Gladiolas are a delightful addition to the summer garden, but many gardeners wish that they could get their gladiolas to bloom even early so that they can enjoy their beauty for longer. Little do most people know that you can actually start gladiolas indoors in pots early, just like you may do with your vegetable plants.
Steps To Starting Gladiolas Early Indoors
You can start your gladiolas corms indoors about 4 weeks before your last frost date. Gladiolas can be started in either soil or water. Which method you use for starting your gladiolas early is up to you.
Starting Gladiolas Early In Water
Depending on how many gladiolas you have to start, choose either a shallow bowl or some other flat container that will hold a small amount of water and all of the gladiolas corms spread out.
Fill the container with water to the depth of 1/4 inch. The water should just be deep enough to cover the base of the gladiolas corms.
Place the gladiolas corms into the water, with the pointed end up and the scared side down.
Place the gladiolas corms and the container in bright, indirect light.
Starting Gladiolas Early In Soil
Gladiolas can also be started early in soil. Fill a container with 4-5 inches of potting soil. Press the gladiolas corm into the soil pointy side up so that only half of the corm is in the soil.
Water the soil and gladiolas corms so that the soil is damp, but not soaked. Keep the soil damp while the gladiolas are indoors.
Place the container of gladiolas corms in a location with bright, indirect light.
Planting Sprouted Gladiolas Corms Outside
After your last frost date, you can plant your sprouted gladiolas outside. Choose a location for the gladiolas that is well drained and has plenty of light.
If the sprouted leaves on the gladiolas are under 5 inches tall, bury the corm deep enough to also cover the sprouted leaf. Be careful not to break the sprout while you are covering it. If the sprout breaks, the gladiolas will not grow.
If the sprout on the gladiolas corm is longer than 5 inches, bury the gladiolas corm 5 inches deep and allow the rest if the gladiolas sprout to poke up above the ground.
Starting your gladiolas corms indoors a little early is a great way to get a jump start on the season. By starting gladiolas indoors, you can be enjoying lovely gladiolas flowers when your neighbors still only have leaves.
Printer Friendly Version
