Planting gladioli outdoors and taking care of them is a snap.
Since gladioli are bulbous plants, they need proper care. Therefore, planting and caring for gladioli in the open field requires a careful approach. The result is lush, vibrant flowers that will brighten up your property. Gladioli - preparing for planting in spring, read our article.
Planting gladioli
Bulb selection
Do you want to grow really gorgeous, healthy flowers? It is best to select varieties taking into account the climate in which you live and the characteristics of the soil. A large bulb is the best choice. Its acclimatization will definitely be easier.
If you like a young bulb, then you can purchase it for further planting. However, at the same time, she must have a high head and be outwardly healthy.
So how can you tell if a bulb is healthy and fit for planting:
- Visually, no ulcers, defects and painful lesions should be visible on the bulb.
- The bulb should have a clean bottom, and if the roots are already outlined, then they should be white.
- The scales on the surface should be reddish or shiny, but not gray.
- All the same scales should be easily removed, and where this is done, the bulb should be of the same color, without various pathogenic stripes and spots.
- Where the stem was cut, the stump should have the color of a scale. If it is blackened, then such an onion should be set aside.
Remember that a baby that was purchased once will need to be planted every year. Only in this case you will always have new babies at hand with which you can replace the old bulbs.
Optimal place to grow
When planting and caring for gladioli outdoors, remember that these are heat-loving plants that need sunlight. Therefore, it will be preferable to plant them where the sun is a frequent visitor. Of course, it will be possible to plant flowers in partial shade, but in this case, you should not expect too early flowering.
The ideal place to stick the bulbs in is a small elevation. This is where the bulbs will feel comfortable and will not die from excess moisture.
Soil selection
Ideal for gladioli is a slightly acidic or neutral environment. The composition of such soil must necessarily include black soil, as well as a very small amount of sand or clay.
If desired, compost can be added for additional rich growth, but it must be rotted.
How it's done?
Before planting the bulbs in the ground, you need to peel them of the scales, and then visually inspect each. Even if the bulb is completely healthy, it is advisable to pre-soak it in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
It is advisable that the plant be planted in a slightly warmed earth. So, the optimal soil temperature will be 8 degrees and above.
Before planting the onion, you need to make shallow holes. Depending on the size of the child, the distance should be from 10 to 15 cm. If you want the plant to appear as quickly as possible, you need to cover the soil with a film.
During planting, you need to observe the minimum distance, which should be 15 cm. As for the maximum distance, it is not limited - everything will depend on how you want to arrange your flower bed.
How to care for flowers
This is not to say that it is so difficult to breed gladioli. But some rules still have to be followed. So, after planting, it is advisable to mulch with compost, humus and sawdust.
Flowers love water, so it is advisable to water them at least 4 times a week. And in order to prevent the plants from suffering from fungus, it is advisable to make grooves between them, into which water will be poured in the future. In this case, watering should be carried out in such a way that the water does not wet the leaves of the flower.
Do not forget about weeds, which can also damage the normal flowering of gladioli. So, slugs can grow on weeds, taking away all the nutrients from the flowers. Therefore, do not forget about timely weeding.
With the appearance of the second leaf on the stem and until the end of flowering, due attention should be paid to feeding the plants. So, the best option would be mineral preparations, which are introduced in small doses during watering.
Timely feeding will not only give you beautiful and bright inflorescences, but also protect plants from diseases.
Cutting off faded gladioli
In order to cut off a faded plant, it is enough to acquire a sharp knife or pruner. In this case, in no case should you cut the flower "at the root" - you should leave the stem with at least four leaves. As for the cut, it must be made at a 45 degree angle.
Storage preparation
After the bulbs are freed from the trunks, they must be left in the ground for a period from a month to 50 days, but no more, otherwise the ground will freeze and harm large bulbs and children. You need to dig out the bulb with the children very carefully, inserting a shovel to a depth of 30 cm and pulling the plant out by the leaves. In this case, the stem is cut off, leaving 2 cm on a small stump.
The finished material must be washed under warm water and dried at room temperature for a week, and then for a month at 18 ° C. In the future, the bulb is stored throughout the winter at a temperature that does not fall below 6 °.
If you follow all of the above rules for planting and caring for gladioli in the open field, you can get not only beautiful, lush inflorescences, but also healthy "offspring".