clump (again, depending on cultivar...some clump faster, and some, ..not so much). The "center " of the "clump", will start to "thin out", at 3-4 years ( by then, there are usually 2-3 layers of rhizomes in the center....in effect, choking each other out). After that, the cycle continues,....first a thinning of the center, followed by a "thick" center (as the spent rhizomes decompose, it makes room for new rhizome and root systems. When I "steal" rhizomes from a clump (rather than dig, divide, and re set), I usually take from the center of the group...makes for a little harder removal, but, opens up the space for more "blooming size " rhizomes to develop.
Like Paul has said....we all do it in a slightly different way, depending on "our" conditions.....and they ALL seem to work, pretty well . I don't think it really matters...all that much just HOW you "place the rhizomes" , in multiple rhizome plantings (as far as "direction"), unless you want a "show garden" clump, for display purposes.......for most of us, we are either digging and resetting the plants when either , bloom starts to fall off from overcrowding, disease or insects, or grass, make it necessary , or we are sending off iris starts to our iris buddies.....so ,it's some now, some next year, and maybe, if it's been a real, good "season", the whole bed needs done at the same time. A gardened will soon figure out both the growth rates of the plants, and what works best in your conditions.....the iris seem to do pretty well *despite* our "care".

What Arlyn said and said so well. My experience has been the same.

Well, then that will make my job so much easier when it comes time to plant the rhizomes !
So thank you everyone for your input !

I just plant them willy nilly wherever. The only thing is if you realize that one variety is more robust than one close to it, keep it thinned so that it does not crowd out the other.

If you have too many to plant and not enough space you suffer from an addiction.

Do not worry, it is not curable.

all the therapy in the world will not fix you, which is relieving to know at least, and you have support, please know that you are not alone

We create our own therapy by sharing pics, sending more, enabling, suggesting more, enabling...ahhhhh bliss...

irisarian said:Make sure they are facing the same direction or they will walk away from each other.

This is something I finally figured out. I like to plant 3 to 5 of the same rhizome together; they soon become a nice clump. But you have to make sure the growing end is facing outward, all around the triangle or circle! (This way they DO walk away from each other!) I never paid attention to the growing end of the rhizome and had them going every which way. But when the growing end is facing out your clump just keeps growing larger, for quite awhile. Then you can just cut out pieces of the "pie" and plant somewhere else when it finally gets too crowded.

Patrick, it might be possible to make an iris tower so you can plant upward if your space is small. Let me put on my thinking cap!

Now here's a question: If I realize I planted my new iris too close together, will it hurt to replant
some of them now? Or best to just leave until next year?

Good question. I had some tiny rhizomes all of the same variety and planted them about 4" apart and should not have. I should know better!

caitlinsgarden said:Now here's a question: If I realize I planted my new iris too close together, will it hurt to replant
some of them now? Or best to just leave until next year?

well if it has not been but a few days, move them again. If it has been longer and you think are starting to settle, get roots, then wait until next year. They may not have enough energy to re-start again and it may stress them. Even if they are too close, they will do ok for a year or so. They don't much of anything the first year or so anyway.

caitlinsgarden said:

This is something I finally figured out. I like to plant 3 to 5 of the same rhizome together; they soon become a nice clump. But you have to make sure the growing end is facing outward, all around the triangle or circle! (This way they DO walk away from each other!) I never paid attention to the growing end of the rhizome and had them going every which way. But when the growing end is facing out your clump just keeps growing larger, for quite awhile. Then you can just cut out pieces of the "pie" and plant somewhere else when it finally gets too crowded.

Ok, so let me try to understand this again ...... You plant the rhizomes of the same variety with the ends (toes) pointing outward. Ok, because I have, as I've said, numerous varieties that I have doubles and triples (Quaker Lady, Argus Pheasant, Crimson King, Rosy Wings, Queen of May, Rameses, and Indian Chief) I have 2 and some I have 3 of each. So, I will plant them in a CIRCLE with their ends pointing outward. Got it ! Thank you for helping me clarify this issue before I begin planting the Iris into the garden.

No -- just the opposite Patrick. The toes of the rhizomes are not the *growing* end of the Iris. Read again what she said: "make sure the growing end is facing outward" -- that would be the heel of the rhizome, which is where the bloom stalk grows.

So the AIS diagram is correct, you place (3) rhizomes in a triangle with the toes facing INWARD towards the center of the triangle and the Heels facing OUTWARD. The Heel of the rhizome is where the FANS are.

Geez, I am glad I read thru this. I didn't know about the toes and heels. Sounds like a dance, Patrick maybe we will be doing a Happy Dance next year. I am planting this wk too.

From a dl collector, I learn things here on ATPs all the time

bluegrassmom said:Geez, I am glad I read thru this. I didn't know about the toes and heels. Sounds like a dance, Patrick maybe we will be doing a Happy Dance next year. I am planting this wk too.

From a dl collector, I learn things here on ATPs all the time

Well, I don't have to many actually planted - most are in pots right now and will be transplanted in September into the gardens. But you're right . . . Next year you and I will certainly be doing a Big
Happy Dance

I learned something also. Most of mine are in pots and some are in the ground. I know when I finally do the beds which way to do it.

I don't know about heels and toes, or which is which! If you look at a new rhizome, the back side (my name for it!) will have new root nubs starting. this is the direction of growth, the plant will continue to grow outward in this direction, away from the old rhizome, which will just sit there. I was confused about this for a long time, so it doesn't hurt to be explicit.