How to feed gladioli in spring and summer

Gladiolus is considered a royal flower that will transform and decorate any garden, flower bed, balcony. Cut flowers stay fresh for 10 days. Gladiolus is called a skewer because of the similarity of its leaves to a sword.

Gladioli - what they look like, how they bloom

The skater is native to Africa. In the regions, in severe winters, the plant is dug up, the bulbs are quite sensitive to frost. Thanks to breeding, new species have appeared that are able to survive a temperature drop of up to 30 degrees.

Gladioli in the garden

The flower belongs to the Iris family, is a perennial plant. The root system resembles a corm, which is a transformed, shortened stem. The bulb is round. It is renewed every year. The old tuber gives nutrients to the young tuber, then dies off.

The stem of the flower grows up to one meter. Leaves are straight and long up to 80 centimeters. The inflorescence is unusually beautiful, resembles a spikelet. Up to twelve buds can be placed on one stem. The peduncle is 0.5 meters. The density of the flower placement depends on the variety, it can be dense or sparse.

The buds grow from 5 to 15 centimeters. Flowers come in a variety of colors. Buds are monochromatic, two-tone, or contain three shades that are evenly distributed over the petals.

The process of development of a new and drying out of an old bulb

Correct planting is the key to lush flowering

In order for the skewer to please with its lush flowering, it is necessary to approach its planting with all responsibility. With the onset of autumn, the territory on which the flower will grow must be dug up. Then add ripe manure to the soil, with the calculation of 4 buckets per 2 square meters. To make gladiolus bloom, additionally fertilize with phosphorus and potassium.

In the spring, you need to prepare the holes. Phytosporin is poured into the pit. Before placing the bulbs in the hole, they are kept for some time in a solution that stimulates growth (Emistim, Mixikrop). The flower prefers light soil, with a slightly acidic reaction.

Nutrients applied with the feeding

Growing flowers, beginners wonder how to fertilize gladioli? Fertilizers provide high-quality and full flowering of garden plants. Top dressing should consist of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

The minerals introduced affect the development and formation of the stem, as well as provide a long and lush flowering. Each stage of flower development requires its own mineral elements.

Top dressing tips

When feeding gladioli in the open field, the following recommendations should be taken into account:

• The fertilizers applied must be divided into several parts, gradually adding to the soil.
• You can not feed the plant during the period of heavy rains. Some of the minerals will simply be washed out of the soil.
• The soil must be moistened before fertilizing.
• Top dressing is best done in the morning or evening.
• It is better to use root or foliar fertilizers.

What types of fertilizers are needed for gladioli

After planting the tuber in the hole, the question arises of how to feed the gladioli. During planting, the rhizome is fed with nitrogen.

Two-ton skewer Helvetia

In the open field, fertilizers for gladioli are divided into the following groups:

• One-component. They consist of one chemical element - nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) or potassium (K).
• Complex. Contains two or more useful elements.
• Difficult. Consist of two components.
• Mixed. Mixed feeding of gladioli consists of mechanical mixtures (fertilizer mixture) of simple or complex fertilizers.

Fertilizers are available in liquid and solid form. Liquids are divided into suspensions and solutions. Solid top dressing is available in the form of granules or powder.

The frequency of feeding

Fertilizing the soil involves four main stages:

1. Formation of the first two or three leaves.
2. The appearance of the sixth leaf.
3. Bookmark peduncles.
4. Flowering phase.

Each of the stages is divided into two main phases. Fertilizers must be added every seven days.

The main stages of feeding

In order for the buds to be large and bloom profusely, it is worth deciding what to feed the gladioli with. Fertilizers should be of high quality and suitable for each period. The soil during planting should be loose, moist and mulched.

They feed the plant, focusing on the number of leaves

After the first leaves appear, the skewer is fertilized with nitrogen. For greater effectiveness, sodium nitrate can be used. 30 grams of chemical elements are diluted in a ten liter bucket of water.

Potassium and phosphorus are added the second time. During the formation of inflorescences, the plant needs nutrients. You can use ready-made mineral complexes (Kemira Universal, Fertika Lux).

Organic fertilizers are also suitable. Before use, organic matter must be diluted with water. Insist for three days, then water the plant.

Top dressing of bulbs before planting

Corms 30 days before planting must be cleaned of dense scales. Peel the bulbs carefully so as not to damage the young shoots. If the bulbs show signs of rotting, it is better not to plant them.

When the tuber is damaged by scab, the infected place is cut off and smeared with brilliant green, this is a good protection against various diseases. Before planting, the planting material should be disinfected. To do this, the corm is placed in potassium permanganate 3%, kept for 60 minutes. Before placing the tuber in the hole, it is placed in a biostimulator for 30 minutes.

Bulb processing process

Foliar dressing

Foliar fertilization affects the formation of buds. How to feed gladioli for abundant flowering? Potassium and phosphate elements are suitable for these purposes. You can spray flowers with a special agent, which consists of boric acid (0.2 grams), copper sulfate (0.15 grams) and zinc sulfate (0.1 grams). It is advisable to spray the flower two or three times per season in the summer.

First feeding

Nitrogen is used as the first mineral fertilizer. It is carried out during the period of active growth in early spring, after the appearance of two or three leaves. Urea is additionally added. For a bucket of water, 30 grams of the mineral is enough. As the first feeding, you can use an infusion of mullein or chicken droppings (1 liter of mullein per 0.5 liter of water).

When to finish feeding

The last dressing is done in the fall. One month before removing the bulb from the soil. Phosphorus mixtures are added to the soil.Good results are obtained by treating the soil with copper sulfate. This tool perfectly protects the bulb from pests and various diseases.

How to water gladioli

After placing the bulb in the hole, the soil is moistened. Do not get carried away with watering, too wet soil during the germination of the tuber is destructive for the plant. After the tuber releases an arrow five centimeters high, water the plant as usual.

The roots grow and go deep, so it is necessary to moisten the soil up to 35 cm deep. During the flowering period, water the plant more often.

Fertilizers for gladioli for abundant flowering

Gardeners often wonder what they fertilize gladioli before flowering? For abundant and rapid flowering, wood ash can be used.

An important element for beautiful flowering is potassium. This chemical element is responsible for the growth of the flower. Insufficient intake of potassium negatively affects flowering, as well as the development of corms.

Banana peels can be used as an available source of potassium. To do this, it must be dried, then crushed. Sprinkle the planting hole with banana powder before planting. To speed up flowering, you can spray the plant with banana tincture. Pour the peel with water and leave for a week.

Fertilizers for gladioli when planting in spring and summer

Skaters are planted on a personal plot in April, in the northern regions a month later. Spring fertilization during planting can be considered the first top dressing. 14 days before planting the bulb in the ground, the site is dug up and urea is added. You can use humus or horse manure.

In the summer, the bait is applied after the appearance of six leaves. For this, it is better to use complex mineral fertilizers:

• Kemira Lux;
• Good power;
• Bona forte;
• Mister Color.

Dry fertilizers can be replaced with liquid fertilizers. The next top dressing is applied at the end of June and covers the period of bud formation.

Folk remedies

In addition to ready-made mineral complexes, you can use folk remedies. Peat, yeast, green manure, sawdust, bird droppings, compost are suitable as fertilizers. For abundant flowering, you can use ammonium nitrate. It enhances immunity and stimulates the growth of stems and leaves, and also increases the number of peduncles.

Folk remedies provide abundant flowering

How to prepare top dressing with your own hands

Self-prepared baits are no different from store-bought mineral complexes. Making fertilizer at home is easy, just follow the step-by-step instructions.

Nettle

To prepare groundbait, you can take both fresh nettles and dried ones. It is advisable to use branches with foliage, but no seeds.

Preparation:

1. Place 1 kilogram of grass in a plastic container.
2. Pour the nettle with 8 liters of standing water or rainwater.
3. Insist for 10 days, stirring the future groundbait twice a day.

After the end of the fermentation process, the tincture will be ready. For watering, use 1 part of the infusion to 9 parts of water. Watering is necessary at the root.

Wood ash

To prepare a liquid fertilizer, you will need 75 grams of ash and five liters of water. All components should be infused for 20 minutes. Then mix and pour to the root.

Eggshell

Both processed and raw will do. Pour hot water and leave for 7 days. Treat the plant with a ready-made product.

In order for gladioli to bloom profusely, they must be properly grown. You should adhere to the planting dates, then properly care for the plants. At the same time, feeding plays an important role in growing the queen of flowers and in caring for her.