Perennial Gladiolus

Description

• Glads or sword lilies (gladiolus) are perennial bulbs that come in a wide array of colors including blue, pink, orange, red, white and also multi-colored hybrids. The trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in a row in an upward fashion along a green spike with leaves that look like sword blades.

Growth Requirements

• The gladiolus is native to the Mediterranean area and thrives best in that type of climate; however, some hybrids are able to grow in milder climates. Plant the corms, or bulb-like stems, of these perennials in full sun during the spring months when the soil begins to warm. Prepare the soil with compost; add mulch after you plant the corms. These perennial bulbs require full sun and watering each week unless your area receives more than 1 inch of rainfall per week. Once the flowers are spent, you need to remove them to prepare for new blooms. Spring-planted corms grow well in USDA hardiness zones three through eight; hardy bulbs thrive in zones nine through 11.

Propagation

• A gladiolus corm naturally reproduces, developing new corms on top of the planted corm. You can remove these new corms and plant in the next spring season. Corms should be stored in a cool, ventilated area. Soaking the corms for up to a day before planting produces the best results. Each new corm produces duplicate flowers to its mother corm.

Considerations

• Suitable gladiolus corms should be deep and thick to generate quality blooms. Insect problems generally come by the way of thrips, tiny winged insects. These bugs cause deformed flowers and white streaks on the leaves. Soaking the corms in hot water after you have dug them up at the end of the growing season helps control a thrip infestation. If your plant turns yellow or stops growing, destroy the plant and remove the corm.