It is not so difficult to grow gladioli, but there are many nuances that you need to know in order not to worry later - the gladioli bulbs have dried up, what should I do? It is necessary to dig out the bulbs initially on time, properly send them for storage, observe the temperature regime, air humidity and so on. Then get them on time, prepare for planting, feed and disinfect. Let's look at what to do to make our bulbs fit for planting in the spring, and the questions: why the bulbs dried up or rotted, what to do, did not bother us.
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Winter storage
Before wintering, it is imperative that every adult bulb and children need to be carefully examined in order to identify the damaged and diseased, and reject. If planting material is valuable to you, you can try to save the damaged ones, but be sure to store them in a separate place so that the healthy ones do not exaggerate the disease. Further - a good drying of the bulbs will give you a chance to keep them perfectly, this is a must.
Bulbs can be sent to the basement for the winter, but if you have some vegetables in addition to preservation, the gladioli need a separate compartment, which has its own ventilation. Otherwise, in winter, when vegetables will release moisture, the bulbs are nourished by it and can either rot or sprout early. Arrange the bulbs in drawers with holes in small layers. So they will be ventilated and will not dry out, will not rot.
You can also put each onion in a piece of old tights, or in a gauze bag and hang. In them, dry and send for storage. In the apartment, you can fold the onions in paper bags and send them the refrigerator for the winter.
Bulb preparation for planting
In mid-March, you can already get onions and prepare them for planting. To do this, get the planting material. Take a good look at it for dried or rotten bulbs. Carefully remove the scales so as not to damage the sprouts that have already appeared. Without scales, you will immediately see which bulbs are healthy and which ones have problems. If some of them are rotten, infected with bacteria, it is better to throw them mercilessly. But if you still want to keep them, carefully cut off the problem areas with a sharp knife (be sure to treat the knife with potassium permanganate after each bulb, otherwise spread the infection to all the bulbs). Process the green sections, and leave to dry separately.
At the end of April, place the bulbs for half a day in a solution of trace elements that nourishes them with force. You can use boric acid, molybdenum, zinc, potassium permanganate and magnesium sulfate, this will increase the immunity of the plant, increase flowers, and give early flowering. Dry after a day. It can be treated with "Maxim" for the prevention of diseases, for the same purpose "Fundazim" will work. When the earth becomes warm, at least 10 degrees, you can plant gladioli.
What to do with dried onions?
If the bulbs are dried up, you do not need to immediately throw them away, you can try to reanimate. If the bulb has become hard and wrinkled - it is sick, and it is unlikely to save her. Having removed the scales, you will see if there is any movement, small sprouts have hatched, you can save it. Treat with weak manganese, you can put in a 3 percent solution of peroxide for five minutes, then dry.
You can also do this - clean from dry scales, pour sand in any suitable box, put the bulbs upside down, spill with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Then, as the sand dries, add a little water. If the bulbs are alive, they will give roots, gaining lost moisture, and you can plant.
Another option - perhaps the bulbs got thrips, they need to be treated with insecticides, dried, wrapped one in a newspaper, put into a container and sent to the bottom of the refrigerator. Then look, which ones gave life, and which ones have already been released.
A healthy bulb can dry if not properly stored, it can be moistened with such a solution before planting: add a teaspoon of soda to a liter jar of water. You can hold it in a solution of trace elements, in zircon, you can just wrap it in a damp cloth and hold it for a day. There are many options, try, and your bulb may still come to life, do not rush to throw it away!
See also: lilies planting and care in the open ground.
When and how to plant gladioli in spring in open ground
How to deal with thrips on gladioli
Gladioli: landing and care in the open ground
Children of gladioli: what to do with them