Am I Taking Good Care Of My Potted Gladiolus?

Did you planted gladiolus in a pot tall enough to support them?

Does your pot has good drainage?

Did you use well-draining loamy potting soil, rich in organic matter?

Did you positioned your gladiolus somewhere in full sun?

Did you provide them with good support?

Do you water your gladioluses once a week?

Have you been fertilizing your gladioluses?

Did you cut your gladioluses as soon as the lowest buds on the stalk started to show color?

Do you keep your flowers free of pests and diseases?

Gladiolus flowers planted in short, squat pots will grow, but without the support of long stakes, they can easily blow over. Glads grow to be very tall, some reach 3 to 4 feet in height, but the root systems are not very robust. Although the planting depth is only about 3 to 5 inches, you will need to drive deep plant stakes to help support the stalks.

Make sure your pot has good drainage. If the soil remains wet, the corms will rot. Make sure the pot has one large hole or several small holes so excess water can drain out. Some gardeners place 1 to 2 inches of gravel in the bottom of the container, covered with a layer of landscape fabric to prevent the soil from draining down and clogging the drainage holes.

Gladioluses like fast-draining soil so their roots don't sit in water, so be sure to choose high-quality, loamy potting soil. Also, if your potting soil doesn't include slow-release fertilizer, add this before you plant. Use organic, all-purpose fertilizer and mix it into the soil once it is in the pot.

Gladioluses are sun lovers. They prefer full, unobstructed sun for most of the day, but they will still grow provided they get at least six hours of sun in the middle of the day.

These tall, skinny flowers may flop over unless you stake them. Once the plant stalks are about 6 inches high, pack soil around their base to improve stability.

You should water your gladioluses just once a week but heavily. A single soaking once a week is much better than light waterings several times a week. After you can cut the flowers, continue to water the foliage and corms until the leaves begin to dry up and turn brown.

Potted gladioluses should be fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer when you plant, but not after that. No fertilizer is necessary if the potting soil you use has plant food already mixed in.

Gladiolas are ready to cut as soon as the lowest buds on the stalk start to show color. Cut the stems on an angled bias and quickly put the flowers in water. For long-lasting blooms, change the water in your vase daily. After cutting, the corms will replenish themselves if you allow the foliage to remain in place until it turns brown and dries up.

Good job! You are taking good care of your potted gladioluses.

Watch out for small insects like thrips or aphids, as they are the most common pests your gladioluses can encounter. Maintain good watering practice to prevent fungal diseases like root rot or stem rot.