Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: JPB on February 14, 2010, 03:10:07 PM

Title: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: JPB on February 14, 2010, 03:10:07 PM
How to store very small (1-2mm) first-year G. illyricus bulbs? They are going in summer-rest already... Dry or burried and do I have to water them occasionally?

Hans
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Lesley Cox on February 14, 2010, 09:00:22 PM
I would be inclined to leave them in their pot (Seed pot?) and keep them dry or almost so, but cool, not cooked. Perhaps a little water if the compost seems really arid for a long time.
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Sinchets on February 14, 2010, 09:53:33 PM
Dormant already? This native species isn't even in growth here yet.  :-\
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Ezeiza on February 14, 2010, 11:28:36 PM
That's right, Simon. It flowers in Spring and only in late spring goes dormant.

As for dormancy, better not to bake them at such a young age.
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: JPB on February 15, 2010, 03:02:27 PM
Yes indeed, very early!!! ??? But these are kept in my living room, so maybe they think it is summer already? Those in my greenhouse are still growing and I hope they will keep doing so the next months.

And thanks Lesley, I'll folow your guidelines.

Hans
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Ezeiza on February 15, 2010, 03:53:45 PM
Gladiolus illyricus is tender in the Netherlands?
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: J.B.Wyllie on February 15, 2010, 05:51:09 PM
I have mine in the garden and it survives OK.Oh you say what about this year? Well it was OK after 1996 and we had deeper frosts then. Over -20c.

Jean
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Ezeiza on February 15, 2010, 06:30:02 PM
That was my point. It does not seem to be a plant for a greenhouse, only a protected place to avoid the wind break the flower stems, perhaps.
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: JPB on February 15, 2010, 07:07:28 PM
My plants originate from the Cabo de Gata area in SE-Spain. So I try to accomodate their natural condidtions...
Funny to hear of their frost restistence. While their geographic distribution is truely Mediterranian, isn't it?

Jean, do you leave the dormant bulbs in your garden during summer or do you dig them up and store dry?
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: David Nicholson on February 15, 2010, 07:08:33 PM
It survives with me.
Title: Re: Storing Gladiolus illyricus?
Post by: Sinchets on February 15, 2010, 07:41:23 PM
Hans, 'Bulbs' by Phillips and Rix describes the distribution of this species as from southern England southwards to the south and west Mediterranean. It is also found in several floristic regions in Bulgaria up to an altitude of 1500m, which means snow cover for at least 1 month in winter. I wonder if there is any variability throughout this range?
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