Learn how to care for gladiolas in your yard by following these simple tips. Gladiolas require very little maintenance once they are planted, but you must protect them from a number of pests to keep them healthy and happy. Learn how to protect gladiolas from common pests and harvest the flowers to enjoy their fragrance and beauty for many years. Also, read on for more information on how to care for gladiolas in your garden.
Planting gladiolus
To plant gladiolas in your garden, remove all weeds and mulch the soil. Gladioli will grow best in groups of seven or more. In the summer, you can water gladioli moderately, keeping the soil moist and preventing weeds. Plant gladioli corms every 10 days during the spring and summer, or you can plant them in pots. Keep in mind that gladioli don’t like overly wet soil, and need one inch of water per week. In areas with extreme heat, increase watering frequency.
Gladioli do not require pruning, and their flowers grow along the main stem, making them perfect for cut arrangements. When cutting gladioli, you should cut the stems diagonally, leaving a few leaves on the plant to overwinter the corms. When watering gladioli, you can add a bit of cut flower food to the water before placing them back in the garden. After harvesting, water the plant thoroughly, and you can add additional food to the mix.
When planting gladiolus, make sure to plant them two to three inches deep and space them approximately eight to ten inches apart. Use peat moss and fertilizer to promote growth, and remember to water frequently. Gladiolus can be grown from seed, division, or cuttings. Make sure the seedlings receive adequate moisture, and apply mulch to the soil 2 inches deep. In addition, spray the plants with an organic insecticide to protect them from pests.
Protecting gladiolus from pests
Gladiolus thrips, the most common and destructive kind of pest found on gladiolus plants, can be easily identified by their tiny white bodies, which can eat up to 100 corms a day. They are most active in shady or humid conditions and attack gladiolus plants on cloudy days. To prevent this problem, apply a spray of neem oil to the plant leaves or stems. Neem oil can also be used as a repellent.
Another type of pests that attack gladiolus plants is the Cut Worm, which attacks newly planted gladiolus. The female moth lays ash-colored eggs on plant parts. The hatched larvae feed on the developing shoots, while the grown-up larvae kill plants at ground level. Thrips have long, streaky leaves and can stunt growth and cause funny-looking flowers. Luckily, you can treat your plants for thrips before winter sets in.
To prevent gladiolus from becoming infested with insects and diseases, make sure your plants are well-watered. Gladiolus respond well to organic matter, especially compost, which contains the perfect balance of nutrients and pH level. Organic mulch is another good way to add organic matter to your soil. You can also take the help of a soil tester to determine whether you need to add additional amendments for the following season.
Harvesting gladiolus flowers
If you grow gladiolas in your garden, you’ll have to make sure they are healthy to bloom. Typically, gladiolus need moist soil, and mulch around the plant is an excellent choice. Water the gladiolus corms regularly, especially in hot and dry climates. It’s best to water them once a week, and if you get less than an inch of rain per week, water them more often. After harvesting the flowers, cut the corms from the plant, and store them in a cool dark place. When the flower spikes start to grow, you can use stakes to support the plant’s stem.
Watering gladiolus isn’t difficult, and the corm contains everything needed to grow a three to four-foot flower spike. Once the flowers open, the stems will provide up to two weeks of colorful blooms. You may need to prop up leaning spikes with bamboo canes, or tie them together with twine. And remember to keep your garden well-watered, to prevent the gladiolus from drying out too quickly.
