Hi, fellow gardeners! I’ve been growing irises for a long time, and one thing people often ask me is how to store those valuable rhizomes. You can store your extra iris bulbs the right way if you split your iris bed or found some great deals at the end of the season. It will make all the difference between healthy blooms and sad, mushy disappointments next spring.
What You’ll Need:
- Cardboard box or container with air holes
- Clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears
- Garden fork
- Newspaper
- Powdered sulfur or fungicide
- Soft-bristled brush
- Peat moss (optional)
- Gloves
Step-by-Step Guide to Storing Iris Rhizomes
1. Preparing Your Rhizomes
Before storage your rhizomes need some TLC
- Trim the foliage to about 2-3 inches above the rhizome
- Clean off excess soil (don’t wash with water!)
- Inspect each rhizome and discard any that are:
- Mushy
- Dried out
- Showing signs of rot
- Feel soft instead of firm
2. Drying Process
This is super important y’all – proper drying prevents rot
- Place rhizomes in a sunny spot
- Let them dry for 1-2 days
- They should feel dry to the touch
- Use a soft brush to remove remaining dirt
- Allow additional curing in a warm (around 70°F), dark place for 1-2 weeks
3. Storage Container Prep
I’ve found that cardboard boxes work best but here’s what you need to do
- Choose a shallow box
- Make several holes on all sides for ventilation
- Optional: Add a thin layer of peat moss at the bottom
- Don’t use plastic containers – they trap moisture!
4. Packing the Rhizomes
Here’s my tried-and-true method:
- Dust rhizomes with sulfur powder or fungicide
- Wrap each rhizome individually in newspaper
- Place in box with space between each one
- Don’t stack more than 2-3 layers deep
- Keep the arrangement loose for air circulation
5. Finding the Perfect Storage Spot
Your storage location needs to be:
- Cool (40-50°F is ideal)
- Dry
- Dark
- Well-ventilated
Pro tip: A garage or basement often works great, but make sure it doesn’t freeze!
Maintenance During Storage
Don’t just store ’em and forget ’em! Here’s what you gotta do:
- Check rhizomes monthly
- Remove any that show signs of rot
- Maintain air circulation
- Keep storage area dry
- Watch for pest problems
Common Storage Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Mold growth | Improve ventilation, remove affected rhizomes |
| Shriveling | Storage area too warm or dry |
| Rotting | Remove affected pieces, increase air flow |
| Pest damage | Apply appropriate organic pest control |
When to Plant Stored Rhizomes
I usually plant my stored rhizomes in spring when:
- Soil temperature reaches about 50°F
- Danger of hard frost has passed
- Ground is workable
Tips for Success
- Label your rhizomes before storage – trust me, you’ll forget which variety is which!
- Don’t store damaged or diseased rhizomes
- Keep different varieties separated
- Store only firm, healthy specimens
- Check regularly during storage period
Final Thoughts
Storing iris rhizomes ain’t rocket science, but it does need some attention to detail. I’ve had my share of storage fails over the years (like that time I forgot about a box in my humid basement – yikes!), but following these steps has given me consistent success.
If you store rhizomes properly, they can last up to a year. However, to get the most out of them, plant them during the next growing season. If you take good care of these tough plants, they will bloom beautifully every year.
Leave your questions about how to store your iris rhizomes below, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Happy Gardening!
Note: These steps should work well for most types of iris, but some may need a few small changes. If you’re not sure what to do, call your local extension office for advice that applies to your area.
When to Store Iris Bulbs or Rhizomes
Iris bulb and rhizome storage timing and processes vary depending on the species. Whatever type of iris bulb or rhizome you have, don’t store it for more than one year. These nutrient-filled structures are unlikely to survive longer than this out of the ground.
It is best to dig iris bulbs or rhizomes out of the ground when they are done flowering and the leaves have died back. You can then transplant most irises back into the ground in the fall. Don’t leave transplanting the bulbs or rhizomes too late. You want them to start establishing before hard winter weather. That means at least six weeks before the first expected first date. Below is some general guidance for some common iris types:
- The reticulata iris blooms in early spring and grows from bulbs. You can store them all summer and plant them again from September to mid-November.
- Dutch irises: They bloom in midsummer and grow from bulbs. These can also be replanted in the fall.
- Bearded irises: Bloom in summer and grow from rhizomes. You can plant these again in the fall or early spring, after the risk of frost has passed.
Do I Need to Store Iris Bulbs or Rhizomes?
There are over 200 iris species and thousands of iris cultivars. Most irises are rhizomatous plants, meaning they grow from underground modified plant stems. Some iris species grow from bulbs, another form of underground nutrient storage structures.
Irises tend to be pretty hardy, and bulbs and rhizomes don’t usually need to be removed from the ground to store overwinter in the way that some more tender species (such as canna bulbs) might.
However, you might want to store perennial iris bulbs or rhizomes to keep them for transplanting to a new yard after a house move, to pass on to friends or family after dividing overcrowded plants, or to overwinter unusually tender species when you have harsh winters.
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How to Care For, Remove and Store Iris Bulbs
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