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When gladiolus bloom


Plant Care & Growing Guide

By

Jamie McIntosh

Jamie McIntosh

Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 07/21/21

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

In This Article

If your previous exposure to gladiolus plants consists of a few stalks leaning this way and that in the flower garden, give this summer bulb, technically called a corm, a second chance. A mass of two dozen or more gladioli in bloom creates a garden spectacle of spiky blossoms, with some left over for your floral arrangements.

A member of the Iridaceae family, plants in the genus Gladiolus also go by the name flag flower and sword lily. Fast-growing gladiolus plants are a smart choice for gardens where space is a premium; they grow to from 2-5 feet tall, adding drama to the border.

Botanical Name Gladiolus palustris
Common Name Gladioulus
Plant Type Corm, or bulbotumer
Mature Size 2-5 feet
Sun Exposure Full sun
Soil Type Sandy loam
Soil ph 6.0-6.5
Bloom Time June through frost
Flower Color Red, pink, yellow, purple, green, orange, and white
Hardiness Zones 7-10 (USDA)
Native Area South Africa and Europe
Toxicity Toxic to humans, livestock, and pets

Gladiolus Care

Gladiolus plants produce trumpet-shaped flowers that open from bottom to top on a sword-like stem, adding drama to the landscape and bouquets alike. Hybridizers have expanded the color palette so that few flowers rival it, short of bearded irises. One color you won't find in the glad flowerbed is true blue, although plant purveyors try to persuade consumers with lavender plants bearing monikers like "Blue Moon." Many modern varieties have ruffled or frilled petals, adding to their appeal.

As annuals, the root system is limited, giving it a small footprint for the vertical accent these plants deliver. Even balcony gardens can accommodate a dozen gladiolus corms in a container. 

Move over, cosmos: Gladiolus flowers make excellent vegetable garden companions. The flowers attract pollinating insects to increase those tomato yields, and the bold blossom colors won't get lost between your rows of beans and squash. Plant gladiolus corms in the gaps where you've yanked out faded spring veggies like peas and lettuce. 

Gladioli look ungainly when they aren’t in bloom, but you can hide their awkward phase in the flower garden.   Another strategy is to plant glads behind medium to tall plants that will come into bloom when the glads are finished, like zinnias or dahlias.

Keep your glads off the ground by staking them with half-round plant stakes, hoop stakes, or single stem supports, depending on how many glads are in your grouping.

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky

Light

Gladiolus do best in full sun, but if it's not available they will still flower in partial shade.

Soil

Any well-draining soil is fine for growing gladiolus bulbs. Although glads can tolerate shallow planting, placing them at least 6 inches under the soil’s surface provides support to emerging shoots.

Water

After initial planting, water well. Then, water gladiolus weekly.

Temperature and Humidity

Planting glads too early won’t reward you with earlier blooms: Gladioli pout in cold soil, and may even rot. Wait until night temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit before you set out your gladiolus bulbs, choosing a spot in your garden that receives at least five hours of full sun each day. Gladioli bloom from July until frost. However, the plants don’t bloom continuously, so planting new corms every two weeks will extend the blooming season.

Fertilizer

Fertilize newly emerged gladioli shoots with a balanced, 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer.

Symptoms of Poisoning

Humans who ingest gladiolus corms may have mild stomach upset. Livestock and pets may experience nausea, diarrhea, salivation, and lethargy. Call your veterinarian immediately if the animals in your care have consumed corms.

Gladiolus Varieties

Pruning

Pinch back dead flowers after they wither. When plant is done blooming, cut back the bloom with gardening shears to ground level unless you plan to dig and store your bulbs. 

Propagating Gladiolus

Start with premium sized gladiolus corms, which produce more blooms on heftier stalks. While you can get bargain bags of 10 centimeters glads for a reduced price, springing for 14-centimeter corms is a necessary first chapter of your gladiolus love story.  If the weather is dry at planting time, you can water the bulbs once, but don’t water them again until you see shoots or you may encourage rot.

Overwintering

Gladiolus flowers may perennialize in zone 8 and warmer, but most gardeners treat them as annuals. When first frost strikes, you can dig your glad bulbs for winter storage. Dry them for a few weeks, and store them in a cool, dry place.

Common Pests/Diseases


Thrips sometimes bother gladiolus plants. You may not see the tiny winged insects, but you’ll notice brown foliage tips and flecked foliage. Treat thrips with insect soap.

When do gladiolus bloom? And what to do to for show-stopping flowers |

(Image credit: Jacky Parker Photography)

Wondering when gladiolus bloom? It's no wonder – these exuberant blooms, particularly when planted in swathes, can transform borders with their riotous colors.

But if your gladioli seem to be slower to flower this year, or if you're a first time gladiolus grower, you may be impatiently waiting for them to put on their show. The answer is fairly simple: gladiolus bloom about 10 to 14 weeks after you have planted them, usually from late June to early July, though you can get them to flower earlier in certain conditions, right through to fall.

Below, we answer your questions fully so that you can work out more accurately when your gladiolus will bloom.

When do gladiolus bloom?

Think back to when you planted your gladioli. This will help you work out when blooms will start to appear.

If you can't remember exactly, it is likely to have been from around March or April.

'From the date you planted your gladioli, count on 10 weeks to get an idea of when they will bloom. They should appear from 70 to 100 days after you planted them,' says Homes & Gardens' Editor in Chief Rachel Crow. 'So if you planted them on April 1st, reckon to start seeing them appear from June 10th through to July 8th.

'And if you have planted corms in succession for continuous color throughout the summer, obviously don't expect them to flower all at once.'

You can get gladioli to flower faster than 10 weeks. 'To do this, you need to plant corms deep in seed trays in a single layer, keep the soil moist, then put them in a warm greenhouse or propagator. Once they have rooted and shooted, transfer them outside in warm soil.

Why aren't my gladiolus blooming?

There are a number of reasons why your gladiolus might not have bloomed yet, or at all. 

How long do gladiolus flowers last?

Gladiolus flowers last around a week, though they can last for two weeks. The lower buds open before the upper ones. This short flowering period is why many gardeners plant gladiolus corms in succession in spring and into summer, usually once every week or two, in order to get a continuous show.

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine. 

when they bloom, how to plant and care

Published:

Gladiolus Flowers: Unsplash/Uwe Conrad

Gladiolus are beautiful flowers grown as cut flowers to decorate flowerbeds and flower beds. How and when to plant these decorative flowers? Learn useful tips and properly care for gladiolus plantings so that they bloom all summer.

Peculiarities of flowers and types of gladiolus

Gladiolus, or skewer, is a perennial corm plant of the iris family. Elena Vecherina, author of the book Chrysanthemums, Asters, Dahlias and Other Autumn Flowers, reports that 300 BC. e. gladioli grew in the fields like weeds. The gladiolus was a significant flower in ancient Rome. Its name is translated from Latin as ‘little sword’ or ‘sword’.

What distinguishes gladiolus

Gladiolus flowers are distinguished by various shades. Several buds are formed on the peduncle at once, the number of which depends on the height of the stem. They are strong, medium, small and short. Breeders have already bred two-row varieties of human height, about 25 buds are formed on their peduncles, and 10 flowers immediately open.

The following factors influence the timing and duration of flowering of gladioli:

Flowering of early varieties of gladiolus begins in late July, medium early and medium late varieties bloom in late August-early September. Late varieties of gladioli bloom in September-October.

The difference between gladiolus: Unsplash/Josh Roden

What types of gladiolus to choose

Approximately 200 types of gladiolus are grown in cultivated floriculture. Flower growers use wild-growing species for decoration:

Cultivated species of gladiolus are also common (hybrid and dwarf varieties):

Gladiolus harlem, tubergen, primrose hybrid are also considered popular with flower growers. Daria Buzko in the book "Gladiolus. Cultivation and Care” analyzes the species characteristics of gladioli and emphasizes their varietal diversity, which changes every 20–30 years.

Types of gladioli: Pixabay

Terms and technology of planting gladioli

In order for gladioli to bloom earlier, it is necessary to take care of the timely and correct planting of corms in the ground.

When to plant gladioli

In which month to plant gladioli? In the southern regions, gladiolus bulbs are planted in open ground in late March or early April. In the middle lane, landing is carried out at the end of April and in the first decade of May. For the northern regions, the best time comes in late May or early June.

When to plant gladioli for seedlings? In order for the plant to bloom in a short summer, it is grown in seedlings, planting bulbs in boxes with sand in March-April. At the same time, the time of landing in the ground is taken into account in 3-4 weeks.

When to plant gladioli outdoors? Gladiolus bulbs are planted in the ground while there is moisture, but they can rot in cold ground. Therefore, it is better to plant planting material when the soil warms up by 10-12 cm to + 8-10 ° С.

When to plant gladiolus: Unsplash/Roger Starnes Sr

How to plant gladiolus

How to properly prepare gladiolus bulbs for planting? Planting material must be properly selected and prepared 3-4 weeks before planting:

Plant the prepared gladiolus bulbs in the ground step by step:

  1. Choose a site with loamy or sandy soil, low acidity and a drainage layer. The place should be sunny, protected from drafts and wind.
  2. Dig the soil to a depth of 30 cm, apply nitrogen fertilizer, humus or compost.
  3. Dig holes so deep that the bulbs are completely buried in the ground. Leave the distance between the pits 15–20 cm, and between the rows -25–30 cm.
  4. Water holes liberally in dry weather and wait until the moisture is completely absorbed into the ground.
  5. Sprinkle 2 cm of sand into the bottom of the holes to protect the delicate roots.
  6. Lay the bulbs on the bottom of the holes, sprinkle with sand and a layer of earth on top so that they are deepened by 7-9 cm.
  7. Mulch the bed with sawdust, humus or peat.

Plant gladiolus babies in the same way, choosing the planting depth according to the size of the bulbs. Plant the children on a separate bed to get planting material for the next season.

Rules for planting gladiolus: Pixabay

Care of gladioli after planting

For a long and lush flowering of the skewers, use the recommendations outlined in the encyclopedia of garden plants "Landscape Design". Start caring for flowers from the moment of planting:

Treat plantings 2-3 times a season with fungicides and insecticides as a preventive measure. Also use infusion of yarrow, tobacco, celandine for processing the green part of plants. Sick corms, babies and affected plants are completely removed from the site. Do not plant bulbs in areas infected with specific diseases for several years in a row.

Gladiolus will become an exquisite flower bed decoration. Choose types and varieties of skewers, plant them at different times, and gladioli will bloom from June until the first frost, pleasing the eye with a wide range of colors.

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/household/garden/1789297-cvetok-gladiolus-posadka-i-uhod/

Gladiolus flowering after planting

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Gladiolus is one of the most popular flowers among flower growers, they decorate gardens and flower beds. Lush blooms are located on a long peduncle, they are distinguished by a wide variety of varieties. Consider the flowering of gladiolus after planting, and the proper care of the plant.

Gladiolus flowering time

This plant has another name, skewer, its flowering depends on the planting date, variety, and climate in the area.
An early variety begins flowering at the end of the seventh month, medium varieties - at the end of August or September. Late species begins to bloom at the end of the ninth month. The earlier the bulbs are planted, the earlier the buds appear. You can combine different varieties, and maintain a flower bed with constant flowering until late autumn.

Bulbs should be prepared in March, they are planted in small containers and placed in a lighted place. After some time, shoots appear, while top dressing is not applied, since the seedling takes minerals from the bulbs. At the end of March, the sprouts are moved to an open area, the soil is preheated under the film, and a hot solution of potassium permanganate is poured into the wells.

After a couple of weeks, the next number of bulbs can be planted, after the same time the rest, which is no longer germinated. In June, you can enjoy beautiful flowers, after planting they appear once, the duration of flowering is about two weeks.
When planting last year's bulbs, the plant will bloom two weeks later than young plants. If bushes of different ages are placed, then flowering is prolonged.

Flowering acceleration process

Flowering can be accelerated not only by pre-planting the bulbs, but also by soaking them in wood ash containing trace elements. The composition should include: 2 g of potassium permanganate, 3 g of boric acid, 1 g of cobalt nitrate, 0.7 g of zinc sulfate, 3 g of copper sulfate, 2.5 g of magnesium sulfate.
The plant receives the required amount of nutrients faster to start flowering two weeks earlier than usual. Plants with small flowers produce buds before large peduncles.

How to choose a grade?

When choosing gladiolus, it is better to plant new varieties, as they take root faster in a particular region. It is necessary to purchase plants that are suitable for the area and have high disease resistance.
The choice is made depending on the period of flowering, late, middle, and early species can be placed on the same flower bed, this will extend the period of the flowering area. The early species blooms in early summer, middle and late varieties are released and stored for a long time up to 9buds. It is better not to purchase bulbs of a large, flat appearance, as they have already exhausted almost all the mineral elements. Young material with a diameter of 2 to 3 centimeters and a small height is perfect.

Proper care of flowering plants

Gladiolus needs regular feeding and moisture, as the flowers are much larger than the bulbs, and the root system does not have much branching. Watering is done every couple of weeks, if the weather is too hot, then it is necessary to moisten the soil daily. For a good flowering of gladiolus, moisture should soak the soil to the very bulbs, about two buckets of water are used per square meter, it is poured into special recesses around the plant, which are made in advance. To prevent the plant from rotting, you need to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves and stems.
Loosening the plot is considered a necessary procedure, since after watering a hard crust appears on the surface, which prevents the penetration of air to the bulbs. After loosening, hilling is performed, creating recesses for irrigation. Loosening is performed after rain or abundant moisture.

Mulch can be applied around the plant to retain moisture. Thus, there is no need to loosen the ground, and weeds do not grow under the mulch layer, that is, it is possible to ensure minimal labor and time costs. Peat, compost, humus, needles, straw or grass are used as mulch, the selected material is laid when the bush reaches 10 centimeters.
To prevent weeds from interfering with plant growth, as well as to maintain a neat appearance of the flower bed, it must be removed at an early stage of emergence.

The skewer is not able to feed on its own, so it is important to carry out timely top dressing, depending on the stage of development. The first fertilizers are introduced at the initial stage of development of young stems, during this period a bush is actively formed, and flower stalks are laid. The plant at this time needs nitrogen, but it must be applied to a certain extent, otherwise development will stop and flowering will not occur.
After the bush gains almost full growth, it is fed with phosphorus supplements, at the last stage, when buds appear, potassium-phosphorus elements are added.

Feeding bushes step by step

In order for plants to enjoy a healthy look and lush flowers, it is necessary to perform the correct fertilizing in stages. Thanks to the six stages of nutrition, lush bouquets bloom.

  1. When the first true leaves appear, use nitrogen-potassium elements.
  2. At the stage of the appearance of four leaves, nitrogen-potassium substances and boric acid are added.
  3. When six full-fledged leaves appear, the soil is again nourished with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers.
  4. Fertilization is then carried out when the buds are formed.
  5. After the bush has faded, fertilize the soil again with potassium and phosphates.
  6. At the last stage, watering is carried out with a solution of potassium permanganate.

All elements must be applied in a liquid formulation as they are of no benefit when dry.

Proper planting of gladiolus

Planting of gladiolus is carried out in warm ground up to 10 degrees, this is usually done at the end of the fourth month. If planted early, the bulbs may be stunted or diseased. Plants can be placed in one place for several seasons, the site should be well lit by the sun, in the shade the bushes will not actively develop, respectively, it will not be possible to achieve flowering.

To get a beautifully flowering plant, you must adhere to certain planting rules.
Before planting, the bulbs must be treated with karbofos or potassium permanganate solution, this will help prevent plant diseases. The bulbs are placed in a solution, and left for up to half an hour, for the treatment of children, use formulations of a lower concentration. Then the material is thoroughly washed with tap water, growth stimulants, for example, heteroauxin, can be used.

30 days before planting tubers of early type are placed in a wooden container so that the buds are on top, in one row, and put in a warm place with a temperature of up to 30 degrees. Thus, it is possible to accelerate the time of emergence of buds by two weeks.
Before processing the bulbs in solutions, they remove the husks, the diseased elements must be discarded, they will not give full development.

The bulbs are placed at a depth of three flower diameters, while keeping a distance of about 20 centimeters between the bushes, taking into account the development of the plant. Children are planted to a depth of 3 to 5 centimeters at a distance of about 10 centimeters.
A place for growing gladioli must be prepared in advance, preferably in the autumn when digging up the site. During this period, humus is added, peat, and mineral elements are added. Depending on the acidity of the soil, lime is added once every four years. Humus is introduced in an amount of about three buckets per square meter. If the land has not been prepared since autumn, this can be done in early spring, a month before planting tubers in open ground.

In the third year, the plants must be replanted to another place so that the soil is different in composition, but not detrimental to the plant. The chosen place should be well lit and ventilated, without stagnant water, otherwise various diseases may appear.
Gladiolus feels favorably in slightly acidic soil, if planting is planned on loam, sand, humus, and compost are introduced. Before planting, the site must be dug up, this can be done in the autumn, and loosening in the spring and making a hole.
To create a bed of gladioli, a groove is made, water or phytosporin composition is poured into the bottom, this remedy prevents various diseases. Then river sand is poured, with a layer of about two centimeters, or sphagnum moss is used as drainage. Bulbs are laid out at a certain distance, and covered with earth.

How to cut flowers correctly?

Many people wonder if it is possible to cut flowers during active budding and how to store them for a long time in a vase? From gladioli, you can create beautiful bouquets with a combination of other plants, so that they last longer, you need to cut the flowers correctly.
When cutting flowers, it is necessary to take into account the further correct formation of the bulb, and the appearance of children, therefore, up to four full-fledged leaves are left on the stems. The peduncle must be pierced with a knife, carefully broken, and removed, the leaves will not be damaged. To keep the bouquet fresh for a long time, cut the buds in the early morning, when the first flower blooms.

The container must be filled to the very brim with water so that the cut flowers can take the required amount of moisture, so the buds will retain their elasticity for a long time.

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