gladioli

[milliebecks]

I planted a load of gladioli bulbs in the spring and they are now beginning to flower - looking great despite the weather. The question is, should I pick them in their first year or leave them (I wasn't planning on lifting the bulbs in the autumn) to allow the flowers to 'nourish' the bulbs? Seems a shame to leave them on the lottie with no one much to admire them when they could be in the house, but I'm patient enough to wait for a FANTASTIC show next year ....

[terrier]

I take of the flower stalks for the indoor flower display and leave most of the leaves to soak up the sun to strengthen the bulbs. I also lift the bulbe in the Autumn to clean off the bulblets otherwise you get hundreds of little bulbs producing leaves like grass. Cut off the stems and leave to dry naturely then replant next spring.

[milliebecks]

Thanks for the advice terrier.
Don't the 'little bulblets' grow into proper glads and produce more flowers then?

[terrier]

I've never tried. I suppose they could be grown over several years to build them up but it's much more convenient to buy ready made bulbs.

[greenlung]

No no no ! Don't buy them. (Cut the flowers, it's the leaves that give nourishment to the corms.) If you lift them before the worst frosts, you'll find dozens of small cormlets attached to the main bulb - you can replant these, along with the original, which will have swelled considerably and increase your stock by masses.

Then you too can gavant about like Morrissey with a big bunch of gladioli : )

[terrier]

No no no ! Don't buy them. (Cut the flowers, it's the leaves that give nourishment to the corms.) If you lift them before the worst frosts, you'll find dozens of small cormlets attached to the main bulb - you can replant these, along with the original, which will have swelled considerably and increase your stock by masses.

Then you too can gavant about like Morrissey with a big bunch of gladioli : )

When I've missed the cormlets and left them in the ground, the next year, they all grow leaf, but are never strong enough to flower. Do you get flowers from cormlets in the first year?

[Snadger]

I planted a load of gladioli bulbs in the spring and they are now beginning to flower - looking great despite the weather. The question is, should I pick them in their first year or leave them (I wasn't planning on lifting the bulbs in the autumn) to allow the flowers to 'nourish' the bulbs? Seems a shame to leave them on the lottie with no one much to admire them when they could be in the house, but I'm patient enough to wait for a FANTASTIC show next year ....

The cutting of the flower spike will help next years corm to develop as the flower is on this years corm and robs it of nutrients. Once the flower stem is cut the remaining leaves will nourish next years corm.
This years corm will wither and die and a new corm will form for next year with possibly a few bulbils around the edge which can be grown on for future years!

[greenlung]

When I've missed the cormlets and left them in the ground, the next year, they all grow leaf, but are never strong enough to flower. Do you get flowers from cormlets in the first year?

Hi - No, more like the second or third. I often transplant them and give 'em a good feed.