How to Grow Gladiolus? A Complete Guide to Methods and Tips

To grow gladiolus, use well-drained sandy soil, and it is best to use unglazed clay pots or plastic pots. After planting, fertilize promptly, applying 3-4 times a month with decomposed liquid fertilizer. Later, attention needs to be paid to light, water, temperature and other issues.

1. Potting soil

To grow gladiolus, you should choose sandy soil with a deep soil layer, good drainage and no easy waterlogging.

For the flower pot, it is best to choose an unglazed clay pot or a plastic pot with holes in the bottom for ventilation; if possible, it is best to use a shallow pot for planting, with the pot height smaller than the diameter. Be sure not to casually buy just any pot, as that way you will not grow the flowers well.

2. Watering

Gladiolus seedlings should be watered once every 10 days to keep the potting soil moist, so as to prevent the leaf tips from turning yellow. After flowering, water should also be replenished promptly. In summer, when the weather is hot and water evaporates quickly, you can water once every 4 days; after flowering, proper water control can extend the flowering period.

When watering, the amount of water must be strictly controlled. Too much water or waterlogging can easily cause root rot, while lack of water can cause the flower stems to wilt, and improper watering will affect the appearance.

3. Fertilizing

Gladiolus is a flower that loves fertilizer, so after planting, fertilize promptly. Generally, apply decomposed liquid fertilizer 3-4 times a month, pay attention to the nitrogen content, and increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to increase the differentiation rate of flower buds.

After flowering, superphosphate can be chosen as a top dressing to promote vigorous growth of the corms.

In addition, for newly planted seedlings, pay attention to fertilizing three times: the first when 2 leaves have grown, the second when 4 leaves have grown, and the third after flowering. After the flowers fade, take out the bulbs promptly, dry them in the sun, and store them.

4. Temperature

Gladiolus generally blooms about three months after planting, but during growth it is greatly affected by temperature. During the growing period, the higher the temperature, the faster the growth, though of course it must be kept within a certain range. For example, at a temperature of 12°C, flowering takes 110-120 days; at 15°C, only 90-100 days are needed; at 20°C, 70-80 days are needed; and when the temperature is as high as 25°C, only 60-70 days are needed.

5. Light

Gladiolus likes sunlight, and with more than 14 hours of light per day, flower bud differentiation will be better. After flower bud differentiation, appropriately reducing the light duration can promote the growth of flower buds and advance flowering.