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BOTANICAL NAME
Gladiolus Nanus Group
(glad-ee-O-lus nay-nus)
(Plural: Gladioli, Gladioluses, Gladiolus)

COMMON NAMES
Miniature sword lily, Miniature Gladiolus, Butterfly Gladiolus
Note: The term “gladiola” is often—but mistakenly—used as a common name for Gladiolus, which can sound like “gladiolas.” In formal English, “gladiola” and “gladiolas” are not recognized words.

DESCRIPTION
Potted Gladioli typically have six to 10 funnel-shaped flowers/flower buds, in alternating facings, mostly on one side of 1- to 2-foot-long stems. Blossoms often have blotched colorations and ruffly petal edges.

COLORS
Gladioli are available in a wide range of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and violets—every hue except blue. Bicolor varieties also are available.

DECORATIVE LIFE
Potted Gladioli should last from two to three weeks, depending on care, environmental conditions and stage of maturity at the time of sale.

AVAILABILITY
Gladioli plants are available from about mid-May through early October.

IN-STORE AND CONSUMER CARE

LIGHT Potted Gladioli require lots of bright light. Some direct sunlight is OK.
WATER These flowering plants are grown from corms, which require only moderate water when in bloom. Soil should be well drained and watered thoroughly only when the soil surface is dry.
In addition, Gladioli are extremely sensitive to fluoride in water, so do not water these plants with tap water that contains fluoride. Effects include deterioration of petal edges, failure of florets to open and develop normally, “burning” of the bud/floret sheath, and yellowing or darkening of leaf edges.
TEMPERATURE Indoors, Gladioli perform best when the environment is moderately cool to temperate—65 F to 70 F during the daytime and 60 F to 65 F at night.
HUMIDITY These plants prefer moderately humid air, so placing the pots on pebble trays or occasionally misting the air around the plants can be beneficial.
FERTILIZER  None is required at the retailer and consumer levels.
ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY Ethylene does not affect open Gladiolus florets, but it can cause buds to shrivel and prevent them from opening. Therefore, make sure your purchases are treated with an ethylene inhibitor at the grower level or during shipping. In addition, keep them away from sources of ethylene in your stores such as ripening fruit, decaying flowers and foliage, automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke.

CHALLENGES

LEAF YELLOWING/BROWNING This is typically a result of overwatering, watering with fluoridated water and/or too-low light conditions.
PREMATURE FLOWER BUD DEATH The most likely cause is exposure to ethylene, but other possibilities include watering with fluoridated water, too-low light conditions and too-high temperatures.
PETAL EDGE "BURN" The most common causes are watering with fluoridated water and too much exposure to direct sunlight.