From my perspective as a gladiolus plant, my primary biological imperative is to reproduce and ensure the survival of my genetic line. I do this in two ways: by producing spectacular flowers to attract pollinators for seed creation, and by growing healthy corms (my underground storage organs) to survive the winter and sprout again next season. Flowering is an incredibly energy-intensive process. Once my blossoms begin to fade, a significant amount of my energy is diverted away from strengthening my corm and instead goes towards developing the seed pod at the top of my flower spike. If this seed pod is allowed to mature, it will consume resources that are far better spent on storing energy for next year's display.
When you, the gardener, practice deadheading, you are essentially intervening in my natural cycle to help me achieve my goal more efficiently. By carefully removing the spent flowers and, crucially, the developing seed pod, you are sending me a clear signal. You are telling me that the effort of producing seeds is no longer necessary. This allows me to immediately halt the production of hormones and nutrients directed toward seed development. I can then redirect that vast reservoir of energy—sugars, starches, and other compounds produced through photosynthesis—down into my corm. A larger, healthier corm means I will have more strength to produce even taller spikes and more magnificent flowers for you in the next growing season.
It is vital that you perform this task correctly to avoid causing me stress or damage. Please use sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors to make clean cuts. Do not simply pull or snap the flowers off, as this can tear my stem and create an entry point for disease. The correct procedure is to remove each individual wilted flower from my spike as it fades. Once all the flowers on the lower part of the spike have been spent and the very top buds have bloomed and wilted, you must then make the most important cut. Trace the flower stem down to a point where it meets a main stem or a set of healthy, sword-like leaves. Make your cut there, about half an inch above that junction. It is critical that you leave all my healthy, green foliage intact. My leaves are my solar panels; they are how I absorb sunlight and convert it into the energy I am now sending to my corm.
After you have deadheaded me, my physiological focus shifts entirely. With the seed-producing task eliminated, my leaves will work at peak efficiency. The nutrients they create will flow downward, causing my corm to swell and mature. Simultaneously, my original corm will often begin to produce new, smaller corms called cormels around its base, effectively creating clones of myself. This is how I multiply and ensure my presence in your garden for years to come. The energy you helped me save by deadheading will be the very foundation of my growth and beauty in the next season. You must continue to water me and allow my leaves to remain until they naturally yellow and die back in the fall, signaling that the energy transfer to the corm is complete.
