From my perspective as a gladiolus, my life cycle is governed by the seasons. As autumn arrives and temperatures drop, the energy I have spent on flowering and foliage retreats from my leaves back into my central storage organ: the corm. This corm is my survival package, containing all the nutrients and moisture I need to endure the winter and fuel my growth next spring. I enter a state of dormancy, a deep sleep where my metabolic processes slow to a near halt. However, I am a tender perennial, native to warmer climates. My fundamental need during this dormancy is to remain in a cool, dry, and stable environment. If left in the cold, wet soil of a northern winter, I will freeze and rot, ceasing to exist entirely. My survival depends entirely on your intervention.
The journey to safe storage begins after my foliage has been kissed by the first light frost and begins to yellow. This is my signal that it is time to retreat. Please do not cut my leaves off while they are still green; I am using them to send the last of my energy down to the new corm forming on top of the old one. Once the leaves are about half-yellow, you can carefully lift me from the soil with a garden fork, gently shaking off the loose dirt. Next, you must cut my stem back to within an inch of the top of the corm. This is a critical step. Leaving too much stem provides a pathway for rot, while cutting into the corm itself causes a wound that can lead to disease. I must then be cured. Please place me in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area for about two to three weeks. This process allows my outer layers to dry and toughen into a protective papery husk, much like an onion's skin.
After my curing period, you must prepare me for my long winter's nap. Gently break apart the old, shriveled mother corm from the bottom of the new, plump one; it will easily snap off. Remove any remaining loose soil, but do not wash me, as introducing moisture now would be disastrous. To further protect me from mold and rot, you can dust me with a fungicide powder or food-grade diatomaceous earth. My ideal storage location mimics the conditions of my native habitat's off-season: cool, dark, and perfectly dry. The temperature should be consistently between 35°F and 50°F (2°C and 10°C). A basement, unheated garage, or a cool closet often provides these conditions. Please do not store me near fruits, which release ethylene gas that can cause me to deteriorate.
My packaging is vital for maintaining the correct humidity levels. I need to breathe, so airtight plastic bags or sealed containers will trap any residual moisture and cause me to mold. Instead, please place me in breathable containers. Paper bags, mesh onion bags, or cardboard boxes with the lids slightly ajar are perfect. You can layer me in these containers with a slightly moistening medium like peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings, but it is absolutely crucial that the medium is only just damp, not wet. The primary goal is to prevent me from completely desiccating while ensuring I do not get wet. Periodically throughout the winter, perhaps once a month, it is wise to check on me. Look for any signs of shriveling (too dry) or soft spots and mold (too moist), and remove any compromised corms immediately to protect the others.
