From our perspective as gladiolus corms, the journey begins the moment we are placed into the warm, welcoming soil. Our initial focus is not on reaching the surface, but on establishing a strong foundation below it. Immediately after planting, we absorb moisture from the soil, which triggers the reactivation of our dormant growth points. We begin to send out contractile roots that anchor us firmly and absorb water and nutrients. Simultaneously, the shoot primordia at our crown start to swell and activate. This critical underground phase, where we build the necessary infrastructure to support the tall flower spike to come, typically takes between 2 to 4 weeks before you will see any green tips emerge from the soil.
Once our green spear breaks through the soil surface, our energy shifts dramatically to photosynthesis. This is where we, the plants, work tirelessly. Each leaf we unfurl captures sunlight, converting it into the energy required to fuel our entire system. This vegetative stage is not a race; it is a meticulous process of building strength. We must develop a specific number of leaves to adequately support the reproductive stage. Typically, we will produce 6 to 9 sword-like leaves. The duration of this growth phase is highly dependent on the energy provided by the sun and the nutrients available to us in the soil. Under ideal conditions of full sun and consistent moisture, this period of robust leaf production lasts approximately another 4 to 6 weeks.
When we have accumulated sufficient energy and developed a critical mass of leaves, a profound internal shift occurs. The growing point at our center ceases producing leaf primordia and begins to develop the flower spike, or inflorescence. This process happens internally before it becomes visible. You will first notice a central leaf beginning to thicken and flatten—this is the emerging flower spike. It then elongates rapidly, pushing its way up through the funnel of leaves. The individual florets that will make up the magnificent flower spike develop sequentially along the stem inside a protective sheath. This entire process, from the internal switch to a visible spike ready to open its first florets, usually takes an additional 2 to 3 weeks.
The moment of blooming is our ultimate goal, the purpose for which we have spent the entire season growing. As the flower spike fully emerges from the leaf fan, the protective sheath dries and splits open, revealing the tightly packed flower buds. The florets will then begin to open from the bottom of the spike towards the top, a strategy that extends our display for pollinators over many days. Depending on the variety and the weather, the entire spike can take several days to fully unfurl. From the perspective of the gardener, the total time from planting a corm to witnessing the first glorious bloom is, on average, 80 to 100 days. However, we must note that this timeline is influenced by factors beyond our control as plants: corm size, planting depth, soil temperature, sunlight availability, and overall cultivar genetics.
