What did I do wrong?

Hi Y'all, I'm kinda new here. We moved to this yard a year ago, and I have been planting like a maniac ever since. At some point, I planted what I recall were 2 german iris rhizomes, can't recall the name, though. They came up and have beautiful foliage but have never bloomed. After reading a little more, (better late than never I suppose) it seems that I may have planted them too deeply, much as I would bulbs. Oops. Should I dig them up or give them another year? I never dreamed they would be so tempermental; my mom had them everywhere and never touched them after they were planted. Thanks, I'm learning a lot here.

If they're too deep, I would definitely replant them. I usually leave the top 1/4 of the rhizome on top of the ground and plant the rest below the surface.

Another possibility for lack of bloom could be sun exposure. Bearded irises tend to need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to do their best.

It's also not at all uncommon for irises to need a year or more to settle into a new planting location before resuming their bloom cycle. However, if you planted them too deeply, they're not going to bloom until you raise their rhizomes up so the tops of the rhizomes are level with the soil surface.

Laurie

I agree completely. They need lots of sun, excellent drainage and can't be planted too deeply. One term that helps is the rhizomes like to sunbathe so make sure you can see the tops of the rhizomes. If you can plant them on a bit of a hill or mound they'll love the drainage.

Thanks much for the advice. If I want to move it and plant it correctly, when would be the best time to do this? Should I wait until the foliage dies back on its own or can I move most anytime?

Right now - just as soon as you get to the garden.