Watering Indoor Iris

[scoopaloops]

I bought an indoor potted Iris to sit by my window at work. How often should I water it? Does the soil need regular changing?

[Eeyore]

Where do you live and do you plan to plant it outdoors eventually?

Generally with Iris, make sure the rhizome is above ground. It wiill rot if buried and don't overwater. The soil should be damp but not soaking wet. Once a week should suffice but keep an eye on it. If you plan to keep it in the pot be aware that it will go though cycles where it will die back and it should go dormant and receive no water or fertilizer. It may also need a cold spell.

[scoopaloops]

Good to know, thanks! Im in Vancouver, the plant will stay indoors as my office friend. Should I do anything when it starts to die ie. take off the dead peices, stop watering?

[CdnChelsea]

When all the flowers have died, cut the whole flower stalk off. Not just the flower heads......the whole stalk from where it come up through the fan of leaves.

[orchidguy]

Continue watering until all the foliage has died, as this nourishes the rhizome or bulbs for it's next growth.
Are the leaves quite wide and growth is fan shaped, or are the leaves more like wide blades of grass? If they are grass-like, you have forced dutch iris, and if they are bigger and have a rhizome at the top of the soil (looks like a piece of dark fresh ginger root) then it is a german bearded or non bearded iris. There are others, but haven't really ever seen them forced in pots

[scoopaloops]

Its more grass like rather than fan shaped. The flowers just died so I cut them off and exposed the bulbs a bit more. I guess I ease up on the watering and wait. There is no direct light for the plant, is that a problem?

[Eeyore]

Yup, ease up on the water and wait. The light shouldn;t be an issue.

[MatthewWilliam]

Soils hold nutrients and water for plants. Indoor trees like regular watering. For the most part, every week to 10 days is plenty. When the soil is no longer damp, go ahead and water. Be thorough but don't drench the soil. As for light exposure, a western or southern exposure is best.