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31 comments to Gladiolus

• Kris

  October 1st, 2006 at 2:14 am · Reply

  Glads from retail; store, number of day’s planting to flower

  Blooming period can vary from 60-120 days from planting. Plant in early May when soil is workable thru mid-June 6-8 inch apart and 6-8 inches deep in rows or groups.

• Kris

  October 1st, 2006 at 2:15 am · Reply

  Hi, Just today i bought gladiola bulbs in a mesh bag. They look like small onions.They are in a mesh bag. We live in chicago. Could you tell me when should i plant these bulbs outside ? Can i just take these and plant them as directions on the bag say ? Do i need to do something else before or planting them into the ground. Please help, this is the first time i am working with bulbs. Thanks alot.

  Follow package directions. Plant in well-drained soil, 6-8 inches deep to keep them from falling over. Plant in early May thru mid-June or you can plant every 14 days to get successive bloom thru the summer. They like full sun, well drained, loose soil. Add support or stake them if they get too tall in the summer

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• Kris

  October 1st, 2006 at 2:23 am · Reply

  We dug up our Gladiolis bulbs and there are “babies” all around the bottom.Do just plant the origninal bulb and leave these babies on them?

  The cormels(babies) can be removed , saved and replanted separately next year until they reach flowering size.

• Kris

  October 1st, 2006 at 2:25 am · Reply

  If I plant gladiola bulbs now, will they still bloom by summer

  Gladiolas can be planted from March thru end of May so get them in the ground as soon as possible for mid summer blooming.

• Kris

  October 4th, 2006 at 5:23 am · Reply

  Does it matter how you position the bulb in the hole? Is ther a ?this end up? kind of thing? I?m planting glads by the way.
  Lisa

  Plant glads with the pointed tip up.

• LeeAnn

  November 1st, 2006 at 7:08 am · Reply

  Do you cut gladiola stock before winter or in the spring?

  Cut the stock after they turn brown or after a freeze. If you live in the Northern states, you need to dig up the corms and store them for the winter or the cold will kill them. If you live in a climate where glads will winter over in the ground, then you can let the leaves die back after which the dried leaves can easily be removed.

• Stephanie

  January 21st, 2007 at 9:33 am · Reply

  Do I need to cut back my gladioli for winter, or dig them up? I live in upstate NY, where winter temps can hover in the 20’s.
  Stephanie

  Most gladioli are hardy in zone 7-8 except for the hardy glad (G. nanus)which tolerates zone 5. You are probably in zone 6 and eventhough temperatures hover in the 20’s there is always the possibility of a hard freeze which would kill the corms. I would recommend that you did them up. blockquote>

• Mark McEvoy

  April 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pm · Reply

  April 11 in NY – I checked the bulbs I had dug up and put away for winter. Guess I did not dry them out sufficiently, and now they have about 1 foot long white leaf? growth. What can I do? Any chance to save this batch?

  Gladiolus corms need to develop a root system in order to support the leaf growth. At this time you should plant them in a pot of well drained potting soil until its warm enough to plant outdoors. This will give it time to develop some roots. You may or may not get flowers but its worth a try.

• Kendra Nowlin

  May 16th, 2007 at 10:21 am · Reply

  I planted gladiola bulbs last year and the green stalks came up with no problem. However, there were never any blooms. Again this year, they all have green stalks, but no blooms! Help!

  A few possibilities come to mind. 1. Quality of the corm – the larger the better bloom. The corm needs to be at least 3/4″ dia. or larger to bloom. 2. They need full sun and well drained soil. 3. If glads get too much Nitrogen fertilizer then they produce leaves and no flowers. If your flower bed is next to a lawn, it can inadvertently get too much N from lawn fertilizer.

• Mary Peters

  August 8th, 2007 at 1:59 pm · Reply

  Anything I can add to the water to make the blossoms last longer after cutting and making a bouquet. I hear peroxide, also something sweet like 7-up or such. Thank you.

  You can add floral preservatives such as Crysal, Floralife or make your own with sugar, bleach, lemone juice and water. Go to cut flower care for more recipes. Re-cut the stem every 3 days when changing the water and add fresh preservative. Remove lower flowers when they are finished blooming for continued blooming. Also, a trick florist use is to pinch off the top few buds from the gladiolus spikes to reduce stem bending and promote bud opening of the remaining florets.

• david christopher

  August 11th, 2007 at 3:54 am · Reply

  Gladiolus Thrips

  hi. i have grown glads for many years. this year my glads look dry and they are all wilting when it is time for them to open. we had a dry spring/early summer, but i watered them often. about 200 corms, some new this year, and all are the same way. any ideas? thanks

  It may be one of two problems. Either not enough water when the flowers spikes are forming. Glads require 1 inch of water per week and soil should be soaked 6-8 inches at watering. The other possibility is thrips. Gladiolus thrips is a major problems that attacks the foliage and flowers. Flower buds abort,distort or shrivel up.

  I LIVE IN CENTERAL MN. I’M HAVING A DEVIL OF A TIME WITH THRIPS THIS YEAR. WOULD YOU SUGGEST DISPOSING OF ALL THE BULBS AND STARTING OVER NEXT YEAR? I USUALLY DIG THEM UP, DRY, AND THEN DUST THEM AND STORE IN A MESH BAG. WILL THE THRIP SURVIVE IN THE BULB UNTIL NEXT YEAR? THANKS FOR THE ADVICE David Mumm

  When you harvest the gladilous corms, cut off the tops and burn them as they harbor most of the insect. Dust the corms with pyrethrum before storing them for the winter. Thrips can winter over inside the corms. Infested corms become sticky with a rough texture and usually darker than healthy corms. Store the corms at 35-40F. in an unheated garage. The near freezing temperatures should kill the thrips. Rodale suggests before planting soak the corms for 3 hrs. in a lysol solution consisting of 1 1/4 tblsp of lysol to 1 gal. of water. Check for thrips with yellow sticky traps early in the season so that you can spray the plants before they burrow in too deep.

• Jessica

  April 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm · Reply

  I just purchased a large bag of Gladioli bulbs and have been told to plant them in 2 week intervals so that I will have blooms all summer long. Has anyone ever done this? I have a bed in the front of my house that I was going to dedicate only to these plants. Does anyone know how far apart they should be planted? I have 100 bulbs total.

  Plant the medium size corms 3-4 inches deep. The general rule of thumb is twice as deep as the corm is tall. Space them 5-6 inches apart and allow 20-36 inches between rows in order to have easy access to cut the flowers.

• Gary

  May 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm · Reply

  My gladiolus are about a foot high now and I am noticing holes in the some of the leaves. Some leaves have fallen over because of this. I can’t see any kind of bugs. What might be causing this?

  Hi Gary
  It’s possible that some type of larvae is attacking your gladiolus. If your glads were planted in previously sodded areas, white grubs(Japanese beetle) can be a problem. Also the corn earworm (Heliothis zea) and European corn borer can feed on glads. The borer feeds on bud ends, flower parts and leaves causing distortion and browning. Once the infected tips die, the borer works its way down the stem. Some insects feed at night so its difficult to spot them. Look at the base of the stem, is there any browning or decay?
  Because they get so tall, glads need staking or will have a tendency to fall over.

• Carol

  July 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm · Reply

  I want to dig up all the gladiolus bulbs I planted this year over 40 and put them in another place where it won’t matter when the plant doesn’t look so good. Do I wait for the green stalks to die out? The flowers are done. They could’ve stayed in the ground until next year if I’d chosen a better spot. Do I plant them now in their new spot or wait until next spring? I live in Southern California.

  Hi Carol
  You need to wait till the green leaves die out or you may not get too many flowers next year. Once they die back then you can move them to your new spot.

• Lynn

  July 17th, 2008 at 7:17 am · Reply

  My Gladiolus have blooms but they only last a five days and die . Do they suppose to do that or do they suppose to continue to bloom the whole summer. How can I get to bloom continue to bloom.

  Hi Lynn
  Generally, gladiolus flowers bloom from the bottom up for 7-10 days depending on growing conditions. Hot, sunny, dry weather can shorten the lifespan of each spike. The only way to have continued bloom is to plant more corms at 2 week intervals.

• Maureen

  July 30th, 2008 at 8:23 pm · Reply

  I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I have no experience planting bulbs, but I ordered some before spring hoping to make it a learning experience with my kids. Unfortunately, they arrived late and I wasn’t able to plant at that time. I have Gladiolus Mix, Freesias Mix, and Windflower Mix (Anemone De Cean). Can they still be planted now or is there something I can do to preserve them for planting next spring?

  Hi Maureen
  It is too late to plant outdoors to get any blooming results this year. You can store the bulbs in a cool dark place, like a basement and hope they have enough energy left to grow next year. For a head start, anemone and freesia can be planted indoors in late winter and then planted outdoors in spring after danger of frost has passed. You can also plant the freesia, mini glads and Anemone in pots and try to force them indoors for the winter bloom.

• James

  July 30th, 2008 at 9:24 pm · Reply

  My Glads are doing fine and flowering nicely
  but want to lean and tip over, can you tell
  me why.

  Hi James
  Glads are naturally a tall flower and unless supported with stakes or planted in tight rows to support each other, will have a tendency to lean or tip over. That is why some will plant them along a fence or in the back of the flowerbed. They will also lean toward the sun.

• Vuyiswa Maposa

  August 17th, 2008 at 6:30 am · Reply

  i JUST WANT TO KNOW WHICH CHEMICALS CAN I USE FOR FLOWER FORCING AND INDUCING AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN I USE TO REGULATE GROWTH

  Try this site http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/class_plant_growth_regulators.html http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PI139

• Michele Hayden

  November 12th, 2008 at 12:27 pm · Reply

  I love the way glads fill in ‘holes’ throughout my garden and plant many late spring thru early summer. Is there some way of orienting the bulb so that the flowers blown on a particular side of the stalk? Invariably, I’ll have several that bloom facing a wall or my neighbor’s fence (lucky for him I guess) Also, this year I had a thrip investation for the first time. I plan on following your tips for preventing over-wintering of the nasty little things. I’ve heard that lacewings and/or planting alyssum are effective bio-controls. What is your opinion? Thanks!!

  HI Michelle
  Usually, the gladiolus flower will face toward the sun. Reflection of the sun and heat may orient them toward the wall.
  Green lacewings, adults and larvae and ladybugs are effective insect predators of thrips. as well as damsel bugs, ground beetles, syrphid flies. I have not heard of alyssum used as a repelant, perhaps thrips do not like their fragrance and stay away.

• Patricia Elbrecht

  January 8th, 2009 at 1:40 pm · Reply

  Comment on Plant & Gardening Tips, for topic: Gladiolus
  I live in southern Missouri. I want to plant Glads inside in pots so they will be in bloom by June 20. When do I need to plant the pots?

  Hi Patricia
  Plant your glads 3 months or 90 days before expected bloom around March 20. They will grow better when planted in the ground.

• john wilson

  March 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm · Reply

  We planted glads about 4 years ago and have left them in the ground and they continue to flower each year.We live in central Ontario were the temp can drop close to -40. Have we just been lucky or do we have temp resistant variety?

  Hi John
  You may have a veryhardy gladiolus that can with stand freezing temperatures. Gladiolus nana is known for its hardiness. Other factors such as micro-climate and mulching can also help the glad corms endure colder than expected temperatures

• Paula Peters

  April 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 am · Reply

  I live in southwestern Ohio and I want to plant a large whiskey barrel ( well dried out of whiskey ) of gladiolus, is this possible?

  Yes, you can plant gladiolus in a container. They should grow well well, just be sure to give them some type of support when they get tall.

• Lisa

  May 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm · Reply

  I purchased gladioli bulbs last winter and kept them in my basement. When I took them out, they looked very dried out, possibly dead. A friend told me to soak them in water for a day or two – is there any want to tell if the bulb is dead?

  Cut one corm in half. If the corm is discolored, brown and shriveled then its dead. They should be firm, a creamy color inside with no marks or blemishes.

• jennifer

  July 1st, 2009 at 1:04 pm · Reply

  after my gladiolus blooms die, should i pull off the dead blooms or cut the stalk?

  Hi Jennifer
  You can remove the dead blooms starting from the bottom of the stalk and continuing upward as they die. Once all the blooms are spent, cut off the stalk when it turns yellow/brown and let the foliage continue to grow so that they can replenish the bulbs.

• Skye

  August 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm · Reply

  Hello…quick question. Can you tell me what the “buds” appear to be that are growing out of where all the gladiola’s flowers were? Much appreciated… Thanks from Staten Island, NY

  Hi Skye
  The “buds” are seed capsules.

• Ginny Kane

  August 15th, 2009 at 9:38 am · Reply

  Can glads be grown from seed? If so how?

  HI Ginny
  Glads are easier and faster to grow from cormels (tiny corms that form at the base of the corm). Mature seeds should be collected in late summer and freshly sown for best germination. If not store seeds in paper bags at 41F in the frig. over winter and then sow in early spring. Sprinkle seeds on well drained soil mix and cover with a fine layer of soil mix. Keep at temperatures of 68-75F (20-24C). Germination should take place in 3-6 weeks. Glads started from seeds may not be true to the original plant.

• Ginny Kane

  August 15th, 2009 at 9:45 am · Reply

  Any suggestions to make the dying leaves less unattractive in my garden? It is August in zone 6 here, and all the yard high leaves are laying on the ground and are brown at the bottom. I had beautiful flowers a few weeks back. Thank you.

  Hi Ginny
  You can remove the brown leaves but the green ones are making corms and cormels and should be allowed to “dieback”. Gladiolus are usually relegated to the back of the garden/flower bed. Plant some sun loving plants such as phlox, dahlias, cannas in front of them to “hide” the dying foliage.

• Kelly

  August 20th, 2009 at 11:47 am · Reply

  Hello,
  I live in Indianapolis and my gladiolis have finished blooming. Some are looking quite brown and I was wondering if I could go ahead and cut them all back and dig up the bulbs. I want to relocated them in another place next spring. Will they survive if I take them out now?

  HI Kelly
  When the leaves turn brown you can dig your gladilolus up. See above article for winter storage.

• Yari

  September 1st, 2009 at 9:58 am · Reply

  Hello…I planted my gladiolus, they grew, and now they are not blooming, i have noticed that where the flowers were at it is growing something, but not sure what. I’m not certain if I have to cut it..and if I do, where do i have to cut it…how far from the ground should I cut the stem?…Thank you I appreciate your help!

  Hi Yari
  You may have some seeds where the flowers were. You should not cut the gladilolus foliage back. Let it die back (turn brown) and if you live in a colder climate dig up the corms. Dry them and store in a cool, dark place for the winter.

• Carol Ann

  September 14th, 2009 at 8:13 pm · Reply

  Hardy zone for glads
  I live in Arkansas and planted glads for the first time this year and they did ok, although not alot of flowers. I love them but have decided I want to move them to a different location. I can dig up and move now (Sept) or do I have to dig up and store the bulbs? What’s the worst thing you can do to bulbs when you are storing them?

  Hi Carol Ann
  Gladiolus are hardy in zone 7-8 and Ark. is in zone 7 so they can be replanted to a different location in the fall after the foliage starts to turn yellow. You don’t have to store them. The worst thing you can do to gladiolus corms is to freeze them, expose them to ethylene gas or dry out.

• Ken

  November 19th, 2009 at 11:59 am · Reply

  Can the new cormets be planted inside to help them grow? would they be plantable the next year?

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