Gladiolus are usually known as magnificent flowering perennials in beds and as grateful vase flowers. Gladioli can also be easily cultivated in pots and decorate barren balconies with their flower swords, which can be up to 1.50 meters long.
How to grow gladioli in a pot?
Gladiolus can be successfully grown in pots by planting the bulbs in special flowering soil from May onwards, choosing a sunny and wind-protected location, watering regularly, fertilizing weekly and cutting back the flower stalk after flowering.
The right location
The gladiolus is a sun worshiper and very warm-loving. A wind-protected and sunny balcony or a south-facing terrace is ideal for bringing the magnificent gladioli in the pot to bloom profusely.
Putting gladiolus bulbs in pots
The gladiolus bulbs are planted in planters that are not too small from May onwards. Gladioli prefer loose and very nutrient-rich soil. Special flowering plant soil (€11.00 on Amazon), which you can get in any well-stocked garden store, meets these requirements. Alternatively, you can use conventional balcony plant soil.
Insert the gladiolus bulbs as follows:
- Only use pots with a drain to avoid waterlogging.
- Cover the drain hole with a piece of pottery so that it is not blocked by substrate.
- Fill soil into the bucket and press it down lightly.
- Using a narrow planting shovel, dig a planting hole that is about twice as deep as the size of the bulb.
- Put the gladiolus bulb inside and cover with soil.
Watering and fertilizing the potted gladioli
Gladiolus need a lot of water because they evaporate a lot of moisture through the flowers and leaves on hot days. In summer temperatures it may be necessary to water several times a day. However, do not overwater the gladiolus, but only water when the soil surface feels dry. Immediately pour away excess water in the saucer so that the onions do not start to rot.
Fertilization is carried out weekly with a fertilizer for flowering plants. Use the product exactly according to the package instructions to ensure that the gladiolus is supplied with all the necessary nutrients.
After flowering
If you would like to enjoy the magnificent flowers next year, only the dead flower stalk should be cut back first. The leaves remain on the bulb until autumn so that it can continue to grow and store the nutrients and trace elements necessary for the next year. Before winter, the onions are taken out of the pot and stored indoors.
Tip
If you want the gladiolus bulbs to sprout very quickly, you can only put about a third of them in the ground. However, the onion will not grow in as firmly. Be sure to tie the tightly upright flowering branch to a bamboo stick or the balcony railing.
