Home

Strange Wonderful Things

 Rare and exotic plants

Turquoise Puya

 

Gladiolus cruentus

Gladiolus cruentus

Tips on planting the bulbs

 

» Your bulbs (technically corms) should be planted around the end of February (August in the southern hemisphere), so mark your calendar.  Until then, store them in a paper bag in cool spot.

Pot size -- Use a pot at least 5 inches (13 cm) tall, and wide enough so that each bulb is 2 inches (5 cm) from each other and the side of the pot.

Soil -- Use well draining soil.  A typical mix is 2 parts potting soil mixed with 1 part perlite or pumice.  An alternate mix is 1 part coir fiber to 1 part perlite or coarse horticultural sand, with some granular fertilizer mixed in.

Planting the bulbs -- Plant them with the top about 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep.  Don't compress the soil after planting.

 Water the soil lightly, so it is slightly moist throughout (not saturated), and keep it this moist until they sprout.  Until they sprout, keep the pot out of direct sun, and preferably between 55-80⁰F (13-27⁰C).  Once they sprout, start increasing the water and move the pot into bright light, with protection from strong afternoon sun the first month.

Watering:  During the growing season, this Gladiolus likes moist soil and shouldn't be allowed to dry out.  It shouldn't be kept constantly soggy though.  

Sunlight -- It doesn't require lots of sun, just bright light.  It may be grown in full sun though, at least in cooler conditions.  In hotter climates, it might be necessary to give some afternoon shade, and also keep the pot shaded, perhaps by placing it inside a larger clay pot.

Fertilizer -- Feed about a week after they sprout, and then again 2 months later.  Use a general-purpose fertilizer that contains micronutrients.  Avoid feeding after July.

Support -- They tend to lean over as they grow, since they grow sideways on steep cliffs in the wild.  If you wish, you may support it upright, perhaps with stakes or in a small tomato cage.

Dormancy care --  When the leaves start to die back in autumn, withhold all water, since the bulb is preparing for dormancy.  Once the leaves are brown, you may either pull the bulbs and store them in a paper bag until spring, or leave them in their soil.  Keep the soil relatively dry until spring or the bulbs may rot.   A small amount of moisture is okay, especially to keep the soil from becoming bone-dry.  Store the pot in a cool area (50-70°F / 10-21°C) until late February.  Check on them in mid-February to see if any are sprouting and plant any that are.

 General tips about this plant

Have fun growing them!

- Jeff

Strange Wonderful Things

 

 
Home

Strange Wonderful Things

Rare and exotic plants

Turquoise Puya

Entire site Copyright 2003-2024 by Strange Wonderful Things, except as noted