Description and features of growing Japanese gladioli, planting and care

A gardener can decorate a garden with Japanese gladioli throughout the season. At first, the beauty of the area is given by the narrow sword-shaped leaves of the plant. Then, from June to September, spike-shaped inflorescences of various colors begin to bloom. Below is a description and characteristics of crocosmia, information about plant types, methods of reproduction, and cultivation features.

Description and characteristics

Japanese gladiolus has several names: crocosmia, montbretia, tritonia. The culture comes from South Africa. Belongs to the Iris family. The plant is tall. Peduncles reach a height of 1.5 meters. The leaves are narrow and sword-shaped. Their length is about 60 centimeters. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, consisting of star-funnel-shaped flowers. They have a variety of colors: scarlet, yellow, red, orange.

The buds bloom in early June. Flowering lasts until September. Japanese gladiolus reproduces by seeds and bulbs. Each of them is capable of growing 3 peduncles.

Crocosmia is used for landscaping and is used in cut form. A flower arrow can stand in water for 2 weeks without wilting. It can decorate any bouquet.

Additional Information. "Crocosmia" is translated from Latin as "the smell of saffron." The plant is so named for the aroma emanating from the dried flowers.

Plant species

Breeders have bred many types and varieties of Japanese gladiolus. They differ in the flowering period, the height of the bushes, and the color of the inflorescences.

Paniculata crocosmia

Japanese gladiolus bushes reach a height of 1.5 meters. At the top of the flower shoot, buds of bright orange color are formed. They begin to bloom in June.

Lucifer

The flower arrow of this hybrid reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Peduncles with scarlet or red paniculate inflorescences give the bush a unique look. Japanese gladiolus Lucifer is characterized by increased frost resistance.In regions with a temperate climate, bulbs do not need to be dug up in the fall.

Star of the East

Star of the East is one of the spectacular crocosmia varieties. Blooms late. The height of the bush is about 1 meter. The inflorescences consist of apricot-orange buds. Large flowers with a diameter of 10 centimeters are shaped like a star. The frost resistance of the Star of the East is low.

Norwich canary

Japanese gladiolus bushes of the Norwich Canary variety reach a height of 60 centimeters. Bright yellow flowers are formed on strong peduncles. The buds bloom gradually, starting from the bottom.

Emily Mackenzie

Montbrecia EmilyMcKenzie reaches a height of 60 centimeters. Spike-shaped inflorescences consist of brown-orange flowers. There is a bright orange spot at the base of the bud. The plant tolerates temperature fluctuations well. Blooms late.

Reproduction methods

A gardener can propagate Japanese gladiolus on a plot in 2 ways: seeds and bulbs. When breeding hybrids with the first option, parental traits may not be preserved.

Seeds

The procedure is carried out at the end of winter or early spring. The seeds are soaked for a day in warm water. Then they are sown in a container with low sides. The substrate selected is loose and breathable. You can prepare it yourself from peat, turf soil, humus, and river sand.

The box with the crops is covered with a transparent film and placed in a warm place. When the first shoots appear, the cover is removed. Care consists of timely watering and loosening the soil.

After a pair of true leaves appear, the plants dive. Small pots are used for transplanting. Grown bushes are planted in open ground, having previously been hardened off. In year planting flowering crocosmia will not come.

Bulbs

During the season, babies grow around the bulb.They can be separated and planted separately. Flowering will occur next year. If young bulbs are not periodically separated, the mother bush will become too thick and the inflorescences may become smaller.

The parent corm will continue to develop after the procedure. Children are planted first in pots or directly in open ground.

Features of cultivation

Crocosmia is planted with bulbs on the plot. Adults will bloom this year, young ones will release flowers only next season.

Selection and preparation of planting material

The bulbs must be dry, clean, without dents or damage. They are taken out of the basement a month before planting and the husks are removed. To disinfect, the bulbs are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate. The procedure is carried out 2 hours before planting in the ground.

Landing dates

Japanese gladiolus is planted on the site in the spring, at the end of April or in the first ten days of May. The soil should warm up to 6-10 °C.

Preparation and selection of a landing site

The territory for crocosmia is selected well lit by the sun. Otherwise, the flower arrow will grow thin and weak. Groundwater should be low. The substrate is selected that is fertile, air- and water-permeable. The site has been prepared since the fall. The soil is dug up and nutrients are added. For 1 square meter of area, use 2 buckets of humus mixed with 40 grams of superphosphate. In the spring, nitrogen can be added to the soil before planting.

Planting pattern and depth

Small bulbs are planted to a depth of 4-6 centimeters. For large planting material, holes are dug 8-15 centimeters deep. Planting is done as follows:

• dig grooves 15 centimeters deep;
• the bottom is filled with light fertile substrate;
• lay out the bulbs at a distance of 10-15 centimeters;
• watered;
• covered with substrate.

The interval between rows is 25-30 centimeters.

Features of flower care

In order for the bushes to bloom profusely and for a long time every year, you need to correctly carry out agrotechnical measures. Care consists of timely watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil. Flower shoots of tall crocosmia need to be tied up. This is done to prevent breakage of peduncles. The bulbs are dug up for the winter, as they can freeze in the harsh winter.

How to water a plant?

The land is irrigated as needed. The top layer of soil should have time to dry out. In waterlogged soil, pathogenic microorganisms can form that negatively affect the bulbs. If the soil is not irrigated on time, the flowers will begin to wither and fall prematurely. Use warm, settled water.

Fertilizer application

In order for Japanese gladiolus bushes to grow powerfully and to flower abundantly and long-lasting, the soil must be fertilized several times a season. In spring, complex minerals are added. Before flowering, potassium fertilizers are used. At the end of summer, you can add mullein.

Important! Fertilizer is applied to moist soil, otherwise the root system may be damaged by salts.

Loosening the soil

After each watering you need to loosen the soil. The procedure helps retain moisture. In addition, loosening prevents the formation of a crust on the soil surface. It prevents water and moisture from accessing the bulb. When loosening, weeds are also removed - possible carriers of diseases and pests.

Garter rules

Low-growing varieties do not need garter. It may only be required for crocosmia, in which the flower shoot reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Peduncles bend and break when grown in regions where there are strong gusts of wind.Therefore, in the summer they are tied to a support with ropes made of natural material.

Preparing for winter

In areas with harsh winters, the bulbs are dug up, otherwise they will freeze. The procedure is carried out no earlier than mid-autumn. Even after flowering, while in the ground, the bulbs grow. If they are dug up prematurely, they will not be able to gain the nutrients they need.

After Digging up Japanese gladiolus bulbs Dry thoroughly and place in a cool room. If the material is not dry enough, there is a possibility of the formation of putrefactive microorganisms. In the southern regions, crocosmia can overwinter in the ground. In late autumn, the above-ground dried part of the plant is removed. Then the soil is covered with sawdust and spruce branches.

Diseases and pests

In unfavorable conditions, crocosmia can be affected by diseases and pests.

1. Fusarium. Leaves affected by the disease begin to turn yellow and dry out. Peduncles weaken and become bent. The buds become deformed and their color changes.
2. Gray rot. Affected by bulb disease. A gray coating appears on them.
3. Herbaceousness. The leaf blades turn yellow and dry out. This is a viral infection for which there is no cure. Bushes are pulled out and destroyed, the ground is treated with chemicals.
4. Thrips. Insects suck cell sap from leaves, weakening the plants. Over time, the leaf plates dry out and the flowers become deformed.
5. Spider mite. Pests appear on Japanese gladiolus during periods of prolonged drought. Insects entangle the plant with cobwebs and suck out the juice.
6. Medvedka. Pests eat the bulbs. To destroy mole crickets, special traps are made.

Fungicides are used to prevent and treat Japanese gladiolus from diseases.Insects are eliminated by spraying with insecticides.

Note! Treatment with chemicals should not be carried out during the flowering period, otherwise beneficial insects that carry nectar may die.

Application in landscape design

Tall varieties of crocosmia are planted next to low ornamental shrubs. Low bushes are planted in a mixborder. Montbrecia goes well with ornamental grasses, daylilies, gaillardia, kniphofia, and bush chrysanthemums. Crocosmia will look spectacular against the background of conifers. Japanese gladiolus is able to highlight the beauty of other plants, and can also be a bright spot in the composition.

Harvesting and storing bulbs

Dig up planting material before the onset of frost. The longer the bulb lies in the ground, the more nutrients it will absorb. Cleaning is carried out in dry weather. The corms are dried thoroughly, otherwise they may rot in the winter. Store them in a dry, cool basement equipped with good ventilation. During the winter, the bulbs need to be inspected, discarding the rotten ones. One corm infected with pathogenic microorganisms can infect the entire planting material.

Where to buy Chinese gladioli bulbs?

Planting material is purchased at flower shops. In spring they produce a large assortment of flowers, including crocosmia bulbs. They must be healthy, without dents, stains, or other signs of disease. In addition, planting material is purchased via the Internet. Various websites offer to order Japanese gladiolus bulbs from them. Before making a purchase, you need to read reviews about sellers.