Crocosmia is a very beautiful and graceful plant native to South Africa, making it easy to grow, but it only blooms for one month. This plant is also known as Japanese gladiolus and belongs to the Iridaceae family.
Many gardeners and summer residents want to decorate their property with this beautiful plant, but even experienced gardeners sometimes don't know how to properly care for it. Therefore, this article covers the topic of crocosmia: planting and care in open ground, with photos to help you properly care for these wonderful bulbous flowers.
Growing Japanese gladiolus is almost the same as growing regular bulbous plants, but there are some special considerations that must be taken into account if you want your plant to thrive and be disease-free. Remember one very important rule: plant different varieties of crocosmia far apart to avoid pollination. This sensitive plant loves fertile soil, although it's not fussy. Since it's native to Africa, it requires a sunny, wind-free location.
It's planted from bulbs or bulblets, but you can also plant it from seeds, although you'll have to wait a few years for it to bloom. Before planting, it's best to soak the bulbs in a potassium permanganate solution to prevent them from getting sick or rotting. Plant them at a depth of up to 10 cm to prevent spring frosts from killing the crocosmia, and it's best to dig them up for the winter to ensure they don't freeze. Since Japanese gladiolus blooms in July, you can speed up its flowering by planting them in a greenhouse in February and then transplanting them to a flowerbed in the spring. If you're planting bulblets, bury them at a depth of about 1.5 cm to make them easier to germinate.
Crocosmia's primary care involves watering, but it doesn't like excessive moisture, so you'll need to remove standing water during rainy weather. Its heavy branches will need to be tied up, and spent blooms should be trimmed off to prevent the plant from wasting energy. Don't forget to fertilize it. To do this, dilute cow manure or bird droppings in water and water the bushes with this mixture. This should be done about three times a month. The tubers also need to be fertilized in the fall. A potassium solution is recommended, which strengthens the bulbs. If you leave them out over the winter, this fertilizer will help prevent them from freezing.
Japanese gladiolus propagates vegetatively, from bulbs, and by seed. To plant the plant from seeds, they are sown in February in a greenhouse and then planted in flower beds closer to summer. During their first year, they don't bloom, but rather develop their tubers, beginning to bloom no earlier than their third year. Of course, all gardeners want the plant to bloom faster, so vegetative propagation is best, as the bulblets grow faster and begin to bloom as early as the second year after planting.
Like all plants, crocosmias have pests, most often the mole cricket. This insect flies from bush to bush, so it can damage more than one plant. If you have one, buy a pest control product immediately and treat it. It feeds not on the stems and leaves, but on the bulb itself, causing the plant to rot, wilt, and the leaves to dry out. The most commonly used pest control products are "Grizzly" and "Medvetoks." However, there's another dangerous insect, thrips, which eat leaves and flowers. To kill them, you need to buy poison and spray it on the plant.
Crocosmia also pairs well with other perennial shrubs, as its many varieties offer vibrant colors and varying bloom times. It's often used in landscape design.
Another beautiful flower that should also be planted in your area is representative of the godetia.