In the world there are many plants that we can have in pots. Some we will have inside the house, others on the balconies, terraces, patios ... But all of them will need a series of care. Therefore, on this occasion, we want to focus on the potted gladioli, their care and everything you have to do to meet their needs and keep them healthy.
But, what are the care of potted gladioli? How do we carry them out? Here is a guide so you can use it to observe your plant and follow the needs it has.
Caring for potted gladioli
As you know, gladioli are flowers that can have multiple colors: orange, yellow, pink, white, mixed ... for that reason, for many it is something that has become present in their homes because of that color they give.
Now, when it comes to caring for potted gladioli, you have to take into account several aspects that we will discuss below.
When and how to plant gladioli in a pot
The first thing you should know, if you still don't have gladioli, is how to plant them, and above all, when.
These they should always be planted two weeks before spring, or even a little earlier if the climate where you live is rather warm. And it is that they will take about 60-90 days to grow and bloom, for the month of May, although some may do so in mid-summer or at the end. Therefore, if they are planted when the cold begins to diminish, much better because you will enjoy them for a longer time.
As for how to plant them, you have to choose a pot that is taller than it is wide. Keep in mind that gladiolus stalks are long, and need room for height (for example, some stalks could reach a meter and a half in height).
The problem is that, despite having long stems, the roots are not very deep nor do they hold the plant very well, which is why, sometimes, you may find that it expires and falls out of the pot. How to solve it? With rods to control that they remain upright.
You have to put a quality substrate. One of the best without a doubt is to use substrate with slow-release fertilizer, since this will be much easier for the plant to get ahead.
You have to plant the corms, that is, the seeds, between 7 and 13 cm deep. Always with the root down and the pointed part up. That part, if possible, do not cover it too much, in order to help the plant to be easier to get out.
Finally, you just have to put the pot in full sun and water little, as the soil dries.
Location
As you have seen, it is important that gladioli are in full sun because they need 12 hours of lighting to flourish and to be healthy. Being in a pot it is much easier to achieve this since you can move them based on the sunny situation you have in your house.
Temperature
Although it is always said that gladioli are plants that tolerate winter very well, the truth is that it is not entirely true. It only happens when you live in very hot areas, if there are strong frosts or cold, the plant will suffer.
So what temperature would the idea be? Then between 20 and 25 degrees would be perfect so they were okay. Of course, they tolerate lower temperatures at night, but not cold.
Substratum
Although we have talked to you about the substrate before, we want to reiterate. As we have told you, the best is a substrate with slow-release fertilizer. Gladioli have the advantage that they adapt to any type of soil, although the one that suits them best is a sandy one.
And yes, they do not like fresh manure at all, so avoid it as much as possible.
Fertilizer
As the compost you put it with the earth, in principle every time you transplant it, it would have it. However, it may be necessary to apply them during the flowering season.
For those cases, nothing better than those soluble in water. Yes, only when the plant is already at least 25 cm tall.
Irrigation
Within the potted gladioli, watering care is one of the main and most important there is. You have to know that it is a plant that likes water very much, but that does not mean that we can flood it.
Act quickly. water it abundantly every week in spring and summer (in this case depending on the heat it would be 2-3 times a week or more), and twice a month in winter.
It suffers a lot when it has a lack of water, to the point that if it happens during the flowering season you can run out of flowers.
Plagues and diseases
Unfortunately, of gladioli in pots, care for pests and diseases must be present even from the very moment that the plants. And before doing so, professionals recommend applying fungicide to the corms to avoid problems.
Later, when you have the plant already grown, the thrips, slugs, aphids, snails ... are some of the most common pests that you will have to take care of. These can be solved with nettle slurry or even Marseille soap (if you dilute it in water and spray the leaves with it, it works very well).
Now, in terms of diseases, two of the main ones are fusarium and gray rot. You will notice that something happens to it when you start to see that the plant dries up. If you notice it like this, you can prepare an infusion of horsetail and pour it on the ground to try to help it recover. It is also a good idea to remove the plant, remove all the soil and put it back in new (with drainage).
Multiplication
The multiplication of the gladioli is achieved by dividing the corms since, from the main one, new gladioli can come out.
To get it, what you have to do is wait for it to dry in order to dig up the corms. Once this is done, you will see that other little ones come out of the largest corm. You just have to carefully separate them and store them in trays or paper bags for spring planting.
As you can see, having potted gladioli with their perfect care is not difficult. Have you had any doubts? Ask us and we will try to help you.