How to Make Your Iris Brighter

Irises in full bloom stand 16 to 27 inches tall, with majestic six-petaled flowers topping thick green stalks. Flowers emerge in late spring and early summer and last for approximately 6 weeks. As perennials, irises come back year after year with minimal maintenance. Improper care and poor conditions can result in flowers that have reduced color saturation. To increase the brightness of faded iris flowers, take steps to ensure the plants have everything they need to thrive.

Things You'll Need

Fertilizer
Trowel

Soil sample

Instructions

- 1
  Plant irises in areas with ideal growing conditions to achieve the best color saturation. Irises need at least six hours of full sun and well-drained soil, such as amended clay soil. Don't fertilize irises until the second season, then use a moderate amount of fertilizer containing potash, nitrogen and phosphorus.
- 2
  Thin the rhizomes out every 3 to 5 years to prevent overcrowding. Avoid aggressive iris plants choking out less aggressive ones and taking the nutrients, resulting in weaker plants and less vibrant colors.
- 3
  Avoid using herbicides near the iris plants, because the chemicals can affect the intensity of the flower color. Exposure to herbicides can result in small, pale flowers that won't develop full color until the next blooming season.
- 4
  Send a sample of the soil surrounding the irises into your local extension agency for a soil analysis. Determine which nutrients the soil is lacking, then work to reverse any deficiencies. A lack of some nutrients can affect the color intensity of flowers. Add nutrients that restore the soil to a pH of 6 or 7 for irises to thrive.

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