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Planting Gladiolus Bulbs in Pots: Complete Guide
If you love gladioli, consider growing some in containers! These tall flowers can actually be raised entirely indoors when planted in containers. Planting gladiolus bulbs in pots allows you to enjoy them any time of year you like!
What You’ll Need
First, you’ll need to pick out gladiolus bulbs, which are called corms. It’s easiest to grow smaller dwarf varieties in pots, but larger ones can be grown as well if you’re prepared to use a stake. If you already have corms from previous years, try using one or two of them.
You’ll also need a large, deep container with multiple drainage holes. Your container should be at least 12 inches deep. That depth isn’t just important for roots; it needs to be deep enough to potentially support a stake, too. If you want to grow multiple glads in the same pot, get one with a diameter of at least 12 inches as well.
Find a stake to help support your glad if you plan to plant large ones. You can use anything – a short curtain rod, a dowel, a decently sized stick – whatever will be able to support the glad’s final weight.
Lastly, pick your potting soil. Gladioli prefer potting soil that drains well and includes long-lasting fertilizer. As with all potted plants, never use garden soil. You can also gather small rocks or gravel to add to the bottom of your container for drainage.
Planting Gladiolus Bulbs in Pots
If you’ve chosen to do so, add rocks to the bottom of your pot to make sure the glad gets proper drainage. Even with drainage holes, gladioli can still end up waterlogged if the potting soil clogs them. Then add about 2-4 inches of potting soil to the bottom of your pot.
Place the corms with the roots facing downward. You don’t have to plant them all at once – if you’d like to stagger their bloom time, just plant one every week or two. If your glads came with instructions for planting depth and spacing, follow those, otherwise space them at least 4 inches apart if you’re planting multiple corms, and cover with 6 inches or more of potting soil.
Add a stake at this point if you’re growing a larger variety. It’s better to have one and not need it than wait until your glad is falling over and risk driving a stake into it.
Keep the pot in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun each day. Water the newly planted glads well.
Care for Gladiolus in Pots
The most important part of caring for gladiolus in containers is to water them well, especially if they’re indoors. Water them thoroughly once a week.
If you’re growing them in a pot outdoors, bring them inside if there’s a threat of frost soon after planting. This isn’t as big an issue once they’ve bloomed, but it’s very important to not let them freeze at any point before blooming.
You may want to fertilize your gladiolus partway through its growing period. Try a liquid fertilizer, and pour it so that it won’t directly land on any of the corms as it soaks into the soil.
Eventually your glad will flower. Once it’s done, you can cut the stalk off or leave it. Don’t cut any of the leaves, since they will create food for the next bloom period.
Dormancy Period
Continue watering your glads until the leaves turn yellow or brown on their own (usually around 8 weeks after they stop blooming). At this point, you can cut off the excess foliage and decide whether you want to leave them in their pots or dig them up.
To store them outside their pot, dig up the corms, cut the remaining dead leaves off, rub as much soil off as possible, then allow them to dry completely. Store them in open boxes or mesh bags in a cool, dry, and dark place, like a basement or root cellar, until next year.
If you want to leave them in their pot, simply place the whole container in a basement, root cellar, garage, or other area that stays cool and dark throughout the year. Take them out and resume watering when you want to enjoy another blooming season!
Enjoy Your Gladiolus
Planting gladiolus bulbs in pots can be a rewarding way to enjoy beautiful flowers year-round, especially if you have a short growing season or lack space in the garden! Let me know in the comments what varieties you end up trying.
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