I have a lot of gladiolus that I've planted and they have come back this year with bunches of tiny plants around a few that are large enough to bloom. Is it too late or is it ok to dig them and plant them out separately so the small plants will have time to grow and get bigger for next year? The way they are I don't think they have enough room to grow very much bigger. Please give me your opinion. flowerlady These are some of the gladiolus ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden ) These are some of the gladiolus ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from flower1lady2000's Garden )
Glads are very proficient at multiplying, those little bulbs go everywhere. I have dug them up at different times during the season, planted them in pots and put them in among other plants so the bulbs can gather energy to grow and are hidden when the leaves begin fading at the end of their season. It will probably take 2-3 years for them to grow large enough to bloom. Also, when you find that you have more Glads than your garden can hold having them in pots means you can give them away easier
Thank you Toni, is it better to use small pots and single bulbs or large pots with several bulbs? flowerlady
For starters you can use large pots with several bulbs. Since it will be a couple of years before they are strong and large enough to bloom it won't hurt them. Plus a large pot filled with Glads is very pretty.
Oh, that is smart, Toni. Makes it easy to bring them in for the winter too, which we have to do here. (I don't grow them for that reason). I am having a "Duh?! why didn't I think of that?" moment.
I didn't think of it either daisybeans, I read it in a gardening magazine or book a couple of years ago. I now have several pots of Iris that I move around the yard during the year.
Some people have gladiolus bulbs that are extremely small in size. I dig these up. The people have me throw the bulblets away.
I would do it right after the bloom. The tiny ones might take a couple years to reach blooming size, but they will if given the chance.
