How to Store Gladiolus Bulbs
Gladioli flowers are an old-fashioned favorite among many gardeners. Not only do they add striking beauty to any sunny flower garden, they also keep well in cut floral arrangements. A gardener living in climates with freezing winter temperatures must dig up and store the gladiolus bulbs in the autumn after the first frost to ensure continued blooming in subsequent growing seasons. This process is well worth the effort, however, because the gladioli blooms will return bigger and better than ever each year. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Wait until the first autumn frost has occurred before removing gladioli bulbs from the ground. Dig the bulbs from the soil with the trowel.
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Use the pruning shears to cut the stalks from the bulbs just above the bulbs.
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Place the bulbs into the cardboard box so that they have ample room to dry. Store the box in a warm and dry location with adequate air circulation for 2-3 weeks to dry them.
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Remove the bulbs from the box after the drying period and place them into the mesh bags. Store the gladiolus bulbs in a well-ventilated location with temperatures between 45 and 55 degrees.
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Examine the bulbs in the spring and remove any shriveled portions of the bulbs prior to planting. Any bulb portions that are larger than ¼ inch in diameter should bloom the next growing season. Smaller bulb portions will grow larger for blooming in subsequent seasons.
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