Gladioli are relatively easy to care for and are among the most magnificent flowering plants in perennial borders. When the flowering period is over and the gladioli have completely drawn in their leaves by autumn, many garden fans wonder what to do next with the bulbs. Are the gladioli hardy and can they remain in the bed or do the bulbs have to overwinter somewhere else?
Gladioli usually do not tolerate frost well
Gladioli are sun worshipers
The original home of the gladiolus is in Africa and the warm regions of the Mediterranean countries. The plant has adapted perfectly to the hot weather conditions prevailing there. Accordingly, the onions may only remain in the ground during the cold season in regions where there is guaranteed to be no risk of night frost.
Only a few species are hardy enough to survive a long, cold winter unscathed. These varieties can overwinter outside, well protected by a thick layer of leaves or twigs. If you are not sure whether the gladioli you are caring for are frost-resistant, you should definitely dig up the bulbs and store them indoors until next spring.
Gladioli overwinter
Be sure to dig up the bulbs before the first night frosts. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Cut back yellowed foliage about six inches.
- Carefully dig up the tubers.
- Separate the onions from the mother plant, you can use them for propagation.
- Remove soil from the tubers.
- Place the onions on newspaper and let them dry thoroughly so that they don't start to rot.
Store frost-free but not too warm
Once the onions have dried well, the loosely adhering soil is removed and the onions can move to their winter storage. The room must be frost-free. At the same time, a temperature of fifteen degrees should not be exceeded there, so that the gladioli do not sprout prematurely. Instead of spreading the onions out, you can layer them loosely in a small vegetable box or airy cardboard box.
tips
Add a mixture of sand and soil to the container to prevent the bulbs from drying out completely. As a result, the tubers sprout better in spring.