Hello, gardener. I am a gladiolus corm—though you often call me a "bulb." I am a swollen, underground stem packed with the energy and genetic blueprint needed to produce this season's magnificent flower spike. Before you plant me, inspect my papery tunic. I should be firm and healthy, not soft or mushy. Soaking me in lukewarm water for a few hours before planting can help rehydrate my tissues and encourage my roots to awaken more eagerly from my basal plate.
To thrive, my roots require well-drained soil. Soggy, waterlogged conditions will cause me to rot, and my potential will be lost. Please plant me in a location that receives full, direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours a day. This solar energy is non-negotiable; it is the fuel that powers my photosynthesis, allowing my leaves to manufacture the sugars that will feed my spectacular bloom and even create a new, replacement corm for next year. Work some compost or well-rotted manure into the soil to provide me with nutrients and improve drainage.
The depth and spacing of my planting are critical for my structural stability and health. As a general rule, please plant me at a depth four times my height. For most of us, this means about 4 to 6 inches deep. Planting me this deeply protects me from temperature fluctuations and provides strong anchorage for my tall flower spike, preventing me from toppling over in a summer storm. Space other corms and me about 6 to 8 inches apart. This gives each of us enough room to access soil nutrients and moisture without intense competition, and it allows for good air circulation around our foliage to discourage fungal diseases.
Once planted in the warm spring soil, my growth cycle begins. My roots will push downward and outward to establish a strong foundation. Then, my shoot will spear upwards, breaking through the soil to unfurl my sword-shaped leaves (gladiolus means "little sword" in Latin). As I grow, I will appreciate consistent moisture, about 1 inch of water per week, especially once my flower spike begins to emerge. If your region experiences strong winds, staking me early will provide crucial support. My flower spike will develop from the center of my foliage, producing multiple buds that will open sequentially from the bottom up.
After my blossoms have faded, the most important work begins for next year. Do not remove my foliage! My leaves are still hard at work, capturing sunlight to photosynthesize and send energy back down to my corm. This process is how I recharge and form a new, larger corm for the next growing season. Allow my leaves to remain until they have turned yellow and died back naturally. In most American gardens, you will need to dig up my new corm in the fall after the first frost, dry me, and store me in a cool, dark place over winter to replant next spring.
