Gladiolus babies: what to do with them

Gladiolus

Many gardeners don't know how to grow gladioli from corms. Corms are the best planting material. Once you learn the flower growing techniques, you can create a stunning flowerbed in your own garden.

Every gardener has a preference for certain plants. Gladioli are a common sight in flower gardens, but few know how to grow them from corms. In most cases, the corms are simply discarded, unaware that they can be used for propagation later.

Description of the children

Baby bulbs are small tubers that can be seen at the base of a mature bulb. They can vary in size. Even if a bulb is small, it shouldn't be thrown away.

On average, cormels range in size from 4 to 7 mm. They have a dry, dense shell that acts as protection from adverse conditions.

Importantly, unlike bulbs, baby bulbs store well over the winter. This requires providing the appropriate conditions. If all steps are taken correctly, the germination rate of the tubers reaches 100%.

What are children for?

Many gardeners don't realize that gladioli bulbs can be propagated from cuttings. The bulbs quickly age and die. If new ones aren't grown, the variety will soon be lost.

Children perform 3 functions:

help preserve and update plant collections;
you can easily increase the number of flowers grown;
it will be possible to adapt some varieties for cultivation in a certain area;
Gladiolus bulbs will be healthy if they are obtained from babies.

What to do with the babies after digging, how to store them

Corms should be dug up in the fall. The exact time may vary by region. First, pay attention to the corm itself; it should be ripe. You can determine the harvesting time yourself. This is usually 30 days after the gladioli finish blooming.

All tubers must be separated from the bulbs, washed and dried.

Please note, It's advisable to sort the seedlings. This will allow you to obtain a variety of cultivars in the spring.

To preserve the babies during the winter, it is necessary to provide optimal conditions:

it is advisable to select a room equipped with ventilation;
The temperature should be between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius.

It's worth inspecting the babies several times a month. If any damaged specimens appear, they should be removed.

What to do with children in autumn

With the arrival of autumn, the pups should be dug up, sorted, dried, and stored. The scales do not need to be removed; they are removed immediately before planting in the spring.

What to do with children in the spring

With the arrival of spring, gardeners can begin preparing their bulbs for planting. This process requires careful attention; it deserves a serious approach. If all the steps are taken correctly, the gladioli will delight you with lush blooms.

Rules for propagating gladioli

Propagating gladioli using cuttings is becoming increasingly popular. This method is one of the most effective. It not only produces plants of unusual beauty but also preserves the variety. This will also help rejuvenate your flowerbed.

First, the buds need to be prepared. Then they should be planted in a soil mixture for germination. This will take no more than a week. Ensure the temperature remains at 25 degrees Celsius. Once the sprouts appear, the tubers should be transplanted into the ground.

Preparing babies for planting

Before sowing, the baby plants need to be prepared. First, remove their scales. This isn't easy, but it's a necessary procedure. To make the process easier, you can treat the baby plants with a solution of potassium permanganate.

ImportantIf you don't remove the scales, the seeds may not germinate.

You should also check the seedlings for germination by placing them in a glass of water. Any seedlings that rise to the top are considered unsuitable for planting.

If you need many pupae for planting, the cleaning process will be quite labor-intensive. Therefore, germination is necessary.

To do this, you can use one of the following methods:

Germination in bags

The babies need to be washed, dried, and placed in bags. Be sure to poke a few holes to allow air to pass through.

As soon as the first sprouts appear, ensure good lighting and ventilation. Avoid placing the seedlings in direct sunlight, as this will cause the buds to rot. It's best to provide supplemental lighting with a lamp.

Germination in cool conditions

Many gardeners are interested in what to do with gladiolus cuttings in this case. Refrigeration is an option. Under these conditions, the cuttings will germinate evenly and the root system will be stronger.

Work should begin a month before planting. Don't forget that the corms require light. A lamp can be used for this.

The fastest way to prepare the buds for planting is to soak them. To do this, place them in a glass of warm water and let them swell. Leave them in this state for at least 24 hours. Then drain the water, arrange the buds in containers, and cover with a damp cloth. The first shoots will appear within a week.

Growing seedlings

Many gardeners grow gladioli from seedlings. This takes more time, but the results are stunning. To grow seedlings, follow these guidelines:

Plants need to be planted in separate containers, as seedlings do not tolerate transplantation well;
Cool conditions are required for growth. Temperatures should be maintained at up to 15 degrees Celsius.

After the seedlings have been planted, water the tray. When the first shoots appear, the seedlings need good light.

Seedlings can be planted in open ground in April

Planting gladioli in open ground

Gladiolus cuttings should only be planted in prepared soil. To do this, dig a trench no more than 9 cm deep. Water the soil and wait until the water is completely absorbed. After this, you can begin sowing. Place the cuttings in the soil and compact the soil lightly. The first shoots will appear within 20 days.

Caring for gladioli

Caring for flowers is not difficult, however, to get a beautiful flowerbed, you need to follow certain conditions.

Crops need to be protected. To do this, cover them with plastic film. This will not only protect the seedlings from adverse environmental conditions but also help ensure uniform germination. As soon as the first shoots appear, remove the cover.

Don't forget about watering. It should be timely and moderate. Loosening the soil and mulching are also necessary.

Fertilize the plants a month after germination. Subsequently, repeat the procedure every 10 days.

During the first year of growing, flowers may bolt. In this case, the flowering stems will need to be broken off. Failure to do so will result in limited flowering, and the plant will be unable to develop further.

Reviews

Tatyana, 35 years old:

"I always threw away gladiolus cuttings; I didn't even know what to do with them. A friend recommended using them to propagate flowers. Now I pay special attention to plant care, saving the cuttings for later planting.

My collection is enormous, boasting over 200 varieties of stunning gladioli. I can say for sure that caring for the flowers is easy. It's easy to propagate the variety you like best. My flowerbed is my pride and joy. I spend all my free time there."

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Elena, 42 years old:

"Most often, I separate the tubers, dry them, and put them in bags. This way, the tubers are stored all winter. When spring comes, I take the tubers out and plant them in containers with soil. This is how seedlings are produced.

With the arrival of warmer days, I plant the plants in the flowerbed. I can say that caring for the plants isn't as labor-intensive as it might seem at first glance. I even have rare and expensive varieties in my collection."

Gladioli are a favorite flower among many gardeners. They are used for individual plantings and in flower arrangements. Growing new varieties and rejuvenating a flowerbed is easy. Just learn how to propagate them, and your flowerbed will sparkle with vibrant colors.