Gladioli bulbs cannot be left in the ground over the winter, otherwise they will become covered with fungi and begin to rot. In the fall, the tubers need to be dug up and stored properly so that they can be planted in the ground again in the spring. There are 8 effective ways to store gladioli.
In a refrigerator
Bulbs need constant temperature and humidity, and these conditions are met in the refrigerator. For gladioli, a separate place is allocated on the refrigerator shelf away from the freezer and kept there all winter. Small tubers can be conveniently stored in egg trays.
If the plant takes root, you will have to move the corms to a drier place. Lower temperatures also negatively affect the condition of gladioli. They become soft and rot.
On the grid
It is convenient to store the bulbs in a net or bag. You can put it in a cool place and forget about the tubers until spring. A mesh made of synthetic materials is not suitable for storage because it does not allow air to pass through, and good ventilation is necessary for gladioli.
It is not recommended to hang a net from the ceiling; warm air accumulates in the upper part of the room, and this harms the plant. Likewise, you should not leave the mesh next to the radiator.
On the windowsill
Storage on a wide windowsill is a good option if there is no other place. You need to lay the corms in an even layer on the paper and do not open the window. Do not press the planting material against the glass, otherwise it will freeze and become soft.There is no point in using spoiled tubers in the spring; they will not be able to germinate.
In paraffin
An unusual way to store gladioli for planting is waxing. They use it for large bulbs; paraffin will not benefit children.
Paraffinization algorithm:
- Prepare 3 white paraffin candles.
- Boil water and arrange a water bath.
- Break the candles and put them in a container.
- Place the container in a water bath.
- Dip the bulbs into melted paraffin.
The processed gladioli are carefully placed on paper or fabric. Store in a dry, warm place. Paraffin protects from the external environment, prevents rotting and softening of the bulbs.
In the newspaper
Small corms of gladioli are more difficult to preserve; they quickly react to changes in humidity and temperature and are easily subject to mold. In the newspaper, gladiolus babies survive the winter better. It is necessary to select the strongest specimens without defects and wrap them in 2-3 layers of newspaper.
The seed material should be checked periodically, and if the beginnings of mold fungi are detected, the newspaper should be immediately replaced with a fresh one.
In the box
A box or box made of any material, but always perforated, is suitable for storing tubers. Air enters the bulbs through the holes, without which they will die.
Each variety of gladioli is placed in a separate box, not covered with a lid, and put away. For reliability, you can install a thermometer and a humidity controller in the box in order to notice changes in storage conditions in time and rearrange the bulbs.
In the cellar or basement
Having your own basement or cellar allows you to store gladioli in an ideal atmosphere until planting. The basement has stable conditions, cool, ventilation is installed.
Storage in the cellar is complicated if it is dug close to groundwater. You should also not keep harvested fruits and vegetables nearby. Evaporation increases humidity, which harms the bulbs.
In the hole
Gardeners preserve seed in winter by simply burying it in the ground. You need to make an oblong hole and fill it with boxes of gladioli. You cannot sprinkle soil on the corms; first they are covered with dry sawdust, and then the containers are covered with film.
With any method of storing gladioli, it is necessary to maintain a temperature regime of 3-8°C and control humidity. Only in this case will the corms survive the winter well and be ready for planting in the spring.
