Gladioli have always taken pride of place among other flowers in home gardens and summer cottages. Magnificent inflorescences, noble stem shape and variety of species are the main reasons for the popularity of these beautiful plants. Florists who are just starting to master the art of growing these garden “aristocrats” must definitely know not only how to properly care for them, but also how to store gladioli, or rather, their bulbs, in the winter, so that next year these flowers can again pleasing to the eye.
Preparing bulbs for wintering
First of all, you should learn that gladioli bulbs do not tolerate cold, so you can’t leave them in the ground for the winter - they die already at zero ground temperature. In autumn, corms and babies (tubers) of plants are dug out of the ground, but this can be done no earlier than one and a half months after cutting the flowers, because it is during this period that they form. Even if your gladioli are not going to bloom at the end of summer, do not be afraid to cut them so that it does not happen thatfrosts will come before the time comes to dig up the bulbs. After removing the tubers from the soil, they are first processed.
By the way, in the question of how to properly store gladioli, it is the preliminary preparation of corms that plays the main role. At the first stage, they are washed in order to prevent diseases. To do this, they fall into a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. The second stage includes their high-quality drying. And then the bulbs are sorted by size and variety, although some flower growers practice only the selection of adult tubers from children.
Where to store gladioli in winter?
To store gladiolus bulbs, you can use cardboard boxes with ventilation holes pre-drilled in them. In this case, it is recommended to wrap each copy in a newspaper. Future gladioli will also feel great in well-ventilated wooden boxes. Another great way to store gladiolus is vegetable nets, such as those that sell fruits and vegetables in supermarkets. As for the optimal temperature regime, it is 3-8 degrees, so a refrigerator, cellar or basement is suitable for wintering the bulbs. Periodically, it is necessary to revise the tubers, and if moisture appears on them, dry them. Plastic bags are categorically not suitable for storing bulbs, because polyethylene will not be able to provide air access, and future gladioli will simplyrot.
How to store gladiolus (bulbs) after the end of the dormant period
Approximately in the second half of January, corms end their dormant period. Their body wakes up and the germination process begins. In this regard, future gladioli will require changes in storage conditions. Having noticed the first signs of the awakening of the bulbs, they must be taken out of the refrigerator and “relocated” to a bright place where there will be no direct sunlight. All of the above recommendations on how to store gladioli also apply to tuber buds (children).
