"starlord" expounded:

Many of the Iris growers I've chatted with will pot up new iris plants for
their first winter and plant them only after the spring bloom time is past.
And these are ones that sell iris too.

Where are these iris growers? Near you? You were discussing a person
who is in zone 6, which is where I am. My experience (rather
extensive, I might add) gardening for over 30 years in zone 6 tells me
that you shouldn't pot up anything and leave it on top of the ground
for the winter, without protection. Yes, you can pot them up and heel
them *in* the ground, but you absolutely can't leave them exposed on
top of the ground. You will have dead plants in the spring, or plants
so damaged they never florish again.
--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
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