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Gladioli babies?

katrinkempkatrinkemp Posts: 81
in Plants
I lifted my gladioli to plant them somewhere else next year? Are this tiny white bulbs babies?
What am I going to do with them? 
Also i want to leave one pot with gladioli in for next year - shout I feed them now and wait for the leaves to die back? Or no feed needed - just store in the garage and cut back in spring?
tia

Posts

  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Sorry for hijacking the thread but I've got a few similar questions on gladioli. Reckon I might as well post here in the same thread rather than starting a new one....

    I just bought a pack of discounted gladioli bulbs, and most of them seem to be germinating already. Do I plant them in a pot now and store at some sheltered location throughout winter, or do I try to store them as they are until spring please?

    And I also have some gladioli in the ground (southwest facing, slightly sloped, improved clay soil), not sure if I have to lift them to overwinter please? 

    Regarding the little corms I read here (https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-overwinter-gladiolus-bulbs): "Remove the tiny corms (cormels) found around the base of the new corms.  Save the small corms for propagation purposes or discard them."
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    I've never found it necessary to lift Gladioli - other than to plant them in another area.  They pop up and flower every year ( SW UK ) with little assistance from me.
    Yes, the tiny offsets can be removed and potted up to eventually form flowering size plants.  Take a while tho so depends on your timescale and space.....  and your patience too of course  ;)
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Gladioli bulblets:  You can propagate from them, but it takes time and space, and is for the keen plants-people rather than just the flower-growers.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    For Kent on clay, I would lift for the winter.

    For North London on improved clay, I would say: risk it.  

    Gladioli are not sold for autumn planting.  if by " germinating" you mean rooting/sprouting, then they have probably been in the pack all summer.  Hence discounted.  You gets what you pays for.  Caveat emptor.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Why the constant need to belittle others, @bede
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    bédé said:
    For Kent on clay, I would lift for the winter.

    For North London on improved clay, I would say: risk it.  

    Gladioli are not sold for autumn planting.  if by " germinating" you mean rooting/sprouting, then they have probably been in the pack all summer.  Hence discounted.  You gets what you pays for.  Caveat emptor.
    Thanks for your advice :)

    Yes I just took a chance on the discounted bulbs (£2 for 15!), as I actually had pretty good outcome from discounted dahlia bulbs in the past. But not sure which way may have better luck, planting them or storing them. I may do half half if no conclusion  :D
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    As they've probably been sitting in the pack all summer and are trying to shoot (so expending some of the stored energy) I would plant now but I think I'd put them in big pots and stand them somewhere sheltered, out of the worst of whatever rain and frost you might get.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    JennyJ said:
    As they've probably been sitting in the pack all summer and are trying to shoot (so expending some of the stored energy) I would plant now but I think I'd put them in big pots and stand them somewhere sheltered, out of the worst of whatever rain and frost you might get.
    Thanks! Will do that :)
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    msqingxiao said:
    JennyJ said:
    As they've probably been sitting in the pack all summer and are trying to shoot (so expending some of the stored energy) I would plant now but I think I'd put them in big pots and stand them somewhere sheltered, out of the worst of whatever rain and frost you might get.
    Thanks! Will do that :)
    The bulbils will take several years to reach flowering size. Squeeze the corms gently, if they are firm put them in a pot and overwinter in a sheltered corner. If they are squishy or very shrivelled and dry throw them away. It will depend on the variety whether they survive outside, some are very picky so it will be trial and error. It is not good that they are shooting at this time of year.
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