Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Cultivation Problems => Topic started by: Anthony Darby on January 11, 2015, 07:49:58 PM

Title: Gladiolus sp. flowers aborting
Post by: Anthony Darby on January 11, 2015, 07:49:58 PM

Why do these buds form and then shrivel up? They are two gladioli, seed grown from separate sources, and have not flowered before. I grow them in gritty compost in full sun outside. December was wet, January quite dry, but they do get water.

Title: Re: Gladiolus sp. flowers aborting
Post by: fermi de Sousa on January 11, 2015, 11:52:30 PM

I would suspect thrip damage, Anthony,
cheers
fermi

Title: Re: Gladiolus sp. flowers aborting
Post by: Robert on January 12, 2015, 01:29:01 AM

Anthony,

I agree with Fermi, I would first suspect thrips. They are fairly easy to see when checking inside the unopened flower buds and other places they hide and feed on the plant. Especially check on the flowering stems.

Title: Re: Gladiolus sp. flowers aborting
Post by: Robert on January 12, 2015, 01:38:46 AM

Anthony,

I took another closer look at the leaves. If you do not find thrips, check for mites on the leaves. The plant would have to be under considerable stressed for mites to cause that sort of damage to the flowering stems - at least here in hot, dry interior California, but it does happen around here. Hopefully this information will be, at least, of some help.

Title: Re: Gladiolus sp. flowers aborting
Post by: Anthony Darby on January 12, 2015, 08:47:32 AM

Thanks. I'll check the plants.