Gladiolas flowers can be a great addition to your summer garden with their stunning colors and will deck up your home with the best tropical appeal. Read on to know How to Grow Gladiolas Flower and get all the necessary information.

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Gladiolas Plant Information

The Gladiolas plant displays showy spikes of flowers in myriad shades of lavender, blue, burgundy, red, pink, orange, white, and multicolor varieties.

These are stemless plants with long sword-like grooved leaves. Flowers emerge from the leaves and are excellent for growing in vases and bouquets as cut flowers.

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How to Grow Gladiolas Flower?

Propagating Gladiolas Flower is quite a straightforward process using corms: 

  • Spring is the best time to plant Gladiolas corms in frost-free regions. Plant the corms two weeks after the last frost if you live in a cold climate.
  • Ensure that you get corms at least 1¼ inch in diameter or more for best blooms.
  • Plant the corms in a seed starting mix, 4-5 inches deep. Cover them with a growing medium properly.
  • While growing them in a garden, space them 7-8 inches apart.
  • Water well and ensure they get at least 3-4 hours of direct sunlight daily.
  • The corms will sprout in 15-20 days. The plant will develop and bloom in the next 90-100 days.

You can also grow the Gladiolas plant by sowing seeds. However, in that case, scatter the seeds at a depth of 1/2 inch in the seed starting mix. The only backdrop is that the plants take 3-4 years to bloom. 

Requirements to Grow Gladiolas Flower

Glads grow from bulbs sowed in spring to get a spectacular Summer garden. This perennial flower is easy to grow if you keep specific requirements in mind:

Location

Pick a location that gets at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. The more light, the better it will be for the growth of these plants. Remember, the blooms will only get that stunning vibrant color when the plant receives long sun exposure.

Soil

This summer perennial plant prefers light sandy to clay loamy soil. The ideal growing medium for growing gladiolas must be well-draining and rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic pH of 5.5-6.5. Combine an adequate amount of well rotten manure and sandy soil to get the perfect blend for your glads.

Water

For the best growth, make sure that the growing medium is slightly moist all the time. Never let the soil dry out completely. It is good to water the plant when the topsoil feels a bit dry to the touch. Also, avoid overwatering.

Temperature

The gladiolas need a minimum of 15°C or 60°F  and a maximum of 30°C or 86°F to thrive. Temperatures above or below the range will call for special care for the plant.

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Taking Care of Gladiolas Flower

Fertilizer

Feed the plant with a 10:20:10 blend, once in 3-4 weeks, during the growing period for best growth and flowers. Alternatively, you can also use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Do refer to the label for dosage and instructions.

Avoid feeding the plant in winters, as it will lead to lower blooms, slender spikes, and stunted growth.

Mulching

Pick all the weed around the plant and add a 2-4 inches layer of mulch using wood shavings or straw. This will keep the temperature and moisture in check, helping the plant produce the largest flowers.

Pests and Diseases

Spider mites, thrips, and aphids are common corm pests that can be removed by spraying neem oil or other insecticidal solution. Avoid overwatering the soil to keep most of the potential diseases at bay.

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Growing Gladiolas in Pots

Growing Gladiolas in pots is an easy affair. Make sure that you take a minimum of 8-12 inches pot with a drainage hole at the bottom.

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Harvesting Gladiolas Flowers

Gladiolas make for excellent cut flowers that look stunning in bouquets or vases.

  • Cut the flower stalk leaving 4-5 leaves from the bottom.
  • Put the stalks in a vase filled with clean water and keep it where it gets bright, indirect light.
  • Keep trimming an inch from the bottom every two days and replace the water once in 2-3 days.

Storing Corms

Once the flowering season is gone, you may dig the corms and store them to replant the following season. Alternatively, you may also leave the corms in the growing medium, and they will then germinate to produce Gladiolas flowers.

  • Snip away the dry and yellow parts of the stem and dig out the corms.
  • Let the corms dry in the sun for a couple of days
  • Brush off the soil from the corms. Store them in a dark, well-ventilated place.

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