Ut Oh, is this really bad?

goldenmom · Post by **goldenmom** » May 30, 2005 1:31 pm

Hi all, this is Stairway to Heaven. What is making the stalk droop? We've had a horrible May, no sun and lots of rain. Is it too much water?

Elizabethtown · Post by **Elizabethtown** » May 30, 2005 3:43 pm

Weather temps can cause stalks to do this. Extremes or frequents changes between hot & cold. As long as it's firm and not mushy you're ok.

goldenmom · Post by **goldenmom** » May 30, 2005 6:12 pm

Hi Roni, thanks! No, it's not mushy, just limp. We've certainly had the weather conditions you describe, so I'll hope and pray that this will pull through.

Garden_of_Mu · Post by **Garden_of_Mu** » May 30, 2005 10:02 pm

I had an entire clump of Alta California do that same thing. It was very funny looking. We had alot of big temp flucuations for weeks while it was coming up. Alot of things are blooming short too.

Elizabethtown · Post by **Elizabethtown** » May 30, 2005 10:26 pm

At the local garden I walked through flowers that were knee high this year and normally they are up to my shoulders. They look cute so I spent time looking them up on the list only to find they were ones I already had or had by-passed in previous years.

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » May 30, 2005 11:23 pm

Oh, Stairway to Heaven used to be one of my favorite songs, in my partying days in my 20's....

Thanks Bonnie for showing us that.....Now we know what it is from....

Soummer · Post by **Soummer** » May 30, 2005 11:30 pm

LucyGoose wrote:Oh, Stairway to Heaven used to be one of my favorite songs, in my partying days in my 20's....

Thanks Bonnie for showing us that.....Now we know what it is from....

for your musical enjoyment:

There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed
With a word she can get what she came for

goldenmom · Post by **goldenmom** » May 31, 2005 6:29 am

Oh maaan Janet, now that song's stuck in my head for the rest of the day

LG, that song was one of my faves, too, back in the day

Mike and Roni, it's funny you say plants are blooming short. In my garden, all the iris seems taller. The stalks almost seem leggy?

Will I loose that bud on STH? I ask because, as of this morning, it's drooping even more. If the sun ever comes out again, I'm hoping it'll perk up.

Elizabethtown · Post by **Elizabethtown** » May 31, 2005 10:39 am

GM -- check at the base of the stalk and see if it's been cut or chewed. Also look at the rhizomes are they firm or softening as if decay has set in. If the bud continues to look likes it wilting, it could be more than just temps. Also, have you had any freezing temps while this stalk was being produced? The bud may have been frozen and is just now showing signs of aborted development.

STH is a beautiful iris.

goldenmom · Post by **goldenmom** » May 31, 2005 7:49 pm

Hi Roni, thanks so much for all your help. I'm new to this, as you can probably tell. I've been in the shade garden too long!

I checked the base and it seems fine. Rhizome is firm, no sign of critters nibbling. I bought this one 3 weeks ago and planted it 2 weeks ago. We did have a frost or two during early to mid May, so you are probably on to something. The other two stalks are just emerging, but no drooping. Also, the drooping stalk, although limp, still feels firm (that almost seems contradictory, doesn't it

). Our temps are to be in the 80's (hopefully) by the weekend. It'll be interesting to see what happens. All my other iris seem to be doing fine

Elizabethtown · Post by **Elizabethtown** » May 31, 2005 10:15 pm

Transplant shock with a freeze. As long as the other two stalks are fine, your overall plant is healthy.