Be sure to find out when to get gladioli from the refrigerator for germination
Gladiolus is a favorite of many gardeners. With its bright, beautiful buds, it decorates the garden from mid-July to August. The size and number of flowers directly depends on the quality of preparation and germination of corms. Therefore, any grower should know when to get gladioli for germination from the refrigerator, how to germinate them correctly.
The determining condition for planting germinated bulbs is soil temperature. It should be 8-10 degrees. Such heating of the earth in different regions is achieved approximately in April-May. Therefore, it is necessary to start germinating gladioli in the spring when 15-20 days remain until the specified soil temperature is reached. Overwintered bulbs need just such a time to gain strength and give new shoots.
The germination time in young and adult onions can differ, due to the different speed of biochemical processes in them.
For this reason, children should be taken out of the refrigerator earlier, adult bulbs a little later.
Preparing gladioli after rest
- Thorough inspection. This stage includes the release of overwintered corms from dry husks. The procedure is necessary to reject sick, shrunken or softened heads. Dried scales can also interfere with the penetration of a young sprout.
- Not all sick gladioli should be thrown away immediately. If the lesions on the bulb are minor, you can remove them with a sharp object. The cut should be treated with an antiseptic brilliant green, iodine and sprinkled with crushed coal.
- Aging in solutions of antibacterial substances. The procedure is necessary for additional disinfection from pests, strengthening the root system, saturating the bulbs with moisture. The holding time is several hours. You should use substances such as potassium permanganate, boric acid, karbofos. Having worried in advance about how to prepare gladioli bulbs for planting in spring, you will certainly get larger and more abundant flowers.
Experts use this recipe. In a liter of warm water, a mixture of 0.3 g of vitriol, 0.2 g of boric acid and potassium permanganate, 0.1 g of cobalt nitrate should be diluted. Extract the bulbs in this solution for 10-12 hours. Soaking increases the size of the flowers, the number of buds reaches several dozen.
What is the time frame for germinating gladioli in spring
A germination container should be selected with low sides and a wide bottom. This could be a cardboard box or a plastic cup with holes. The corms are laid out exactly, in one layer, with their necks up. The container is placed in a warm place, without intense light and drafts.
When it is not possible to get gladioli from the refrigerator for germination, you can plant it directly into the soil, but you need to be prepared for the flowering period to shift, the size of the buds will be more modest.
Florists also use this method of preparing gladioli for planting in the spring, as wet germination. It is more troublesome, but very effective. Place the bulbs in a container with sawdust moistened with water, sprinkle with them. Place the container in a lighted warm place.Regularly moisten the sawdust. If the observed growth is too fast, reduce moisture and shade.
Not only whole bulbs with sprouts can be recommended for planting. Large gladioli can be cut into pieces, according to the number of buds. Sometimes growers deliberately stimulate the appearance of lateral buds. Tricks are used, such as laying the bulb while sprouting, bottom up or sideways. Sometimes, they are additionally treated with a tuberization stimulant.
Cut the bulbs a week before planting in the ground. Disinfect the cut points, sprinkle with crushed coal. Dry the parts, additionally treat them with fungicide before planting.
The timing of germination of gladioli in spring is one to two weeks.
Landing gladioli in the ground
Well sprouted can be considered a corm with a sprout of 6-8 cm, swollen root tubercles or roots.
Gladioli are planted in holes from light, loose soil. The distance between the bulbs is at least 15 cm. When planting, sand should be added, and after the seedlings appear, sprinkle the soil with humus. The depth should be approximately four times the diameter of the bulb.
Sprouted flowers planted in the ground can endure even short frosts without loss.
Cut bulbs start flowering later than usual.
Storage cleaning
At the end of the flowering period of gladioli, the tops should be dug up and removed. Peeled bulbs should be treated with fungicides, especially if the plants have suffered diseases. The choice of the drug depends on the pest that affected the gladioli. It could be Fundozol. Dry them thoroughly before storing. Storage is carried out in cool dry conditions. A refrigerator, basement are ideal for these purposes. In the refrigerator, the bulbs are stored in a bag with holes.
Be sure to sign the varieties or colors of gladioli. You can put inscriptions directly on the corms, or tie strings with inscriptions.
The dormant period in gladioli is about 6 months. During this period, gladioli should be regularly examined once every two weeks. Make a note of when to take gladioli out of the refrigerator for germination.
Useful tips for novice growers:
- Remember to remove wilted buds during flowering. This will extend the flowering period of the rest;
- Do not plant gladioli in one place for more than two years. This will save the plants from being damaged by the pest;
- It is not recommended to plant young onions (children) together with adults already in bloom. They can draw water and nutrients to themselves;
- Carefully consider the choice of gladioli variety. Currently, there are about two hundred varieties of this flower, differing in color and shape of flowers. From them you need to choose the one that suits your desire and region of residence.
Gladiolus is an easy-to-care flower. Take care of observing the rules for storing and preparing gladioli for planting, and the plant will certainly thank you with its beautiful flowering.
Hello! Please tell me, is it possible to use dried moss instead of sawdust for wet germination of gladiolus bulbs?
Better not, because the moss will retain moisture and there is a high risk that the bulbs will rot. I planted mine in a loose universal substrate for flowers from the store - everything has sprouted, already handsome men are asking for a flower bed, and getting out of such soil is also very easy.
Thank!