Gladiolus

Gladiolus Care

Gladiolus

What is the plant

Gladiolus is a genus of perennial cormous flowering plants in the iris family. It is sometimes called the 'sword lily', but is usually called by its generic name. The genus occurs in Asia, Mediterranean Europe, South Africa, and tropical Africa.

The genus Gladiolus contains about 300 species. Gladiolus is a classic perennial known for its tall flower spikes and large, colorful blooms. A great cutting flower, gladioli look spectacular in summer bouquets. Commonly called “glads,” these lovely flowering plants are available in a multitude of colors and typically reach between 2 and 5 feet in height. Their blooms also range in size—from “miniature” flowers less than 3 inches in diameter, to “giant” flowers greater than 5 inches across. The taller varieties, which need to be staked, are often placed in the back of a garden to nicely complement shorter plants.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

min 13°C

Hardiness zone

min 7a

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
If you get less than 1 inch of rain a week, water your plants regularly throughout the summer. Otherwise, water them moderately when in growth to keep the soil moist.
Fertilizer
When planting, add compost or aged manure. After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied. Use low rates of a slow release fertilizer as higher rates may encourage root rots.
Sunlight
For the best flowers, plant glads in full sun.

Disease diagnosis

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Soil
Gladioli like well-drained soil that’s moderately fertile. They will not do well in heavy, soggy soil. Ready your garden by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to about 12 to 15 inches deep. After loosening the soil, mix in a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or aged manure. Put a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around your gladioli to keep your soil moist and help prevent weeds.
Temperature
Start planting gladiolus corms in the spring, once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 55°F (13°C). Most varieties are hardy in the areas with the lowest winter temperatures of −17.8°C (0°F).
Popularity
224 people already have this plant 43 people have added this plant to their wishlists