Any experience with forcing iris?

I've been contacted by a potential customer who wants to purchase iris to force for a display at the Phila. Flower Show in 2009. I do not have any experience with forcing (and will certainly not pretend to) but I was wondering if anyone here did, or if you might remember an article somewhere that I could track down. I suspect these folks know their business inside and out and probably don't really need any additional information, but if I could refer them to an article written by an irisarian, I'd like to do so. Thanks -

katie

Hope this helps some, Im am not an iris expert! lol

http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/forcebulbs.html

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/forcing.html

http://www.veseys.com/us/en/learn/guide/bulbinfo/otherbulbs

http://www.bricabrackorner.com/Small%20Bulbs.htm



You'll have to search the pages to find the iris parts. ^_^

Thanks for those links. A lot of the information I'm finding is about forcing Dutch iris bulbs, and it refers to a chilling period of 15 weeks before forcing. But bearded iris grow in southern California and other areas where they don't have cold winters, so the requirements must be different. I was sure there was an article in the AIS bulletins but I haven't been able to locate on so far. I've personally managed to get some sdb's in bloom a few weeks early in my unheated greenhouse, but my customer wants tall beardeds for the display, and the show is in early March.

I once visited a hybridizer who had a heated greenhouse, and she had tall beardeds in bloom in very early spring, so I know it can be done. Unfortunately she is no longer with us. I sure wish I had asked her about it then.

katie

Ill keep looking Katie! ^_^
Too bad you dont have longer :(.

here is some info i have about forcing beardeds. i have no personal experience using this technique.

http://www.greenthumbsgalore.com/test/force_iris.jpg

Thanks, that's very helpful. Dumb question - will irises grow if they don't get that brief freeze mentioned in the article? I know plenty of people growing iris who live in very temperate areas......although maybe they get a brief mild freeze, I don't actually know for sure.

katie

Ya know I am not an expert but I think some may require a freeze to be able to bloom. We had a few blooming in Florida but it does freeze a bit in the winter in Panama City.
I know a lot of bulbs won't bloom there, not cold enough. Maybe it is the same with irises?