How Can You Properly Grow Gladiolus? A Complete Guide
Gladiolus are wonderful flowers, popular among people because of the values that they represent, as well as their vivid colours and striking shape. Also known as sword lilies, these flowers represent strength, unity, and remembrance. The vibrant nature of these flowers can make any space full of colour and make it more charming, whether in your garden, a bouquet, or a flower arrangement. One of the biggest reasons why the Galdiolus flowers are popular among garden enthusiasts is that they are quite easy to grow, and this is why numerous people are interested in adding this unique flower to their garden or backyard. Now, if you are also interested in cultivating this flower in your garden, you should use the guide that we are presenting here to learn everything about planting Gladiolus bulbs.
Gladiolus Winter Hardiness
The common Gladiolus gladioli (the garden gladiolus type) can be safely planted in Zone 8 and warmer. Nevertheless, it is a common practice to use a thick layer of mulch to keep certain varieties alive, such as the Nanus Hybrids, in Zones 6 and 7. For those regions where winters are very harsh, the corms of your gladioli need to be taken out, dried, and kept in a storage facility for the winter.Planting
To get the maximum Gladiolus flowers, it is best to grow glads in full sunlight (6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily) in well-draining and moderately fertile soil. They will not thrive in heavy and waterlogged soil. Enhance the quality and fertility of your soil by mixing compost (humus) into it.When to Plant Gladiolus?
- Begin to plant gladiolus corms in the spring after the last frost and when the soil is at least 55°F (13°C). You can find out the frost dates in your area here.
- From the last frost date to early summer, plant new corms every ten days to ensure blooming from early to fall!
- It usually takes between 60 to 90 days for the corms to develop roots, grow, and flower, depending on the variety.
How to Grow Gladiolus?
- Apply a layer of mulch that is 2 to 4 inches thick around your gladioli to retain moisture in the soil and control weed growth.
- In case your area receives less than 1 inch of rain each week, summer watering will be necessary for your plants; otherwise, during the growing period, moderate watering will be enough to keep the soil moist.
- Cut off the dead or faded flowers to promote flowering. When all the flowers on a stalk have wilted, the stalk should be cut off at around 2 to 3 inches above the ground.
- Do not cut the plant down so that it can develop and store the corms for the coming season.