A cousin to bearded iris, Siberian iris and the rest of the iris flower clan, African iris is a native of South Africa. Complete this task at the same time as the seed pods are removed. Do not remove the flower stems entirely because they will continue to produce flowers for several years. For Existing Plants: ... Fortnight Lily (though the plant is not a Lily). Lilies make perfect partners with other plants and help create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden. When pruning a fortnight lily, it is important to understand how they grow. Clip off the seed pods in the fall, using pruning shears, when the flowering process is complete. I do get some volunteer seedlings though. I don't see them as weedy, not at all, but I am in an area that's not humid so they don't multiply all that fast. They are pretty quick to get established, and they don’t need much pampering. Trim off all the dead parts and replace a section of the clump in the ground. The stems of the fortnight lily emerge from clumps of rhizomes that grow on the surface of the ground. Or should I wait? Vigorous growers, such as fortnight lily ( Dietes) and Red Fountain Grass ( Pennisetum ), often need dividing every two to three years. Transplanting lily bulbs should be easy if you understand the lily’s pattern of growth, bloom and regeneration. Use your pruning shears to cut off 12 to 18 inches, so only a few inches of the stems remain. If you replant immediately, it keeps the plant from drying out. Native to eastern and southern Africa, Dietes iridioides (Fortnight Lily) is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial with attractive flowers resembling small Japanese Irises. Try to transplant your lilies in the fall about a month before you expect the first frosts. Many people choose to transplant during the spring or early fall, allowing the plants ample time to establish themselves before the next blooming season. Feed the plants with general 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 granular fertilizer, per manufacturer directions. Loosening the Soil. Do I take out the whole clump, divide, and replant? Onalee's Homegrown Seeds and Plants: Fornight Lily. Turn 2 to 3 inches of organic compost into the bed for a moist, loose foundation. Don't plant them in full shade or in sites that puddle during the winter. How to Care for a Fortnight Lily. Start with Routine Maintenance Transplant the lilies a month before the first frost. Transplanting Lilies. I like fortnight lily. No need to register, buy now! Divide your lilies in the fall every 3-4 years to prevent overcrowding. Eventually, the rhizome clump will become large enough that pruning is not possible. Transplant daylilies any time of the growing season. Dig a circle around the plant about 8 inches out from the main stem. Each flower lasts only a day, but … Once established, this Iris is fairly drought tolerant. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of a 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 fertilizer and sprinkle it on top of the soil at the base of the plants but not touching the rhizomes to avoid burning the roots. Transplanting Lily Bulbs Garden to Pot When potting lily bulbs, use one gallon of potting soil per mature bulb in a container with ample drainage holes which is at least 8 to 12 inches deep. Regular pruning and deadheading of old flowers and existing stalks is also required in the spring and fall. Design Ideas The flowers of Fortnight Lily glow in the dark and look exotic in tropical gardens--despite the plant's tolerance of a hard frost. You do have to clean up any dead leaves and trim back the flower stalks, I do this like once a year. Other Names: Dietes bicolor, Fortnight Lily, Wood Iris Description: Pretty white blooms with contrasting black spots edged in orange; good for bogs or ponds as it requires consistent moisture; quite easy to grow; blooms all season, cut back in the fall to allow plant to regenerate I've never divided anything but have read it should be done in the fall. In 2008, she opened a publishing house, acquiring and editing manuscripts, bringing books to market, running marketing campaigns and supervising cover/art direction. In common parlance, African iris is also called fortnight lily, yellow fortnight lily and butterfly flag. Cut stems to 5 or 6 inches (13-15 cm.) Amend the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches in the planting bed. Gently pull the clump apart to expose the individual bulbs. James holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Ottawa. Prune the lily plants in the spring before they have a chance to flower. around the patch of plants and 12 inches (30 cm.) Its strap-like leaves grow from rhizomes that creep slowly along the ground to make thick clumps. Plant fortnight lily rhizomes in spring when the ground thaws. It is an easy, well-adapted plant for growing in Southern California. Flowers come in solid colorswhite, cream, yellow; each of the three outer segments features a small contrasting blotch of orange, yellow, or brown. Not only does this make your plant look better during the fall months, it also encourages new foliage to grow next spring. The fortnight lily, also called African iris, grows in both blue/purple and yellow/white varieties, with bright lily-like flowers. A fortnight lily, or Dietes iridioides, is a species belonging to the Dietes genus.It previously was classified in the Morea genus, but this was changed because of the ability of this species to reproduce using rhizomes.Rhizomes are fibrous tendrils that spread away from the … Don't cut fortnight lily flower stalks back because they bear new blooms during the season. Pinch off the old blooms to induce the next round of growth. Don't use fresh manure, as it can cause rhizome rot. Carrie Terry has worked in publishing for more than 15 years. Lovely peace lily plants are often purchased and given as gifts, or divided and given away. Tap into the beauty of drought-tolerant African iris. The best time for transplanting tiger lily bulbs is when the foliage has died back. Burke's Backyard: Dietes - Plant of the Week, How to Prune an African Iris Fortnight Lily. Wait until the fall when the stems and leaves turn from yellow to brown before you dig up the bulbs. Over time, these clumps become quite dense and require active pruning to help stimulate new growth. Dig several inches (10 cm.) Leave the scales out to dry slightly overnight without rinsing them off. Wait until the plants have flowered before deadheading the dried, dead flowers. They appear on branched stalks over an incredibly long season, extending from spring to fall and sometimes well into winter in mild climates. Elyse James began writing professionally in 2006 after deciding to pursue a career in journalism. Prune the lily plants in the spring before they have a chance to flower. Save your flower bulbs in Zones 7 and down. Cover them loosely with soil and water them with 4 inches of water. Clumps will … Dig lily bulbs in late fall after all the foliage has died down. This will ensure that you get all the bulbs without damaging them with your spade or garden fork. Slower plants, such as bird of paradise ( Strelitzia) or Clivia may only need a division every ten years. Resurrection Lilies should only be transplanted when in their dormant stage, which occurs in the late summer and into the fall and winter. Fortnight lilies tolerate poor soil once established but start best in crumbly, moist foundations. The African Iris likes full morning sun, afternoon shade and regular watering. Place the tuber horizontally in the hole, avoiding touching the ends. Plant them outdoors in Zones 8 to 10 for year-round growing, or in Zones 7 … Transplanting tiger lilies will result in a crop the next year if you time it just right. Since Lilies appreciate some shade around their roots while keeping their foliage and ravishing blossoms in the air and sunshine, they welcome the company of neighboring plants such as annuals, perennials, bulbs, grasses or shrubs. Water the fertilizer into the soil immediately after applying. Fortnight lilies produce flowers in waves throughout the season. 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