With their tightly upright flower stalks, gladioli are among the most beautiful bedding and cut flowers that no garden lover should be without. In this article we have summarized everything you need to know about caring for this garden beauty.
How to plant gladioli correctly?
To plant gladioli correctly, they should be planted in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil in May or June, in a full sun, sheltered location. The bulbs should be planted about 10-15 cm deep with the tip sticking out of the soil, with the planting distance varying depending on the variety.
When is the right time to plant?
The planting time for gladiolus falls in autumn only in areas where no severe frosts are expected. In cooler areas, it is better not to plant gladioli until May or June. Gladiolus shoots are very sensitive to frost, so please pay attention to the climatic conditions in your region.
Which location do gladioli prefer?
Gladiolus are sun worshipers and need a full sun spot in the flower bed. You should also make sure that the location is protected from the wind so that the upright growing flower stalks are not ruffled or bent by the wind.
Which substrate is suitable?
Gladiolus prefer well-drained to medium-heavy soil that is enriched with many nutrients. If necessary, you can loosen up heavy garden soil with a little sand. Also mix compost or manure into the topsoil before planting to cover the enormous nutrient requirements of the gladioli.
How are gladioli planted?
The gladiolus bulb is always placed in the ground with the thick side down. From here the roots develop, with which the gladiolus anchors itself in the ground and absorbs nutrients. Each bulb initially grows two or three leaves and then a flower shoot.
The gladiolus bulbs are relatively large. You should plant these about ten to fifteen centimeters deep for optimal plant growth. The tip of the bulb must always stick out of the ground so that the gladiolus grows quickly and vigorously.
Important: The planting distance
So that gladioli have enough space to grow and do not compete with each other for nutrients, you should plant the large varieties about thirty centimeters apart. Smaller gladioli, on the other hand, only need a distance of ten centimeters to thrive. In most cases, the optimal planting distance is noted on the packaging of the bulbs.
When do gladioli bloom?
The flowering period of the gladiolus falls in mid-summer and extends from July to October. In regions with a particularly mild climate, gladioli sometimes begin to bloom in May.
Is it possible to prefer gladioli?
If you would like the gladioli to bloom particularly early, you can plant them in flowerpots from March onwards. For this purpose, you can place two thirds of the flower bulbs in standard potting soil and leave them to grow in a warm place. The bulbs will also sprout readily if they are simply placed on the ground and watered regularly.
Can you transplant gladioli?
Since gladiolus bulbs would freeze in the cold season in our latitudes, the bulbs have to be dug up in the fall anyway and stored in a cool but frost-free room during the winter. Next spring you don't have to plant the bulbs where they were last year, but you can plant the gladiolus in a different spot every year. This is even advisable, as the highly depleting gladioli can leach the soil.
How can gladioli be propagated yourself?
Gladiolus can be propagated by seeds, separating runners and daughter bulbs. The easiest way is to carefully separate the small brood bulbs from the mother bulb in the fall after digging them up. However, only use the larger daughter bulbs for further cultivation as they are the strongest. This type of propagation also requires a little patience, as the bulbs only bloom after two to three years.
Which neighboring perennials go well with gladioli?
Gladiolus thrive particularly well in the vicinity of summer phlox and other perennials that bloom in midsummer. These impressive flowering plants take away some of the austerity of the gladiolus. Gladioli look great in front of a garden fence, to which you can tie the flower stalks directly if necessary.
Tip
You don't have to plant all the gladiolus bulbs at the same time, but you can plant them in the ground a few days apart. This extends the blooming period of the gladiolus, which only lasts about two weeks, and you can enjoy the magnificent flowers for longer.
