Description:
Dietes grandiflora is a perennial plant with long, rigid, sword-like green leaves and white blooms that are marked with yellow and violet.
Other names:
Large wild iris, African iris, fortnight lily, or fairy iris
At the beginning of the bloom season.
Use a high phosphorus fertiliser to encourage blooming.
Cut back brown and yellow leaves to the base of the greenery as and when needed.
If you want to prevent self seeding, don’t cut the flower stalk as this may result in a few years before you see flowers again. Cut just under the green seedpod with scissors to remove it.
You can cut back the entire plant in autumn to promote new growth in the spring, but be sure to water the plants generously and apply a balanced fertilizer after the cutting.
Dietes grandiflora flourishes in a full sun spot with well composted and well drained soil.
Though the Dietes grandiflora is a drought tolerant plant, it will flourish if watered well in the summer.
November to January
The delicate flowers appear in summer and lasts three days. They appear in groups with intervals of a few days to two weeks usually just before or after it has rained.
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Propagate Dietes grandiflora from seed or by division. The best time to sow and divide the Dietes grandiflora is in spring.
Dietes grandiflora can be sown directly into the soil in the spring, but can take many years to germinate.
Water the plants you want to divide the day before to help loosen the plant roots.
Use a pitchfork to lift a large clump, and divide the clump using a spade.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant roots to help the roots spread. Ensure that you prepare the hole with a high-quality compost.
After planting, water the plant thoroughly to remove any air pockets and keep the soil moist until the plant is established.
Dietes grandiflora are tough plants with no common pests or problems.