Gladiolus

97 Comments

1. LeeAnn - November 1, 2006 at 7:08 am

   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.

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2. Stephanie - January 21, 2007 at 9:33 am

   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>

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3. Mark McEvoy - April 11, 2007 at 4:13 pm

   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.

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4. Kendra Nowlin - May 16, 2007 at 10:21 am

   No blooms
   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.

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5. Mary Peters - August 8, 2007 at 1:59 pm

   Cut flower care
   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, lemon 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.

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6. david christopher - August 11, 2007 at 3:54 am

   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.

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7. Gary - May 27, 2008 at 12:49 pm

   Insect problem
   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.

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8. Carol - July 5, 2008 at 3:51 pm

   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.The green leaves are using all their energy to produce new corms for the next season. Once they die back then you can move them to your new spot.

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9. Lynn - July 17, 2008 at 7:17 am

   Short bloom time
   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.

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10. Maureen - July 30, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    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.

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11. James - July 30, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Leaning Glads
    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.

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12. Vuyiswa Maposa - August 17, 2008 at 6:30 am

    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

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13. Michele Hayden - November 12, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    Biological control
    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.

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14. Patricia Elbrecht - January 8, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Plant to bloom time
    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.

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15. Kris - March 1, 2009 at 2:14 am

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

    Blooming period can vary from 60-120 days from planting depending on the variety and cultivar. In cooler climates plant in early May when soil is workable thru mid-June 6-8 inch apart and 6-8 inches deep in rows or groups.Plant earlier in warmer climates.

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16. Kris - March 1, 2009 at 2:15 am

    Planting gladiolus
    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 early May thru mid-June or you can plant every 14 days to get successive bloom thru the summer. They like full sun but will tolerate some shade. Plant gladiolus in well drained, composted soil with a ph 6.5-7.0. They can also be grown in a wide range of soils but avoid clay soil. Plant them 6-8 inches deep in the back of your flower bed or along a fence. Shallow planting will spur on earlier growth because the soil warms up faster but may need staking at bloom time. Hilling or mounting 2-3 inches of soil around the base of the stem will help support the plant.
    To keep tall glads from falling over add a support or stake at bloom time.

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17. john wilson - March 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Hardy glads?
    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 very hardy 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

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18. Paula Peters - April 2, 2009 at 9:24 am

    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.

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19. Jessica - April 2, 2009 at 1:51 pm

    Planting gladiolus
    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 with the pointed tip up.
    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.

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20. Lisa - May 3, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    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.

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21. jennifer - July 1, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    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.

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22. Ginny Kane - August 15, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Grow Glads from seed
    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.

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23. Ginny Kane - August 15, 2009 at 9:45 am

    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.

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24. Yari - September 1, 2009 at 9:58 am

    Glad seeds
    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.

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25. Carol Ann - September 14, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    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.

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26. Ken - November 19, 2009 at 11:59 am

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

    Hi Ken
    The best way to handle the cormels is to detach them from the corm, clean, dry and store them over the winter then plant them in spring. Plant the cormels in a separate nursery bed or container 1 1/2-2″ deep so that they get a chance to develop the first year. Cormels should be at least 1/2 ” in diameter. They should bloom in 2-3 years.

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27. Maureen - December 6, 2009 at 5:17 pm

    Hi,

    I think I may have killed off all my corms! To begin with, I dug them up very late (yesterday). I’m in Michigan, so the ground was already very hard at least an inch down when I was digging them out. They all looked really good, and I was excited to see how so many of them had two and three new-growth corms on them. After preparing the cormels, I got distracted and left all my corms (80+) outside!! The temperature dropped below 30 degrees last night. When I realized I had left them out, I was so sad, but decided to try and save them anyway. I rinsed them all, and they are now in my basement on cooling racks (the ones used for baking).

    I did see the response about cutting one open and checking the inside, and I will do that with a few of them, but I’m wondering if I should even bother trying to store them at this point. They were so beautiful this summer and I’m so mad at myself for having left them outside last night!
    Thanks for your advice.

    Hi Maureen
    Sorry to hear about the corms. I’m sure you’re not alone in forgetting to bring things indoors before they get frozen. Let the corms dry well before you store them, otherwise they can rot. I would store them and check in the spring to see how well they survived. Frost damage may not show up right away, so wait a few weeks to cut one open.

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28. sue johnson - December 7, 2009 at 11:28 am

    Separating new and old corms
    We have had a VERY wet fall here in Vermont. I dug up my glads about 1 month ago and left them in a warmish basement with the dead foliage still attached spread out to dry. They were quite muddy when I dug them up. The mud is dry and has fallen off. Today I was breaking off the stems and the old corms. My question is, can I break off the old corm too early? The bulbs are very firm, and when I break off the old corm, it looks like a hard moist cream colored bulb where the old corm was still attached. Is that OK? I did it with a few last week and the bulbs still seem firm. I then plan to put them in a root cellar we have that kept them very well last winter. (I did this with glads that I have about 50 of the same color and am waiting on the other color ones till I hear from you. I hope I have not messed them up!
    Thanks
    Sue

    Hi Sue
    No you didn’t mess up. The new corms form above the old corms. New corms should be a good size and well formed (rounded not flat). Usually, by this time the old corms are shrivelled and almost gone. If not they will be. Sometimes you’ll even get cormels, that form around the top of the old corms. Cormels can also be saved and planted next spring.

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29. Patti Annie - January 2, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    Bloom time for gladilolus
    Need some advise please !!! I live on the central coast of CA. Very mild climate. I want to know when would be the best time for me to begin planting my Glads, so they are
    blooming by Memorial weekend so my 94 yr old Grandmother has plenty to take to the cemetery. Thanks Patti

    Hi Patti
    The bloom period can vary from 60-120 days from the time you plant them in the ground. It depends on the cultivar. Early bloom 70-75 days and very late bloom over in 100 days. You can stagger your plantings to every two weeks to get successive blooms through spring/summer. http://sjmastergardeners.ucdavis.edu/Master_Gardener_Articles/Growing_Gorgeous_Gladiolus_in_the_Central_Valley_.htm

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30. wassim - January 18, 2010 at 7:56 am

    Winter glad care in warm climates
    Hi,
    I purchased, last July, 10000 gladiolus corms from Holland and planted them in Beirut – Lebanon; I harvested around only 4000 flowered stems after 3 months, all the remaining were only green leaves. Here the temperature never falls below 0 Celsius in winter. For this reason I think the green leaves won’t die, so what I am supposed to do if I want to prepare for a good flowering season?
    P.s. the corms were not small but 10/12 and 14/16.
    Thanks
    Wassim

    Hi Wassim
    In warm climates, gladiolus corms are left in the ground for the winter. At the end of the growing season, if the leaves haven’t died back naturally, cut them down to 4 inches. This will replenish nutrients back into the corms and produce more corms. Mulch around the plants during the winter to protect them from the cold.

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31. Oumar - March 8, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    I just planted my glads in how long will I see sprouts

    Hi Oumar
    It can take a month or less. It all depends on how warm the soil is and if they are getting enough moisture.

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32. Robin G. - March 14, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Color change in glads
    Very perplexed…. Years of successful glads have now changed from an array of beautiful colors to mostly yellow. What has happened to the wonderful rainbow of color that we have enjoyed for so many years (20)Have they seen there peak or is it something else ? ? ?

    Hi Robin
    Color change can happen as the corms get older and the genetic structure gets weaker then the dominant gene takes over. Yellow may have been the hardier corms and continued to produces more corms, whereas the other colors kept dwindling until there were none. Color change can also occur in less light, change in soil ph and temperature but not in this case.

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33. Oumar - March 22, 2010 at 10:18 am

    Planting to bloom
    My glads have sprouted now in about how long will I see blooms

    Hi Oumar
    Glads take 3 months or 90 days from planting to bloom.

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34. oumar - March 26, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    i planted my glads about 4 1/2 inches deep. do you think it is too shallow since the corms form on top of old ones?also, they are about 7 inches tall and have one leaf, do more leaves come out of the thick sections?

    Hi Oumar
    Yes, as the plant will continue to more leaves will grow. You should be fine as far planting the old corms eventually shrinks when the new one is formed.

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35. Michelle - March 28, 2010 at 11:27 am

    Glad hardy zone
    I live in the Seattle area and am planting gladiolus for the first time. Can they winter over in the ground in this area or do I need to dig them up. If I plant some in containers, can I leave them in the soil, in the containers,placed in the garage for the winter or do they also need to be dug up? Thanks for the help.

    Hi Michelle
    Most gladioli are hardy in zone 7-8. Seattle is in zone 8+, therefore you can leave them in the ground over the winter.

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36. Colleen - March 31, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    Planting time
    I live in Columbus Ohio and just bought 80 bulbs. I read on the barrel at the store that
    these can take 10 weeks to sprout. If this is the case then if I plant them around April 1st they should start sprouting close to the second week of June. Is this true? I have never used this kind of flower before. I don’t want to plant too early but would like to see some blooms the end of june first of july.

    Hi Colleen
    Blooming period can vary from 60-120 days from planting depending on the variety and cultivar so you should get flowers at the end of June/early July. In cooler climates plant in early May (or after the last frost date in your area) 6-8 ” apart and 6-8″ deep in rows or groups. Stagger your plantings every two weeks, thru mid-June so that you’ll get continual bloom till the end of summer.

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37. Roger - April 7, 2010 at 7:57 am

    Hi, we live in Southern Ontario and planted Glads last year. They all grew well, perfect height and flower bud development, but as the flowers began to open they would only develope to about half open and then began to wilt or stop opening all together. Each plant reacted identically this way began to open and flower then stopped and wilted with none at all every opening properly. The soil conditions seemed to be in good order, and we had almost perfect rain conditions the entire summer. Could this be a result of the thrips infestion that I have seen spoken of?. Or could it be to other conditons we are unaware of?. The flowers as well all opened facing to the east of the garden and towards the back side of the plant rather than facing the front of the garden. The garden runs along a fence but the plants are a good three feet out from the fence could this be a result of heat and light reflection off of the fence by chance?. Any suggestions you may have in these regards we would be most grateful to hear. thanks.

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38. Lisa - April 14, 2010 at 10:43 am

    Grow glads in mulch
    I have some Gladiola bulbs and I wondered if I could plant them in straight mulch? I have a wonderful flowerbed that I have filled in with mulch and wanted to plant my bulbs in there. Will they grow?? Thanks!!!

    Hi Lisa
    I’m not sure. It depends on what kind of mulch you have. Gladiolus like any other plant needs nutrients from the soil in order to grow well. Fresh ground up wood chips do not contain all these nutrients. In fact, as mulch starts to decompose it uses up the nitrogen in the soil depleting the plant of nutrients.
    You can try planting the glads in a finer composted mulch that is closer to soil and make sure you fertilize during the growing season to supplement soil nutrients.

    Reply
39. Sara - April 26, 2010 at 10:24 am

    I planted my glad bulbs about 4 weeks ago. I have noticed you tell everyone it takes about 90 days before blooming, but I’m curious to know how long it takes for them to just pop up out of the ground. I live in southern Arkansas if that information will help any.

    Hi Sara
    It can take a month or less. It all depends on the soil temperature, if they are getting enough moisture and how deep they are planted. You should be seeing something popping out of the ground.

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40. Brianna - May 21, 2010 at 4:15 am

    Hi, I have a question. I’ve had a lot of glad bulbs that we’ve planted and dug up every year, and gotten beautiful blooms. It’s almost time now to plant them again, but unfortunately, we just found out that we’re moving to Alaska in August. Can our bulbs be kept in storage for more than just over one winter? We would be back not next summer, but the following. I just can’t bear to think of planting them all and then not digging them up this September. And we have so many of them. Also, we live in Zone 4, where it’s not really possible to leave them in the ground over winter.
    Thanks.

    Hi Brianna
    Storing the bulbs for such an extended period of time will produce corms of poor quality. They may shrink and dry up.

    Reply
41. Neetu - June 20, 2010 at 10:51 am

    Bloom time
    Hi! I am in chicago and planted gladiola bulbs in pots towards end of March / early April. While the plants have excellent green leaves, which came very quickly – till now, there are no signs of blooms or buds even. On the advice of the store, I put in a sprinkling of ‘Miracle Grow” fertilizer at the base of the bulbs. It does not look like they have thrips, and they are in good sun. Could it be the fertilizer or do they bloom late?

    Hi Neetu
    Gladiolus bloom anytime from 60-120 days after planting depending on varietiy and cultivar. They usually bloom in July in the Chicago area.

    Reply
42. Vathana - July 2, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Grow in Cambodia
    Hi there, I just bought some gladiolus bulbs from Italy to grow in my country, Cambodia (tropical country). Can gladiolus grow there?

    Hi Vathana
    I don’t know if they will grow in Cambodia. Gladiolus can be grown in subtropical climates year round. You may want to plant them in the cooler part of the year and see what happens. They might go dormant during the hottest part of the season and then return when temperatures cool. Let us know how they thrive.

    Reply
    1. Josie - July 7, 2010 at 3:31 pm

       Seed capsules
       Hello – will flowers bloom again from these seed capsules? I just planted my first batch of gladiolus this past Spring and they’ve all bloomed beautifully. Now that the flowers have died, these buds or seed capsules have appeared. Does this mean they will bloom again soon? Does each gladioli bulb bloom just once per year? I live in Southern California – zone 9. Thanks.

       Hi Josie
       Gladioli bloom once per season, then will die back and come back next year. If you want, allow the seed capsules ripen and then plant them in the ground. Germination should take place in 3-6 weeks. Glads started from seeds may not be true to the original plant and can take up to 3 years to bloom.

       Reply
43. Betty alexander - July 14, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    If I get some glad bulbs on sale now and plant in July in zone 8 can I leave in ground over winter. How long does it take for a 6 to 8 CM bulb to bloom and how fast does a corm/bulb grow in zone 8? Thanks for any help here.

    Hi Betty
    Gladiolus are hardy in zone 7-8 so you can leave them in the ground. Depending on the variety, it takes 60-120 days from planting to bloom time. I don’t know how fast it will grow in your zone.

    Reply
44. lora - July 26, 2010 at 9:00 am

    i planted my gladioli, all i have is a bunch of stalks and no flowers, the stalks are over 12 inches, when will the flowers bloom

    Hi Lora
    I don’t know if they will bloom. Are they getting enough sun? How long have they been in the ground? It’s possible that they are still growing and will eventually bloom. In a rainy season the leaves will get much taller before they start to bloom. Give them a little more time, hopefully you will see a flower spike soon.

    Reply
45. Marie - July 31, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    I know you’re going to think this “strange”, but it’s true. I have 1 gladiola I planted 10 yrs. ago from a corm. I live in Northern Ohio right on the lake {zone 5}. I never knew you had to dig up the corm in the winter so I’ve always left it in the ground. The strange thing is the plant only gets a flower once every other year. The alternate year it’s a very high, large green leaf stalk. Do you know of any reason why this is happening? Also it is not near the lawn at all and it is in a well drained area. I don’t mulch {ever}, the beds where it is located either.

    Reply
46. Chrystle - August 1, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    Hi. I experimented for the first time planting bulbs and I decided to do Gladiolus. They are absolutely beautiful when they bloom but because I planted all at the same time, they bloom and die. What should I do when the flowers die? Do they come back again, do I cut the stalk and if so will they grow back again? Or do they come back next year.

    Hi Chrystle
    If you plant the bulbs at 2 week intervals you will get a longer bloom season. When the flowers die, you can cut off the stalk . Glads will bloom once per season and then you should allow the foliage to die back (turn yellow/brown). If you live in a warm climate (zone 7-9) you can leave them in the ground. If you live in zone 6 or less, then you need to dig the corms up and store them indoors for the winter. see above article.

    Reply
47. cathy - August 24, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Glads not blooming
    I live in Mass and planted glads over 6 yrs ago. I never dug them up and each year they came up strong and beautiful. This year all I got was green foliage, no flowers,no buds. I do the same thing every year and never had an issue. Should I dig them up and replant new ones or give them another chance? Thank-you

    Hi Cathy
    Give them another chance. Dig up you glads and replant them. There is a chance that after so many years of growing in the same spot, they are deeper in the ground and use up a lot of energy to grow up which can affect blooming.

    Reply
    1. cathy - August 27, 2010 at 9:52 am

       thank-you for the glad advice. I am glad to give them another chance. I am so proud of them and they have given me so many years of enjoyment. When should I dig them up amd replant? Should I remove all the foliage before I replant? Thank-you

       Hi Cathy
       You can dig them up in the fall after the foliage dies back or starts to turn yellow.

       Reply
48. Martesha - September 24, 2010 at 5:40 pm

    New corms and cormels
    Hi I dug up my bulbs today, the stalks were all dried but the leaves are still strong green on some of them, I am in michigan, is it to soon? should I put back in the ground and wait. and are the corms all those little small round things that are on the bottom of them? how many years do those take to bloom? Do I keep the big bulb also and replant? Thank you!

    Hi Martesha
    I try to wait as long as possible to dig up my glads before the frost gets them. There’s no point putting them back in the ground but wait for the leaves to dry up and then cut them off. The small round thingsproduced at the bottom of the corm are cormels. They can be stored and planted the following spring. It will take several years before they produce flowers. The new larger corms form above the old corms. New corms should be a good size and well formed (rounded not flat) and can be planted next season. Usually, by this time the old corms are shrivelled and almost gone.

    Reply
49. Nancy - October 19, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    Plant cormels
    Hi
    I am in Massachusetts and dug up my gladioli for the winter. I’d like to grow the cormels as quickly as possible so i can get more gladioli. Can I leave the cormels, separated from the main corms, in an indoor pot with soil and fertilizer and expect them to grow and become bigger corms ready for planting outdoors in the spring?
    Thanks!

    HI Nancy
    The recommended way is to clean and store the cormels in winter, then plant them in spring. You can try to plant the cormels in early spring indoors and transfer the plantlets outdoors when danger of frost is over.

    Reply
50. HELP!!! HELP!!! - November 9, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    HELP ! HELP ! SAVE MY GLADIOLUS. PLEASE… PLEASE… PLEASE

    My gladiolus bulbs have already growing shoots(Nov 10, 2010). What do I do, just nip them off??? Please! Please I need information. I live in Ontario, Canada. Any information how to best preserve them will be most helpful.

    Thanks in advance.

    Hi Tracy
    May may be storing your corms in too warm temperatures. They need to be stored in a ventilated container such as paper/plastic mesh or cloth bag in a dark, dry, frost free place at 35-45 degrees. Don’t break off the shoots just move them to a cooler spot.

    Reply
51. Tracy - November 10, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Plant gladiolus
    Hi Tracy,
    Do what do I do if my gladiolus bulbs have starting grwing shoots? I hope they are getting spoiled like onions do what they start sprouting.
    Any information on how to preserve them and when to plant them in Spring Season, would be of great help.
    Thanks!!!

    Hi Tracy
    Plant glad corms after danger of frost is over in your area (early May thru mid-June) or you can plant every 14 days to get successive bloom thru the summer. They like full sun but will tolerate some shade. Plant gladiolus in well drained, composted soil with a ph 6.5-7.0. They can also be grown in a wide range of soils. Plant them 6-8 inches deep in the back of your flower bed or along a fence. To keep them from falling over and add a support or stake them if they get too tall in the summer

    Reply
52. Oumar - February 2, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Corm size
    I live in zone 8b. When should I plant my gladiolus? Also, my corms are from last year and I would like to know if they have better flowers if the corm is bigger

    Hi Oumar
    The bigger the corm the better the bloom. The corm needs to be at least 3/4″ dia. or larger to bloom.
    Gladiolus are hardy in zone 7-8 you can plant yours in the spring when the soil is workable and leave them in the ground year round.

    Reply
53. Ken Edwards - February 18, 2011 at 1:56 pm

    I live in upland Mexico. We don´t have any seasons (except dry and wet seasons) and we never measure time by seasons. The temperature ranges from 60 to 80 degrees F year round.
    I would like to see if I could plant gladiolas at 7 month intervals.
    Would this work? Say I plant on January 1 and they bloom in 3 months on April 1st (more or less). I let them strengthen for 3 months and dig them up on July 1st. I let them dry for one month and plant them again on August 1st. And then again on Mar 1st.
    Do you think this might be practical? Thanks in advance Ken

    Hi Ken
    You can give it a try.

    Reply
54. Candy - May 8, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    Planting gladioluls
    I just received some glads from a friend, the already have small green stalks starting on them, and I was wondering:

    (1) Can I plant them in the ground like that?
    (2) How far apart and how deep do I plant them?
    (3) When will they start to grow and bloom?
    I live in Sault Ste Marie,Ontario, Canada (I don’t know what zone Im in)
    Thanks in advance for any help as Im new at the gardening

    Hi Candy
    Yes, you can plant them with the new growth. Don’t take it off. In cooler climates plant in early May when soil is workable thru mid-June. Plant them 6-8 inch apart and 6-8 inches deep in rows or groups. Blooming period can vary from 60-120 days from planting depending on the variety and cultivar.

    Reply
55. keisha - May 20, 2011 at 11:44 am

    Tilting/leaning stems
    my glad started growing good.. but they are titling over. can i dig they out while they are still sporting n replant them deeper?

    Hi Keisha
    It’s not a good idea to dig them up at this point. Digging them up will damage the feeder roots. Glads are naturally tall flowers 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. Provide your gladiolus some support using stakes.

    Reply
56. Heather - May 30, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    I live in Texas and have glads spread out in my front flower beds. There’s one here and there (about 10 total) just to fill gaps and add rich color. As the bottom flowers of each glad start to die I like to cut them and use them in a flower arrangement indoors. Where should I cut them so it doesn’t affect the growth or regrowth next year? I did this last year and cut them about 6in below the blooms, right before the leaves. It also seems we have alot more greenery around each one now? We have the same amount of blooms, just more of these long “blades” of greenery.

    HI Heather
    Snap off the lowest flowers at the base of the main stem.

    Reply
    1. Ken Edwards - June 2, 2011 at 8:49 am

       Regrowing glads
       Hi, I tried it but I also stored the big bulbs in the refrigerator at about 6 C for 30 days. I then replanted and after the normal time they are sprouting!

       Plant. 3 months to bloom. 3 months strengthen. 1 Month dry. 1 month cool. Plant again. Total 8 months.
       Thanks

       Thanks Ken, that’s good to know.

       Reply
57. Lisa - June 2, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Weed wacked glads
    Help! My husband accidentally weed whacked my glads! My question is will the stalks re-grow or are they done for? They were about 12″ tall & had not started to bud at all yet.

    Hi Lisa
    It’s hard to say what will happen. If the corm was large enough and didn’t use up all its energy, then it might send out new leaves. Wait a few weeks and if you don’t see anything, dig up the corm and see what’s happening. Otherwise its probably done for.

    Reply
58. Christine - June 16, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Bloomtime
    I live in zone 5. Is it possible for me to get my glads to bloom by June 2nd and if so, how?

    Hi Christine
    Gladiolus bloom anytime from 60-120 days after planting depending on varietiy and cultivar.

    Reply
59. NewGardener - June 17, 2011 at 8:30 am

    Seed pods
    Hi,
    It looked like my glads are finished blooming for the season so I went out to cut the flower stalks. On many of the stalks I noticed what looked like buds near the dead flowers. Are they going to flower again?

    Hi
    They may be fertilized flowers that are producing a seed pod.

    Reply
60. Cassie - June 19, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    Wrong location
    This is my first year planting gladiolus from bulb. They are coming out of the ground nicely. I didn’t realize how tall they were going to be. I’d like to move them to the back of a flowering bed. Can I do this now before they start to flower or will that cause them not to bloom by moving them now? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

    Hi Cassie
    It depends on how far along the leaves are. If they are just an inch or two then you can try. I would not recommend moving them. There is a lot of growing going on under the soil before the leaf emerges. So if you start to dig up the plant you will damage the roots and your plant may not recover or bloom. Lesson learned. Stake your glads to give them some support.

    Reply
61. Marty - June 20, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    shallow planting
    This is my first year in attempting to grow some glads. I have planted a row and the plants all have produced 6-8″ leafs. Reading the guidelines on planting them I see that they are to be planted 2-4″ deep. I planted them about 1″ deep. Should i try to cover the corms with more soil and try to “hill” them or just leave them be.

    Thank for your help.

    Hi Marty
    Planting them deeper will give them more stability when they get taller. Hilling them with a couple inches of additional soil before bloom should help the situation. Gladiolus may need staking if they get too tall.

    Reply
62. Larry - July 6, 2011 at 8:04 am

    This is my first year as a Gardener and I planted Charming Beauty Hardy Mini Gladiolus, Fire Glow, and Garnet Glow Calla Lily bulbs between June 13-17 The fire glow and garnet were planted 1 week after the Gladiolus and are already blooming. However, the Gladiolus aren’t blooming, but I did see one poking out last week, but turned yellow and haven’t seen it since. The Gladiolus are in an area were they get lots of sun. The Fire Glow and Garnet get more shade then the Gladiolus. I do have watering days which are Wed, Fri, and Sun, but I wanted to know, whether I should start watering the Gladiolus more frequently then my normal watering days.

    Thank You!

    HI Larry
    Your gladiolus may not be getting enough moisture to develop a good root system. When you water make sure you water deeply. As for the yellowed glad it most likely will not grow.

    Reply
63. George - August 4, 2011 at 7:47 am

    HEllo This year was my 1st year planting gladiolus so i dont know what is going on with my gladiolus, they have all ready bloom and now their leaves are turning yellow and some of the plants are just dying i wonder if this is normal or is this a disease, if is this a disease what i can do about it? I have heard that once you have a sick gladiolus you should never plant another gladiolus in the same spot, so i wonder if for the next year I can plant some tulips, Daffodils and some iris, can the gladiolus disease infect the next year these plants?

    Hi George
    Once they are done blooming, it’s natural for the foliage to start turning yellow and dieback. It’s not a disease. The leaves are producing new corms at this time. In colder regions, when the foliage is completely brown dig up the corms and store for the next season.

    Reply
64. Lori - August 5, 2011 at 11:58 am

    I’m so Glad I tripped into your glad web site! I have watched my own “first try” crop come up and bloom and delight us. They are tall, elegant, and quite brilliant. We’re new to this little bedraggled house and garden and so I tossed in wild flowers and they intermingled well, and, well fed, they were all clutching each other and chatting. Being from another country and learning as we go, it’s such a blessing to find you all and the chit chat too. Many thanks for the support.

    You’re welcome Lori. It’s just a start to your gardening experience.

    Reply
65. Joy - August 16, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    Hardy in CA
    This year was the first time we planted gladiolus and they were beautiful. They are dry now. We live in warm, central California. What do I do with the gladiolus now that they are not so pretty. Do I cut them down, move them, or leave them where they are? I would like them to come back next year, if possible.

    HI Joy
    You can cut donw the brown foliage and leave the corms in the ground. Gladiolus are hardy in CA. and should come back next year.

    Reply
66. Barb Talbot - August 26, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    What a great site. I planted glads for the first time and didn’t know what to do after they bloomed. Now I know how to take care of them. Since I live in Vancouver, WA (zone 7), I will try leaving them in the ground and hope for the best. Next summer will tell me if I have to dig them up and store. Thanks again for this site.

    Thanks for the comment!!

    Reply
67. rob - September 27, 2011 at 6:42 am

    Lifting glads early
    I have a need to lift most glads while the tops are still green. What should i expect from doing this so early? Thanks.

    Hi Rob
    The foliage needs to dieback so that it can have enough nutrients to produce a new corn. By lifting them too soon, you may get small, undersized corms that will produce leaves and no flowers next season. This will also depend on how vigorously the glads grew this season. They may already have produced new corms.

    Reply
68. sam - September 27, 2011 at 7:54 am

    Dormant period needed
    i have dug my gladiolus and separated the cormels i am wondering if it is possible to start them over the winter to give them a boost to the growing season, instead of storing them for winter and starting in spring?

    Hi Sam
    Gladiolus depending on variety need a dormant period of 2-3 months before they start to sprout again. There is some research to shorten dormancy. http://www.jstor.org/pss/2435703

    Reply
69. Roberta Sanders - September 28, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Shorter growing season
    Hello – I live in Anchorage, Alaska and I planted about 30 corms in early May. They grew and finally started blooming. There are several spikes that have not yet begun to bloom, and we are just about down to 32 degrees at night now. I assume the freezing/frost will kill the plants, and I should dig the corms up now. It just feels so wrong because the plants are in mid-bloom. If I dig them up now (during their bloom cycle) will they still be OK to store and plant again next spring?

    Thank you…

    Hi Roberta
    Cut off the flower stalk and enjoy them indoors. Gladiolus need time to grow so they can replenish their corms in order to produce new corms. They will die after a freeze, so dig them up and see what you get. The new corms grow under the old corms. A smaller poor quality corm may not produce flowers next season.
    Because your growing season is shorter, you may want to start your gladiolus ahead of time indoors to extend the season. Transplant them outdoors when danger of frost is over.

    Reply
70. Collins - October 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Hi I got a few stalks from my boss while they were on the verge of falling over and I want to keep the plant and put it in my yard next spring…how do I make them root and what do I give it to make it live! I’m new to all of this and its my very first plant. Its such a beautiful plant I just want to keep it. Help!

    Hi Collins
    Enjoy your beautiful flowers. Gladiolus grow from a corm (flat bulb). The stalks that you recieved cannot be propagated(rooted) for new plants. Gladiolus corms are inexpensive and you can find them in garden centers and stores in the spring to plant in your yard.

    Reply
71. Lilia - October 8, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    Dig up or leave them
    I planted Glads here in Hawaii for the first time. Now the leaves are brown, do I dig them up or do I just leave them alone?

    Hi Lilia
    You can leave them in the ground. Glads have to be dug up only in colder regions because they are cannot tolerate a freeze.

    Reply
72. Bill Lukensmeyer - October 9, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Blooming cycle
    I live in Costa Rica and have only wet season (8mos) and dry season (4mos). This was my first year planting gladiolas about 45 of 60 bloomed. In California, most years I just left them in the ground and of course they bloomed once a year. I am curious to know if Ken Edwards (notes in Feb /June 2011) has any experience with what the natural blooming cycle of gladiolas is if they are left in the ground in a warm climate with wet and dry seasons. Is it shorter? Like the 8 month cycle he experienced by drying and cooling his corms?

    Hi Bill
    Gladiolus still need a 2-3 month dormant period before they will sprout again. see http://hortchat.com/info/gladiolus/comment-page-1#comment-107936

    Reply
73. alice - October 21, 2011 at 5:30 pm

    I live in southern Alberta zone 3-4.It is now nearing the end of Oct., we have had several frosts. My glads still have very green leaves.The ground is not frozen but in our area we often get snow before the ground freezes. I want to dig my glads. Should I leave the green tops to dry on the corms or should I cut them off?

    Hi Alice
    I would dig up the glads with the leaves and let them dry out before cutting them off.

    Reply
74. Kristy - March 19, 2012 at 10:47 am

    Which way up
    I just planted my first Gladiolus a week ago, but I’m not sure if I planted them upside down or not. Should I dig them up to make sure they are the right way, or is it too late?

    Hi Kristy
    No its not too late. If they started to sprout when you dig them up you will be able to tell which way up. Plant them flat end down with the pointed tip up.

    Reply
75. cheri - April 1, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    I pulled my Glads last fall and put them in my basement in a box. i just went down to pull them out and noticed they started growing. The new growth is about a foot long. im not sure if should cut the green off or plant them as it with the greenery still on them. i have looked all over the web and cannot find an answer to my problem, please help out 🙂 thanks to all
    Cheri

    Hi Cheri
    I would plant them with them with the greens.

    Reply
76. David - April 23, 2012 at 5:18 am

    Will late spring snow harm newly planted
    gladiolus bulbs.?

    Hi David
    As long as the glads are in the ground, they should be fine. The soil and snow will insulate them.

    Reply
77. Sharon - April 25, 2012 at 3:53 am

    Planting cormels
    I have hundreds of little cormels that I kept when I dug up my corms in the fall – they are pea-sized to marble-sized. I know that they will not bloom this year, but I would like to let them grow so they can bloom in future years.. Would it be okay to plant these in a flat of soil, or is that not deep enough? The flat holds about 2 inches of soil, so the cormels would be planted about an inch deep.

    Hi Sharon
    You can plant the cormels in a flat just to get them started. Once they leaf out you’ll have to transplant them to individual pot so that they have more room to grow.

    Reply
78. Marie - May 20, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Glads Bloom time
    Today, May 20 I planted my 60 Glads will they bloom before the end of summer?

    Hi Marie
    Yes, they should bloom. Depending on the variety and cultivar, gladiolus bloom 60-120 days from time of planting. You can add a 5-10-5 fertilizer at time of planting or sidedress when foliage starts to show.

    Reply
79. nathan - May 22, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    I live in southern Ohio I just planted 40 glads I don’t really plan on digging them up I know the risk of killing them. What are some tips to minimize the possibility of them frezzing the package said to plant 6″ deep I got close on most but not all its a smallish bed next to my porch with a small layer of mulch will more mulch in the fall help there chance of survival. Reason I am not digging and storing is no space or correct conditions thanks and I pvd this site vary helpful

    Hi Nathan
    Additional mulch after the first frost will help insulate the corms for the winter and may keep them from freezing during the winter.

    Reply
80. Lynette - May 24, 2012 at 12:10 pm

    Hi. Happened upon your forum. This is great. I have just planted 150 glad bulbs. They are just sprouting out of the ground but the tips look yellowish instead of green. Could you tell me if this is bad? Overwatering or underwatering? I am just not sure how much glads need to be watered. I live in Utah, zone 5. Thanks.

    Hi Lynette
    Sometimes when new growth sprouts it is a light yellow color from lack of sunlight. Especially if you had mulch over the bulbs. If the tips are yellowish turning brownish, then it may be lack of moisture or too much water. Make sure they get at least 1 inch of water a week.

    Reply
    1. lyn - May 29, 2012 at 2:18 am

       Grow gladiolas in Philippines
       hi vathana,

       first time planting gladiolas in the philippines which is the same temp in Cambodia. My gladiolas are doing very well. When i planted them they all have green shoots already, reason was because i didn’t get a chance to plant them right away. i left them in the ventilated bag where i got them and finally when i opened after 3weeks, roots and green shoot were coming out already. i just let all the bulbs sit in a little bit of water to enough to cover the roots and watched the green shoots grow, then finally planted them when the shoots were about 3inches. They are now blooming only after 60days. i’m going to plant more next year….I PLANTED THOSE END OF MARCH

       Good luck

       Reply
81. crys - June 30, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    Hi, Thanks for website… If I plant the bulbs I got on sale right now, July 1 will they still come up for this summer?

    Hi Crys
    You can try. Glads take 60-90 to bloom. So it depends on the variety and the climate you live in (first frost date).

    Reply
82. Jamie - July 12, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    Seed pods on gladiolus
    I have a question…..I pulled the dead blooms off my glads. Now there are green pods coming out of where the flowers were. What are these? I have tried to google the heck out of this and can not get an answer. PLEASE HELP!

    Hi Jamie
    It sounds like the flowers were pollinated and now you have some seed pods on your glads. You can leave them until they mature and turn brown and then harvest the seeds. Plant the seeds on early spring indoors. It takes about 2-3 years from seed to bloom.

    Reply
83. Jennifer - July 17, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    I was lucky enough to receive some lovely Glad corms for Mothers’ Day in May. I planned to plant them near Arnprior, Ontario (zone 5) but for several reasons I was not able to do so this spring.

    I still have them and am now wondering if I should plant them anyway (July 17) to give them some time to get at least some sun and water before being stored for winter? OR should I just continue to store them in a dry basement until next year?

    Hi Jennifer
    If you continue to store them, they will dry up and not produce anything next year. I would take a chance and plant them.

    Thanks in advance! 🙂

    Reply
84. Diane - July 22, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    I moved into my house in Columbus, Ohio 6 years ago. After being here 4 years a number of Glads popped up. Some grew to four feet and were of several beautiful colors…yellow, pink, white, purple. Last fall I just left them in the ground, thinking that maybe they’d come up again. Well, wouldn’t you just know it, they’re back even more lovely than ever. All I do is water them. Go figure.

    Hi Diane
    The past warm winter may have something to do with it. Good for you.

    Reply
    1. Demaroge - March 11, 2014 at 3:37 pm

       If you use a full barrel you could try filling the barrel with soil only to about 3/4 full. Then the stems of the glads would effectively be supported by the sides of the barrel. It would look like there were flowers pouring out of the top!

       Reply
85. Should b. Outside - April 15, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Ken -You are SO LUCKY to have glads to enjoy for so long! -“Jealous in Louisiana”
    Hortchat -thanks for the great site! -“Should be outside working”

    Reply
86. Demaroge - March 11, 2014 at 3:51 pm

    I hope someone sees my question here!

    I planted about 90 Gladiolas and they have bloomed for two summers. This is the their third year and I see a few spears starting to come up all ready. (It is the second week of March.)

    The first year it seemed MOST of the bulbs came up and produced the most gorgeous flowers. LOVE THEM!

    The second year it seems like I only had about half of them come up at all. 🙁 Waiting to see how many come this year.

    Is this because the soil is too hard? Maybe it is too much clay? (Georgia red clay) Do they fight with the grass? I assumed they would come up like Daffodils do ….. just about through anything!

    I know I don’t have to dig them up here (zone 8) and I was expecting them to do nothing but multiply!

    Should I loosen up the soil? Should I dig them up and separate the cormels? Should I dig them up now that they are starting to sprout up? Should I add more sand / peat / or something else to the soil? Do they get too much Nitrogen near the Bermuda grass? Should I use Epsom Salt water on them to fertilize?

    Any advice is greatly appreciated! I LOVE them and I hate to see them dwindling away each year.

    Reply
87. Demaroge - March 11, 2014 at 4:08 pm

    I hope someone sees my question here.

    This is the third year for 90 gladiola bulbs. The first year was AMAZING. The second year only about half of them grew. This year they are literally just starting to sprout.

    Why would they be diminishing each year? Shouldn’t they be multiplying?

    Should I take them up? Spread out the cormels? Should I loosen the soil (maybe it is too packed?) Should I mix in sand or loam or peat? (GA red clay here….) Should I take them out and let them ‘rest?’ Do I need to fertilize them with Epsom Salt water?

    I LOVE the gorgeous blooms and want to enjoy more and more of them as they multiply … .not less and less each year until they are gone. 🙁

    Any advice would be appreciated!

    Hi Demaroge
    Gladiolus like any bulb/corm will diminish, loose vigor with age year to year in less than ideal growing conditions. They need healthy leaf growth even after bloom to multiply and produce healthy new corms for the next season. Glads also need well drained soil and food to grow well.
    If you have clay soil,loosen the soil with peat/compost etc. so that it drains better. In addition feed them in the spring when new foliage starts to grow.
    You may want to dig up a corm to see how big they are. A small flat corm will not bloom. In a good healthy growing season the corm will be larger. I would dig them up and replant the good corms.

    Reply
88. Tracey Cumberbatch - October 11, 2014 at 6:32 am

    Will the gladiolus bulb die if the new sprout is accidentally broken off I dont expect flowers but will the bulb be able to produce flowers next year , the roots are healthy

    HI Tracey
    The bulb may send out another sprout, depending on how big and healthy it is. Since it does have healthy roots, I would think it will come back next year provided they are in a hardy zone. Gladiolus are hardy in growing zone 7 and up and can be left in the ground year round. In zone 6 or lower they need to be dug up and stored for the winter.

    Reply
89. Kathryn - April 3, 2015 at 1:53 am

    I live in Alaska and will be planting gladioli for the first time. We usually start planting outdoors on June 1. I was considering planters — are 12-inch pots too small? If not, how many bulbs per planter? I have what look like little travel pillows that have the corms in them and supposedly you just put them in the ground and water and they’ll grow. Have you ever heard of these? Thanks for your help.

    Hi Kathryn
    Plant your gladiolus corms 3-6 inches apart. The 12 ” container is fine, just make sure you add some support (stakes) for the taller varieties, so they don’t fall over.

    Reply
90. Jamie Valadez - April 5, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    I planted some bulbs and some are growing and I did plant a few tip down will they grow upwards or so no have to start over

    Hi Jamie
    I would give up just yet. The bulbs may work their way above ground the long way.

    Reply
91. Chandrika - June 7, 2017 at 5:47 am

    My Gladioli had just started to come out and had come few inches tall. Today accidentally the lawn movers trimmed the leaves little bit , will they grow up again or not

    Depends on how much they were trimmed. If just a little then they should continue to grow.

    Reply
92. C.m.m - August 19, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    Hi everyone, terrible plant grower here…i purchased a pack of gladiolus bulbs at Wal-Mart this past late spring. Due to not having decided where I wanted to plant them, I planted them in small, appropriate sizes pots with potting soil. The first batch completely rotted away. The second batch I used topsoil and they grew long green leakage. Every bit of 4 feet tall. I gave them a half food stake.
    Yet I essentially was looking at long leaves for a month. Then one day they all just turned brown-literally overnight. I worried I had bugs in the soil so I gently replanted and rinsed but never saw any signs of bugs. I kept the soil not dry, but not soaked etc. I had put them outside-but out of direct sunlight-for three days and they just died. I’m so disappointed and don’t quite understand what happened.

    Reply