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Gladioli corms
Plastic pots
Peat-free, multi-purpose compost
Drainage material, such as broken pots or poystyrene pieces
Plant labels
A little effort planting gladioli corms in spring can yield impressive results in summer. For maximum impact, plant in pots successionally over a few weeks, so you have a longer season of colour. Simply plunge each pot into your border when the flowers are at their most spectacular, and replace with a fresh pot when needed.
1
Add good drainage material to the base of the pots, such as polystyrene pieces, broken pots, or pebbles.
2
Fill the pots with multi-purpose compost and plant corms hairy side down, 15cm (6in) below the soil to prevent the stems from keeling over. Cover the corms with compost.
3
Label each pot, then water thoroughly and leave to drain. Place in a warm, bright spot, such as a window ledge or in the greenhouse.
4
In warm conditions, the corms will sprout within a few days. Keep the pots well watered. Gradually harden off the plants, then place them in a sunny outdoor location, once all risk of frost has passed.
trillium2cv 09/02/2012 at 20:42
I don't know who prepares these articles but if the corms are 6" deep in the picture then they are truly massive corms and the hand is several feet long. Also they are still promoting the false idea that adding coarse material at the bottom of a pot improves drainage, when in fact it impedes drainage. Have they never heard of a perched water table? The best explanation of this I have seen is in this article by Paul Cumbleton at RHS Wisley http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/pbs/2007-February/016272.html
Neil Millican 12/04/2012 at 10:04
I once grew mini gladiolus but haven't come across any more so have had to plant the normall ones only trouble is when they grow they flower and tend to flop over the bulbs are deep enough down please help
