Moving some iris rhizomes

August 24, 2023 6:38 AM

I need to get some iris rhizomes from Michigan to Utah. What is the best way to do this?

I hired some people to dig these up, which I thought would give me enough time to let them dry out, and they thought it was better to wait and then didn't show up a few times. So now I have freshly dug up rhizomes and my movers are coming on Tuesday. The people who dug them up left a lot of the green. Can that be cut down?

I figure my choices are (a) move them with my stuff, (b) have them shipped in my car, or (c) send them by UPS. (The shipping company taking my car allows 100 pounds of personal items).

What is the best way of getting these things to Utah? Please include thoughts on packing. One idea I read online was to pack them with shredded paper, which I happen to have a lot of, as I have been shredding like a madwoman.

posted by FencingGal to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Packing with paper is good. Tuesday will be enough time to air them out and dry them down a bit. Spread them out in the shade if you can. Knock the dirt off a bit and leave the tops on, they will be pulling resources down out of them until they are crispy brown. You can cut it if you need to, but they will be a little happier if you can leave it.

I don't think it matters much among the options you have, just do whichever is cheapest/most convenient.

Good luck! You may have some losses but plenty should come though fine.
posted by SaltySalticid at 6:43 AM on August 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

Is your car going to be on like a flatbed truck? It can get really hot inside of cars, that seems like it would be bad for rhizomes. I suppose it gets hot in moving trucks and UPS trucks too, though, so maybe whatever has them in the box for the shortest period of time? Or maybe hedge your bets and put some in the car and some in the moving truck.
posted by mskyle at 6:48 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

I assume you're going to have a lot of other demands on your attention when you reach your destination but I wouldn't just leave them packed away after the trip.

You should at least open the boxes to check on moisture level and look for signs of incipient mold and possibly (this is where you might want to talk to a more experienced gardener) consider giving them a quick rinse in a mild fungicidal solution before putting them away for storage followed by more air drying. Or will they go into the ground relatively soon after you get there?
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:15 AM on August 24, 2023

After dividing my irises a few years ago, I ended up with too many for the space available, and left some lying on the ground (on concrete) intending to do something with them later. I then ignored them for about two years, during which they were fully exposed to the elements. Finally, I said "Here goes nothing" and planted them, and they grew like nothing had ever happened. So as long as you don't, like, pressure can them in boiling soup, I think you'll be good.
posted by aws17576 at 12:34 PM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

You might want to check with your company that they are ok with moving outdoor plants across state lines (I guess rhizomes still qualify as "plants"?). They are for sure not ok with indoor plants and I'd think the outdoor restrictions are even more severe. Good luck (for the whole of the move, not just to the irises).
posted by Dotty at 1:18 PM on August 24, 2023