Blooming gladioli: how to speed up the onset and increase the duration

Why gladioli shrink

Looking at the photo of beautiful and large gladioli, many are often upset when they get the completely opposite result at home (flowers are small and inconspicuous).

• Remember several reasons for such unwanted conversions:
• Some novice growers plant a skewer in the shade, which is strictly prohibited, since it is a light-loving plant.
• Violation of the rules of agricultural technology: non-compliance with the distance or planting depth, insufficient application of fertilizing, a small amount of land (when grown in flowerpots), oppression by other crops or lack of moisture.
• When using unsuitable planting material for planting. A good quality bulb should be large and nearly round. Flat old specimens need to be discarded and replaced with children.
• As a result of damage by various diseases and pests, plants and flowers can also become smaller and grow poorly.

How to care for blooming gladioli

Since the peduncles of gladioli are very large in relation to their corms, and the plant does not have a large root system, they must be provided with nutrition and moisture. Watering should be done at least once every two weeks; in dry weather, the plant needs to be watered every day.

In order for the skewers to flourish magnificently, the soil must be saturated with moisture for at least thirty-five centimeters. It is at this depth that the bulb and its root system are located. Simple superficial soil moisture is completely unsuitable for this plant. It can only lead to the development of weeds in the flower bed. To properly water, you need to pour at least one and a half buckets per square meter.

Note! Water must be poured into special grooves or aisles. Such indentations are best done in advance.

Moisture should not get on the stems and leaves of the skewer so that rot does not form.

In addition to watering, the skewers must be loosened, since during watering a crust forms around the plant, which does not allow air to pass to the roots. After the soil is loosened, the plant is slightly huddled so that new grooves for watering are formed. It is necessary to loosen the soil around gladioli even after heavy downpours have passed. To have less work in the garden, you need to mulch the root zone.

Mulch helps to retain moisture in the soil, and also relieves the grower of the work of loosening the soil. Also, thanks to this soil coverage, weeds will not grow on the flower bed. For mulch, you can take:

• humus,
• peat,
• compost,
• pine needles
• grass,
• straw.

Apply it as soon as the plant grows about ten centimeters.

Gladioli

Weeding the skewer is done three or four times during the entire season, since loosening and mulching are activities that are carried out in order to prevent weed growth. Weeds should be removed early in the growth stage to prevent them from drowning out the flowers.

The most important thing in the care of gladioli is feeding the plant. Skaters not only cannot independently extract water, it is also difficult for them to extract minerals that are necessary for nutrition.

But for these plants there are no simplified nutrition systems, so fertilizers must be applied strictly according to the stages of plant growth and development.

The first time you need to feed the flowers, as soon as they begin to develop. Due to this, the plant forms stems, leaves actively grow and develop, and the laying of peduncles begins.

It is especially important for the plant to get a large amount of nitrogen during this period. But don't go overboard with this fertilizer.

This can cause the plant to stop flowering.

When the plant grows up a little, during this period it will be necessary to apply fertilizers that contain phosphorus.The third feeding is done with the introduction of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, during the budding period.

Feeding gladioli

You need to know how to feed gladioli during flowering so that they bloom magnificently. If the flowers are grown specifically for making bouquets, then they are fed in six stages:

• the first top dressing is applied at the stage of formation of the first true leaves and consists of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers;
• as soon as three or four leaves grow, you need to apply nitrogen and potash fertilizers along with boric acid;
• at the six-leaf stage, you need to feed the plant with nitrogen and potash mineral fertilizers;
• fertilize the next time when the gladiolus releases a peduncle;
• when gladiolus fades, fertilizer is again introduced into the soil, consisting of phosphates and potassium;
• at the end, you need to water the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate.

They revitalize the plants with liquid fertilizers, since dry substances do not bring any effect.

How to change the color of gladiolus.

http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text / html; charset = UTF-8 ″> ader> Why did we change the color of gladioli

Why did they change the color of gladioli

Over the winter, gladioli have dried up and turned brown. Maybe dried up, maybe thrips. What measures to take to resuscitate them? Thanks. Can you send an answer to my email address?

Hello, today I bought gladioli tubers in a store at a sale. While they are still alive, slightly smaller. Will they be useful and how to keep them before disembarkation? Thanks.

How to plant gladioli bulbs? Do I need to soak-germinate? Late?

Hello! Can you please tell me what's wrong with the gladioli bulbs? Some have holes. Such to be thrown away?

What diseases affect the color of the plant

The reason for the change in the color of flowers can be various diseases that affect the garden culture.

Mosaic

A viral disease that damages the leaves and flowers of the plant. The symptom is the presence of spots and annular or angular stripes of green-yellow and gray color on the foliage, which later spread to the flowers. Mosaic has a detrimental effect on both the decorative qualities of the plant and its growth, the flowers change color, become smaller and form a small number of buds.

Control measures:

• removing and burning infected plants along with bulbs;
• destruction of aphids, thrips, which are carriers of the virus;
• creating favorable conditions for the growth of gladiolus;
• planting flowers in well-ventilated flower beds.

It is important to carry out preventive and protective treatments in a timely manner.

Cancer

A bacterial disease, which can be detected when digging plants, in the form of an outgrowth on a replacement corm, which has a large size and a bumpy surface. Sick gladioli need to be destroyed, since there is no way to fight cancer.

Scab

The disease is provoked by heavy damp soil with insufficient acidity, as well as a high level of groundwater. The appearance of scab is evidenced by red-brown spots on the root portion of the stem and corms, which subsequently grow and provoke rotting. Also, the foliage of the plant turns yellow and dries out from the tops. Affected plants should be dug up and destroyed. Experienced florists recommend processing for prevention and protection.

Botrythiasis

Cool, damp weather conditions favor the development of botrytosis. At this moment, wind and raindrops carry fungal spores from infected plants to healthy ones.

Symptoms:

• The presence of red spots on the foliage of blooming gladioli.
• The flowers become shapeless and droop.
• Loss of decorativeness, as stems and corms rot.
• The bottom of the bulbs is soft and breaks when dug up.

This disease cannot be cured. Affected plants must be destroyed, but it is possible to collect children from them, provided that they do not show signs of infection.

Advice! For prevention purposes, you need to spray the bushes and the soil around them 2 times a month, using Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.

Septoriasis

Acid flower disease is rampant in peaty, wetland areas characterized by heavy, moist soil with high acidity. Septoria can be identified by the characteristic watery, rounded spots on the leaves, which then spread to the stem.

If the bulbs are slightly damaged, remove the rot with a knife, and grease the cut points with brilliant green. If the outbreak is strong, the bulbs must be burned. For preventive purposes, it is required to treat the material with a complex seed dressing before planting on the garden for highly effective protection against rot.

Sclerotinosis

The causative agent is the Sclerotinia fungus, which lives in the ground and develops in favorable conditions for it: damp and acidic cover, rainy weather conditions. Yellowness on the leaves signals the disease, which later turns brown and dries up. Gladiolus leans over and falls. When the fungus enters the bulb, the culture dies.

The method of treatment against sclerotinia is to remove diseased bulbs. When cultivated for prophylactic purposes, gladioli require treatment using preparations containing copper.

Fusarium

The causative agent of Fusarium is a fungus that penetrates the bulb through the soil. The provoking factors are an excessive amount of fertilizing based on ammonia and nitrogen, as well as high temperature indicators and soil moisture levels.

The first symptoms can be seen on the bulbs. They are covered with watery spots that gradually increase in size and darken. In the future, the folds begin to wrinkle and become covered with white-pink mycelium of the fungus. The infected flower is characterized by a curving stem, drooping foliage and delayed bud formation.

Control measures:

• you can grow a crop on one bed for no more than 4 years;
• after flowering, mulch and drain the soil;
• feeding with substances containing nitrogen and ammonia in the composition should be carried out in small doses and if necessary;
• dry the bulbs before storing them.

Advice! Before planting the corms, treat with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Possible reasons why gladiolus changes color

Oddly enough it sounds, but the reasons for the change in the color of gladioli can be various diseases. This conclusion was made by scientists after research.

Fusarium

Fusarium is perhaps the most dangerous fungal disease of gladioli. It can be identified by the characteristic brown spots on the bulb. If such material is planted, then with a high probability it will not rise. Otherwise, the seedlings will bloom, after which they will dry out. Leaves on a diseased plant wither immediately. When an infected gladiolus bulb is placed in storage, the fungus will disperse the spores onto healthy seed.

Sclerotinosis

This disease is popularly called black rot. It spreads well in acidic and dense soil, especially in cold rainy weather. The first sign of defeat of gladiolus is brown foliage, after which the stem rots and falls off. On the affected plant, black areas are considered - agglomerations of fungi. The roots of the bulb change color to brown, after which they rot. Brown or dark brown spots are also noticeable on the planting material. There is no cure for this disease. Gradually, it is transferred to the formed daughter corms.

Botrythiasis

Florists call this disease gray rot. Damp and cold weather contributes to its spread. It was during this period that fungal spores are carried by wind and raindrops from affected gladioli to healthy ones.

Typical signs of the disease:

1. Reddish spots become visible on the leaves of flowering plants.
2. Flowers lose their decorative appearance, stems and corms begin to rot.
3. When digging up, the bottom of the bulb breaks or becomes soft.

Such planting material is subject to destruction. However, it is possible to collect healthy children from it without signs of illness.

Septoriasis

Septoria is very similar in appearance to other fungal diseases. The spread of the disease is determined by the characteristic spots on the leaves, then the stem is affected. Gladioli can no longer be cured. Affected bulbs must be destroyed.

Timely preventive measures are very effective in this case.

Bacterial scab

Pathogenic bacteria get on the bulbs of gladioli from the ground. The scab is characterized by erosion on the body of the planting material, but on the ground part of the flower, any changes are hardly noticeable. Near the soil itself, brown spots can be seen on the leaves, which, without preventive and protective treatments, grow and destroy the flower.

Root cancer is no less troublesome than fungi. Harmful bacteria invade the program of cells that are responsible for the formation of children. After digging up, you can easily see diseased bulbs with watery neoplasms. The disease cannot be treated, therefore it is necessary to carry out prevention on time, to get rid of nematodes.

Mosaic

Mosaic has become very popular only in recent years. Gardeners consider it a real misfortune. A characteristic sign of the disease is the alternation of light and dark spots on the leaves, which subsequently spread to the flowers. The disease negatively affects not only the decorative qualities of gladiolus, but also its growth. Flowers not only change color, but also become smaller, give fewer buds. At the same time, the bulb looks healthy outwardly. Timely preventive and protective treatments are required.

Do gladioli get pollinated?

It is believed that gladioli are not able to get dusty. Why? Because they are propagated by seeds only by breeders in order to obtain new varieties.

Different varieties

Pollination does not threaten gladioli in private gardens, but they are still recommended to be planted according to varieties, in groups. They do this in order not to confuse the bulbs during storage and dig them out separately. After all, only the best and healthiest planting material will subsequently be selected, the rest will go to waste. As a result of such actions, only a couple of the most hardy and strong varieties remain in the garden. As a rule, they have low decorative qualities. The owner, on the other hand, has the impression that the flowers have become dusty and all of the same color.

Growing nearby

When several varieties of gladioli are planted nearby, they must be cross-pollinated. But in order to observe the result obtained, you must first collect seeds from a flower, then grow corms from them, and only then they will delight the owner with a new unexpected riot of colors. This is a long and laborious process, which is why most gardeners propagate gladioli by separating the bulbous babies. With this method, no cross-pollination of flowers is scary, even if many varieties with different characteristics are grown nearby.





Gladioli are beautiful and majestic plants. Their color scheme is simply amazing. So that they please the eye of the owner for a long period of time and do not change the withered varietal characteristics, the plants must be properly looked after, prevented from diseases and pests, and made sure that the bulbs of cultivated varieties do not mix with each other during storage. Do not worry that your favorite flower will be pollinated from other gladioli if the gardener does not use the seed method of propagation and is not fond of selection.

Do gladioli get pollinated?

Do gladioli get pollinated?

If you do not cut the gladioli, but leave them in the flower bed, then as soon as the flower withers, you break it out to prevent the seeds from forming. Gladiolus has two methods of reproduction: seed, naturally, through seeds, and vegetative - through replacement bulbs and babies. The plant spends a lot of energy on budding, flowering and seed formation, and if you let it bloom to the end, that is, allow the seed method of reproduction, then it will not have enough strength for the vegetative method. And why especially try if it has already fulfilled its purpose (to leave offspring) with the help of seeds? In this case, there is often practically no good replacement bulb.

Seed propagation is usually used by breeders to create new varieties. This takes more than one year. We need flowers, and therefore the only suitable way for us is vegetative, since we need not only to get a beautiful flower from the plant, but also to help it grow a good replacement bulb.

It is often asked whether it is possible to grow different varieties of gladioli next to each other, does not cross-pollination occur at the same time?

Of course it does because insects carry pollen from one plant to another. Plants grown from seeds will give a wide spread and re-grading (wild selection). That is why we grow plants from bulbs, because they retain their varietal quality, and pollination of flowers cannot have any effect on them. Therefore, grow all varieties of gladioli together for health.

Next chapter

Whether or not gladioli are pollinated.

ader> Gladioli are pollinated or not

Are gladioli re-pollinated or not

I get gladioli in April, number 15 I live in Siberia. I clean them and soak them for 15 minutes in potassium permanganate (dark solution). Then I spread it in one layer in a container and put it somewhere on a cabinet in the kitchen. There they stand before landing. I plant on May 10-15 in the ground to a depth of 10-15 cm, depending on the size of the bulb. I water it. Gladioli grow strong. I feed it a couple of times over the summer. To prevent the flowers from becoming over-pollinated, when cutting, you need to wipe the knife after each flower.

To enjoy a flower, you need to know how to grow it. Before planting in the ground, gladioli must undergo stratification. To do this, in March, we clean the corms of scales and examine them. First of all, the bottom must be tight and clean. If there are traces of gray dry mold, then we wipe it with a swab dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The surface of the corm must also be clean.

If there are vitreous ulcers (bacteriosis - varnish scab), then we carefully cut them out with a sharp knife, and grease their place, like traces of mechanical damage, with brilliant green or a strong solution of potassium permanganate. You can rub them with a mixture of charcoal and sulfur

If there are many such ulcers, then discard such a corm. We spread the prepared gladioli upside down in low boxes and put them in a cool, semi-dark place. Then the corms will not dry out, and the sprout will be strong. A week before planting in the ground, we put the gladioli with the bottom down on wet sawdust so that the flower is planted in the ground with a powerful sprout and good roots. Gladioli can be planted without germination, but then they will bloom much later. From April 25 to May 10 (as soon as the soil thaws by 20 cm) we plant the germinated gladioli in the soil. The place for them should be sunny, and the soil should be well drained (without stagnant water). Gladioli can be planted in the same place only after 5-6 years. Their roots go down to 40 cm, so we dig the beds deeply, choosing the roots of the weeds. We make grooves 20 cm deep (shovel bayonet). Pour 2-3 shovels of humus or manure into them, sprinkle with wood ash (a handful) and superphosphate (like salt). We mix everything with the soil. If the soil is clay, then sprinkle the surface of the resulting mixture on 1 - 2 cm with sand.Swamp moss (sphagnum) can be placed under the corm. It retains moisture longer and kills disease-causing flora. We plant Gladiolus sprout up. Before planting, the corms are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate or garlic for 15 - 20 minutes. The planting depth depends on the size of the corm: the larger it is, the deeper we plant (up to 15 cm). If the soil is dry, then spill the grooves with water before planting. The distance between the corms and the grooves is 15-20 cm. At the beginning of each variety we put a stick with a number. In a notebook we write down the name of the variety and its number. We bury the groove and loosen the soil above it (to retain moisture). We water the growing gladioli only as a last resort, when the ground dries out deeper than 20 cm. We do not feed them, since they were provided with everything necessary during planting. However, it will not hurt if you spray them three times during the summer.

I moisten the bulbs in the root and spread them on sawdust or a small layer of earth, they begin to grow, make eyes, then drop them out into the street and that's it, nothing complicated!

Can gladioli be pollinated and change color

Quite often, gardeners are faced with the problem of changing the original color of the gladiolus - in the process of development, flowers grow in the wrong color or shade that was expected. As you know, the plant bulb is capable of retaining valuable varietal traits for 4–6 years. Further, she gradually begins to lose the individual characteristics of the variety, change the color of the flower to close to the "wild" varieties. Biologists were able to identify a number of main reasons for this phenomenon, in particular, bacterial and fungal diseases, improper care and storage of bulbs.

How are they pollinated

Quite often, inexperienced gardeners write off the "degeneration" of gladioli and the change in their bright color to cross-pollination. In fact, the plant cannot be pollinated, provided that bulbs or children were used in the process of planting. With the growing method of cultivating the culture, the children completely retain and repeat the main varietal characteristics of the mother material. In this case, the aging of the bulb is considered the main reason for the "degeneration" of the skewer and the loss of color.

For 4–6 years, one corm is capable of actively growing, producing buds, delighting with a rich and exuberant flowering. Further, it begins to age rapidly, which leads to a shrinking of flowers, a change in their color. If after the indicated time the bulb is not replaced with a young one, then the flowers on the gladiolus will be few, grow small, faded in color.

How and why to pollinate gladioli

By themselves, skewers in their natural environment are not able to pollinate, since their pollen matures a little later than the pistil opens. Pollination can occur by means of bees or gusts of winds, but in this case it is difficult to guess which of the flowers "got" under the crossing. That is why those gardeners who have decided to plant a crop with seeds need to learn how to pollinate the plant with their own hands.

This process consists of the following steps:

1. Anthers are separated from male blossoming flowers.
2. The cut pieces are lined on a sheet of clean paper and left to ripen.
3. When pollen begins to pour out of the dust particles (which indicates ripening), it is collected.
4. Anthers are separated from female flowers. The mother flowers are covered with a piece of breathable material, such as a piece of gauze, and the pistil is expected to unfold.
5. After opening the pistil with a brush, pollen obtained from the paternal forms is applied on its stigma, then the flower is again covered with gauze. The tissue is removed when the seed pods are formed in the plant.

After the procedure, a small tag is hung on the skewer, indicating information regarding the parental forms. Of course, the pollination process is quite complicated and may not be successful the first time.However, experts advise not to despair and periodically carry out the procedure until the desired result is obtained.

The seeds obtained from the seed pods are thin, small plates, no more than 0.2 cm long, which have an embryo in the center. Typically, one box contains 180 to 200 seeds. Store the material in a dry, ventilated, warm place. At too high or low temperatures, as well as high humidity, the seeds quickly lose their germination.

Diseases and pests

Fusarium

With this disease, the root system does not develop well, leaves do not grow. In the summer, the leaf plates remain green for a long time. Later, the whole plant turns yellow and is easily pulled out of the ground. On diseased bulbs, red-brown spots are clearly visible. Affected gladioli should be destroyed.

Excessive humidity or, conversely, severe drought contributes to the development of this disease. Do not get carried away with fertilizers - an excess of organic matter increases the risk of a disease. Also, the disease is spread by already infected bulbs.

It is difficult to cure diseased plants. For prevention purposes, it is worthwhile to soak the bulbs in a Fundazole solution (0.02%) before planting.

Thrips

These insects love to feed on gladioli juice. They usually settle in buds where it is difficult to spot them. After the color falls off, the thrips move to the bulbs, where they survive the winter safely.

In order to prevent these insects from settling in the bud, the plant is sprayed with Aktara or Aktellik during the growing season before flowering. Depending on the drug, the treatment is repeated at intervals of 10-14 days. Treat the plant 3-4 times during the season.

In order to protect the dug out bulbs in winter, they should be pickled: washed and immersed in a 3% solution of Karbofos or Fufanon for 7-12 minutes. Then rinse and dry again.

Experienced florists advise to put the planting bulbs in a bag, spray it with Dichlorvos and close it tightly. After half an hour, take them out of the bag and lay them out to dry in a warm room. After 2 weeks, sort the bulbs, separate the old ones from the bottom.

For greater safety, it is better to place the bulbs in an airtight container and place in a cool place. From time to time, take out the bulbs for airing.

Wireworm

Another pest is wireworm. The ubiquitous clicker beetle larva. She is able to stay in the ground for 4 years and eat almost any harvest.

A bulb tainted with wireworm will not flower. To protect the bulb from this and other pests, you need to add the "Protection" (1 tbsp. L.) To the hole.

In the next season, the mistakes of the previous one should be taken into account and then gladioli will delight with lush flowering.

Why do gladioli change color?

One of the simplest reasons for color change lies in the inexperience of the grower himself.

Often he plants different varieties of gladioli nearby, and in the fall, removing the bulbs, leaves them for storage in the same place.

Before leaving for wintering, the weakest bulbs are eliminated in order to plant the strongest ones later.

The same procedure takes place in the spring.

Thus, gradually the weakest varieties disappear altogether, leaving the chances of planting only for a strong, disease-resistant and cold-resistant variety. To avoid confusion, it is recommended to plant and store all varieties separately.

However, inattention is the simplest, but, unfortunately, not the only reason for the color change.

Color change in gladioli due to diseases and pests

According to scientists, gladiolus can change its color due to various diseases.

These unique flowers are of great interest to breeders, selection work has been carried out with them and it is for this reason that many varieties and hybrids have weak immunity and, accordingly, are susceptible to various diseases.

The most dangerous diseases of gladioli are:

• diseases caused by viruses;
• bacterial;
• fungal.

Infection occurs in different ways: through bulbs, through weeds.

Improper use of organic fertilizers, such as fresh manure, may also be to blame.

The source of viruses can be vegetables, and a viral infection is transmitted from one plant to another by insects or through tools, for example, when cutting flowers.

The fungal infection is spread by wind, rain, and watering.

In addition to diseases, there are other factors that can affect color change.

For example, an attack on a garden by various pests is:

• clicker beetle;
• wireworm;
• insect trip.

Pest control and treatment are possible, but all are costly and require a lot of time and effort.

Therefore, preference is given to prevention.

As practice shows, it is easier to prevent diseases than to fight them.

Prevention against diseases and pests makes it possible to avoid many problems and difficulties in plant breeding.

Now you see that there are a lot of reasons why gladiolus inflorescences change their color. But that's not all.

There is another reason that can contribute to the color change of gladiolus.

Features of the soil and aging of bulbs

Another problem is nothing more than banal aging of the bulbs.

It is advisable to renew the gladiolus corm every 3 -4 years. The brightest and most lush flowering is observed precisely in three-year-old corms.

When buying new bulbs, you should pay special attention to their appearance. You need to choose bulbs that have not yet bloomed

After all, it is they who are good at breeding and more durable.

Choose bulbs that have not yet bloomed. After all, it is they who are good at breeding and more durable.

The color of the scales covering the bulb should be:

Quality bulbs are not difficult to identify, they are shaped like a truffle candy.

In addition to the above, the change in the color of the inflorescence can be influenced by both the soil itself and the lack of nutrients in it.

Gladioli are suitable for chernozem, light loamy or sandy loam soils with weak or neutral acidity.

In this article, we examined the most common reasons why gladioli change color.

Based on the foregoing, it is possible to draw important conclusions and try to get rid of not only the problem of color change by these plants, but also to improve the quality of gladioli breeding in general.

In order to no longer face the problem sounded above, it is recommended to very carefully monitor the health of your plants, the conditions of their maintenance, and take preventive measures against pests.

Also, be careful when planting and storing them in order to avoid mixing varieties and subsequent confusion.

Follow simple rules and enjoy the bright inflorescences, which will be a wonderful decoration for your garden and will bring truly aesthetic pleasure to you, your family and friends.