What happens if you don't dig gladioli up?

[alldigging]

What happens if you don't dig gladioli up?
Do they all just rot and die?

[Martin H]

They often survive, as long as they are deep enough to avoid frost. But I have found that they diminish year on year, so I dig them up. I did mine on Monday, pulled off the tops and the old corms, they are now in a paper bag in the shed.

[scarey55]

I never dig mine up. They are in a sort of raised bed against a stone wall and are fairly well sheltered. Having said that I think Martin is right, they do diminish over the years but mine are still going strong after about seven years.

[Lisasbolt]

I never knew you were meant to. I planted out 100 bulbs all around the borders of my garden, i did´t even get to see them one season as i disappeared to Spain and never came back. I just thought it would look beautiful but i guess most have died.

[Chris11]

Can confirm similar experiences to Martin and Scarey. Occasionally dug them up when they were near the surface, divided them and put them straight back in a little deeper. They did reduce over a number of years.

[Nicos]

Mine tend to rot- even in tubs.