PLANTING BULBS & GROWING

1. When should gladiolus bulbs be planted in India?
   • Plant the bulbs/corms before monsoons (june-july) in North India so that the relaity cooler weather helps better growth and prevent burning of leaves. Too hot weather causes the gladiolus leaf spikes and flower stalks to burn.
2. What is the correct depth for planting gladiolus bulbs?
   • Plant them 4″-6″ deep for stability and better grip in the soil. Tall stalks needs extra support.
3. How far should gladiolus bulbs be planted from each other?
   • Plant them 6″-9″ apart so that each plant gets ample space.
4. Can gladiolus grow in pots?
   • Yes! Gladiolus are great for growing in pots provided they are given ample water and support.
5. Do gladiolus need sun or shade?
   • They need full sun to bloom. They won’t grow in too much shade or indoors.
6. What kind of soil does gladiolus need to grow?
   • Like all flowers that grow from bulbs, glads also need well-draining soil to grow properly.
7. How long does gladiolus take to flower?
   • They take around 3 months, depending on the weather.
8. How much should gladiolus be watered?
   • Ample water, once a day, ideally in the morning.
9. Does gladiolus grow from seeds?
   • It is not a common practice or much fruitful. Plant bulbs instead!
10. How many flowers can one gladiolus bulb produce?
    • Each stalk can produce even 2-3 flower stalks if the bulbs are large & healthy. Smaller bulbs produce only 1 stalk in the first season.

GLADIOLUS Care TIPS

11. Why do gladiolus flowers not bloom?
    • Gladiolus does not bloom when the bulbs are too small or if they are not healthy enough. Squishy bulbs rot inside soil instead of blooming.
12. How to get bigger gladiolus flowers?
    • Bigger bulbs produce bigger flowers.
13. Does gladiolus need fertilizer while growing?
    • The health of the bulbs decided the quality of flowers but fertilise towards the end of season to produce healthy bulbs for next season.
14. Does gladiolus need support?
    • Yes. The tall gladiolus stalks need to be supported with cane sticks or these plant support sticks to prevent them from falling off.
15. How long do gladiolus flowers keep blooming?
    • They keep blooming for a atleast 2 weeks staying fresh on the plant.

GLADIOLUS Propagation

18. How does gladiolus multiply?
    • They multiply on their own as they grow. No special technique is needed.
19. When should I divide gladiolus bulbs?
    • After gladioulus has finished flowering, let the bulbs grow in soil undisturbed. Keep watering daily. Divide them at the start of next season and plant individually.
20. How many fresh bulbs does one gladiolus produce?
    • Each large healthy gladiolus bulb produces atleast 5-8 offsets that grow into mature bulbs later.

GLADIOLUS BULBS STORAGE IN WINTERS

22. Do I need to dig up gladiolus bulbs for winter?
    • No. Let them grow in soil and propagate by themselves.
23. Can gladiolus bulbs stay in the ground entire year?
    • Yes. Gladiolus bulbs can stay in well-draining soil and continue to multiply slowly.

COMMON GLADIOLUS Problems

26. Why do gladiolus leave turn yellow?
    • Inconsistent watering leads to yellowing of your gladiolus leaves.
27. Why are my gladiolus plants dying?
    • Do not plant in too much heat. Wait till monsonns are about to arrive and plant 3 weeks before.
28. How to prevent gladiolus bulb rot?
    • Always plant in well-draining soil and never let stadning water rot the bulbs.
29. Why are my gladiolus growing leaves but no flowers?
    • Size of the bulbs matters. Immature bulbs do not produce flowers.
30. Can gladiolus be grown indoors?
    • NO. They need sunlight to grow. You can place the blooming pots indoors near a window.

WHY ARE MY GLADIOLUS FLOWERS FALLING OVER?

• PLANTING AT INCORRECT DEPTH
  • Sow the bulbs atleast around 6″ deep for better hold in the soil as they grow. Bulbs that are exposed on the surface fall over as they grow.
• LACK OF SUPPORT
  • Use plant support sticks like THESE if you have planted bulbs too shallow. These also protect the growing flower stalks from instense winds that can topple over the stalks.
  • You can also use cane or wooden sticks along with PLANT CLIPS to support plants. Simple ZIP-TIES work well too.
  • Gladiolus planted in ground has a better grip. Do not use shallow pots to plant. Gladiolus roots needs ample space.
  • Plant them straight. Bulbs planyted at an angle sprout shoots at diagonal angles leading them to fall over.
    • TRY THESE SUPPORT STICKS FOR TALL PLANTS LIKE GLADIOLUS
• WEAK BULBS
  • Weak or unhealthy flower bulbs do not produce strong flower stalks. They will eventually fall over due to wind or lack of strength.

How to choose the right Gladiolus bulbs?

• They must be fleshy & big. The bigger the bulb, the healthier the plant.
• Press lightly with your fingertips. The bulb must not feel squishy or change shape. It should be firm.
• Look for bulbs that have sprouted slightly. The growth must be light green not brown.
• It should be clean & free of fungus.
• Very small bulbs are not likely to flower. Avoid them.

HOW TO PLANT Gladiolus flower Bulbs CORRECTLY?

• Like any other bulb, we need well-draining soil. Add some sand/compost/coco-peat if the soil is too hard or clayey.
• Standing water rots even the best quality bulbs hence drainage is very important. Also, the quality of flowers depends on the bulb itself not the soil. The bulb stores food for the plant.
• If you want the bulbs to grow and multiply then add some compost to soil for nutrition. Otherwise, Gladiolus is not fussy and grows well in normal soil.
• Before planting the bulbs, water the soil and see if it drains well. This means, the water must completely drench the soil and excess drains away within a minute or so. This soil is ideal.
• To plant the bulbs, dig enough to hide the bulb but keep the sprouted part a little visible.
• If there is no sprout, sow the bulb about 6″ deep. To make this easier, plant the bulbs in slightly wet soil not dry.
• Water it once again, thoroughly. I repeat, it must drain down quickly!
• Label it so that you don’t dig it accidentally. I use these disposable spoons and write with a waterproof marker. Don’t forget to mention the date.

Know more about planting depth for bulbs HERE.

Till then,

HAPPY GARDENING 🙂

HOW TO DIVIDE ROOT-BOUND SPIDER PLANT WITHOUT KILLING IT

1. Water the plant thoroughly, a few hours before you begin.
2. Always divide plants in shade.
3. Remove the entire plant from the pot by upturning it.
4. Loosen it gently.
5. Wash under water if it is too tightly packed.
6. Remove all soil under water.
7. Gently pull each section apart, starting from the sides.
8. Plant each divided part individually, in new pots with fresh soil & vermicompost.
9. Place in shade till they start growing.

HOW TO PROPAGATE SPIDER PLANT FROM CUTTINGS

1. Take a few cuttings along with the stems.
2. You will notice aerial roots or small projections along the stems.
3. These stems go into the soil to form proper roots. Bury horizontally but 2″ deep.
4. Keep some weight over the soil to prevent stems from being exposed.
5. Keep watering & wait.
6. When the pups begin to grow in size, the roots have formed.
7. Move wherever you want or let them grow. Soon these plants will be mature enough to form pups of their own!

HOW TO PLANT SPIDER PLANT PUPS (BABIES) TO GROW AS NEW PLANTS

1. Gently remove the small pups from the thin string like stem.
2. Notice they have aereal roots already growing.
3. You can plant the entire stem with multiple babies or plant them all individually.
4. Keep them watered and kept in shade till they start growing
5. Soon, they will be big enough and produce more pups on strings that fal all around the main plant. This is the actual beauty of spider-plant!

If you are like me, you probably run at the sight at all house insects, the most creepy being spiders. Yet, give me a spider plant and i will give it 5 start treatment i.e. a special pot inside the home, regular water & even a few selfies, if you may!  Spider plants fascinate me! Right from the way they grow to throwing out pups, how they can be easily propagated & of-course how they do well indoors.

HAPPY GARDENING 🙂

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They love growing in shaded areas, under low-light conditions, under trees or the shade of bigger plants. They are great as fillers or ground covers in landscaping.

FLOWERS THAT GROW IN SHADE

1. SALVIA
   • Grows from seeds
   • Lasts all year
2. CINERARIA
   • Grows from seeds
   • Suitable for colder weather
3. GERBERA
   • Buy or divide existing plant
   • Blooms all throught the season
4. GERANIUM
   • Grow from seeds or cuttings
   • Lasts throughout the year, thrives more in colder weather
5. DIANTHUS
   • Grow from seeds, cuttings can be propagated too
   • Lasts all year and flowers profusely
   • Grows in full sun too
6. BEGONIA
   • Grows from cuttings and seeds too
   • Behaves like a succulent
   • Flowers all year
7. IMPATIENS
   • Grows from seeds or cuttings
   • Flowers profusely in winters and sparingly in summers

GROWTH & CARE TIPS FOR FLOWERS GROWING IN SHADE

• Water sparingly, in the morning. Too much standing water can kill the plants.
• If growing in pots, check drainage first.
• Keep them clean to avoid insects and fungal diseases.
• Don’t over-fertilise.
• Keep them well-ventilated.
• Make sure the soil is sandy for better growth and more flowers.
• Deadhead regularly to promote blooming.

• VERBENA
• MARIGOLD
• CALENDULA
• GOMPHRENA
• BALSAM
• SUN FLOWER
• PORTULACA
• DIANTHUS
• STATICE
• PETUNIA
• VINCA

HOW TO GROW SELF-SEEDING FLOWERS?

• All of these flowers can be grown from seeds easily. Grow them in pots or ground.
• Keep deadheading during blooming season.
• At the end of the season, let a few flowers bloom and go to seed.
• Don’t collect the seeds, let them fall onto the ground.
• When it’s time to germinate, in the correct season, the seeds will come up on their own sprouting new seedlings.
• When the seedlings are 2″-3″ tall, transplant them into pots or whereever you want to grow them.

CARE TIPS FOR SELF-SEEDING FLOWERS

• Flower varieties that come up on their own are hardy seasonals
• They do not require a lot of extra care
• Water them regularly as they require ample water to bloom profusely
• Plant them in good soil at the beginning of the season
• Fertilse every 20 days during growing season
• Dead-head regularly to promote more flowers
• Keep the plants clean and well-ventilated
• These flower varieties thrive on full sun, provided regular watering
• They grow in big as well as small pots
• Plant 2-3 plants per big pot for a fuller look

They are permanent, low-maintenance, fll up quickly, survive the heat and need less water.

5 LOW MAINTENANCE PERMANENT PLANTS FOR YOUR SUMMER BALCONY GARDEN:

• SPIDER PLANT
• BROMELIAD
• SYNGONIUM
• JADE
• WANDERING JEW

HOW TO SELECT PLANTS FOR HANGING BASKETS?

• Plants with thin stems fall beautifully in hanging baskets
• Trailing plant varieties work well
• Plants with fibrous root system do well in baskets
• Plants that grow fast so that can fill up baskets quickly
• Plants with big leaves cover basket area fast

HOW TO MAINTAIN PLANTS IN HANGING BASKETS?

• Use rich soil with compost and cocopeat to retain moisture
• Line the baskets properly with coir liners, coconut husk, plastic or even fabric
• Mulch the baskets to preserve moisture
• Till the soil frequently to encourage growth
• Make sure there is not too much water drainage
• Replenish with fertuliser frequently

HOW TO MAKE FLOWER BULBS GROW & BLOOM IN WATER

WHICH FLOWER BULBS CAN BE GROWN IN WATER?

1. DAFFODIL
2. TULIPS
3. FREESIA
4. AMARYLLIS
5. TUBEROSE
6. GLADIOLUS
7. HYACINTH

CAN YOU MAKE GROW FLOWER BULBS INDOORS?

YES. Flower bulbs can bloom indoors as well. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Place flower bulbs in water near a window or a well-lit spot
• Change the watrer frequently (every 2-3 days)
• Show them outdoor light once a week
• Make sure the container is big enought to hold growing roots
• Don’t fertilise, the bulb has food stored in itself
• Have patience, it takes 60-90 days
• The flower size could be a bit smaller indoors

Do u plant flower bulbs in water or indoors too? Do comment & share your experience!

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FRAGRANT HYACINTHS ARE EASY TO PROPAGATE ONCE THEY FINISH FLOWERING. MOST OFTEN, THEY MULTIPLY WHILE THEY GROW AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS DIVIDE THE BULBS AND REPLANT OR STORE THEM. 

HOW TO PROPAGATE HYACINTH BULBS

METHOD 1 – DIVISION

• After Hyacinths have finished flowering, dig out the bulbs carefully while the foliage is still green. This is to ensure that we obtain bulb-lets before they die or rot off due to heat/moisture.
• Also, they cannot continue to grow in the same place in full sun once summers arrive.
• Some bigger healthier bulbs may have formed smaller child bulbs while others may have not. We will treat them differently accordingly.
• Wash off the soil and separate the clumps into smaller units.
• Pry open gently and do not pull hard. The roots will separate themselves.
• Now plant the main bulb (that was already multiplying) & the bulb-lets in well-draining soil. Ensure that the soil does not allow water to stand by adding sand.
• Also, mix in compost for healthier bulbs.

METHOD 2 – PROPAGATION BY CUTTING THE BULBS

• Now take the bulbs that were not multiplying & cut off their leaves.
• Remove the roots as well.
• The lower portion of the bulb is called the “Basal Plate“. This is where the roots grow from.
• Now, there are two ways to force multiplication.
• First is to cut off the basal plate using a knife and scoop out a bit of flesh.
• Second way is to simply make cuts in the basal plate vertically & horizontally. This is to kick start propagation.

STORING BULBS WHILE THEY PROPAGATE AND SPROUT NEW SMALL BULBS – MAKING BULBLETS

• Take a shallow container filled with moist coco-peat.
• Dust some fungicide (baking soda works well) on the cut portion of the bulbs.
• Place them upside down in the coco-peat.
• Place in a dark place.
• Spray occasionally to keep moist.
• You will notice small bulb-lets forming in a few weeks.
• Plant the bulb outside once this happens.
• Do ensure that bulbs are taken out of soil once their leaves die. They will not multiply after that but only rot.

HAPPY GARDENING 🙂

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