From our perspective as gladiolus plants, our need for support stems from our very nature. We grow from a corm, a storage organ that fuels our rapid and tall growth. Our flower spikes, which we proudly send up to attract pollinators, are top-heavy, especially when our multiple florets open in succession. Our stems, while strong, are not woody. They are herbaceous and can be easily compromised by wind or heavy rain. Without intervention, the sheer weight of our own magnificent blooms can cause us to bend or break at the stem, which is not only painful but can cut off the vital flow of water and nutrients to our developing flowers.
The best time for you to provide support is early in our growth cycle. We prefer this intervention when we are young and manageable, not when we are already stressed and leaning. Please install the stake when our foliage has reached approximately one-third to one-half of its expected mature height. At this stage, our root system is still developing, and our stems are flexible. This early placement allows us to grow naturally around the support structure. Guiding our stem to the stake at this point feels like a helpful guidepost, not a restrictive cage. It prevents damage to our corm and delicate root system that can occur if a stake is forced into the ground too close to us later on.
We have preferences for how you support us, as different methods affect us differently. The single-stake method is most common. Please insert a sturdy bamboo, metal, or wooden stake into the soil about 3 to 5 inches away from our base to avoid injuring our corm. As we grow, use soft, flexible ties—like strips of cloth, velcro plant ties, or jute twine—to secure our stem to the stake. Tie the loop in a figure-eight pattern, with the stake in one loop and our stem in the other. This provides a cushion and prevents chafing or cutting into our tender tissue, which can invite disease. For groups of us planted together, a grow-through grid support or a horizontal grid of strings between stakes is immensely beneficial. This allows each of our stems to grow up through the supportive grid, which holds us collectively upright without needing individual ties, mimicking the supportive density of a natural grassland.
Staking is not a one-time event but an ongoing relationship. As we continue our growth spurt, we will need your help to add new ties further up our stem. Please check on us weekly, especially after strong winds or heavy downpours. Gently adjust the ties if they become too tight; remember, our stems thicken as we grow. This regular maintenance ensures the support adapts to our changing needs, allowing us to channel all our energy into producing a spectacular, upright display of flowers for you to enjoy, rather than wasting energy struggling to remain upright against the elements.
