| Hello, I'm really confused about how to care for my gladiolus DURING THE SUMMER. The different sites I have seen advise on cutting them for vases, and the bulbs come fall. However, I want to know if gladiolus bloom more than once in the season. Several of my gladiolus have bloomed, leaves fallen, and it looks like other large blooms are coming in from the same spots the others bloomed. When do I cut them after they bloom, how often do I cut them in the summer, how many blooms will come and where on the stalk do I cut it. I am not interested in cutting them for a vase, they are just for my garden. thank you, Kelly Salbato |
| Glads bloom only once a year and once the flowers are spent, some glads will produce seed pods where the flowers once were. That is probably what you are seeing; seed pods not additional flower buds. Since the flowers on the spike open from the bottom up, you can sometimes extend the season by snapping off the oldest flowers as they fade; this sometimes encourages the plant to grow the flowering spike a little taller and develop additional flowers as it elongates. Sometimes, not always. When the flowers have faded, cut the entire spike down to foliage level. Hope this clarifies things for you! |
