Q: Transplanted iris bulbs with roots and leaves intact to pots. Tips of leaves now brown. Water daily and place pots near the front door with filtered sunlight throughout the day. Hoping for flowers someday. Believe our zone in Tucson doesn’t lend itself to summer blossoms. Maybe spring. Is it true, iris grow like weeds here in the Old Pueblo? We have caliche soil so I am leery about transplanting to our garden.
A: Sometimes soil becomes too salty over time due to our water and fertilizer. Brown leaf tips is a common symptom of this salt damage. Another possibility is that they need more frequent watering. Containers dry out quickly so you might need to water twice daily. It really depends on the size of the container.
Also, make sure the soil drains well after watering. Some irises do better in the desert than others but in general they do well so you shouldn’t worry about transplanting to your garden if the conditions are right.
