How to Care for Gladiola Bulbs

Wait until the final frost of the spring before planting gladiola bulbs. Choose a sunny growing location. Improve the soil composition with compost, if necessary, ensuring effective drainage. Add between 2 and 4 inches of compost over the soil's surface and work it in with a garden spade.

Plant large gladiola bulbs between 4 and 6 inches deep with 6 inches of spacing around each bulb. Plant small bulbs about 3 inches deep with the same spacing.

Protect the bulbs from weeds encroaching on the plants by removing weeds as they appear. Provide water throughout the growing season if the soil dries from lack of rain. Saturate the soil evenly once per week during dry conditions.

Remove the bulbs from the soil after the foliage dies back from the first frosts. Gently dig them up with a trowel and remove as much excess soil as possible. Cut off the foliage stems with the pruning shears and discard the foliage.

Spreading the bulbs in a single layer in a dry, warm environment cures them. Leave the bulbs in this location for about three weeks.

Check the bulbs after curing. Separate the newest growth appearing on the bulbs from the older portions of the bulbs by breaking them apart with your hands. Remove and discard any soft portions of the bulbs. Discard the oldest portions of the bulbs and place the newer bulb parts into the mesh bags.

Store the bulbs in a dark and dry location with temperatures between 35 and 40 F. By storing the bulbs at this temperature, thrips, a common insect that eats gladiola plants, will not live through the winter.