Japanese gladiolus: description, planting and care, growing features

Japanese gladiolus gardener can decorate the site throughout the season. At first, the beauty of the territory is given by the narrow xiphoid leaves of the plant. Then, from June to September, spike-shaped inflorescences of various colors begin to bloom. Further description and characteristics of crocosmia, information about plant species, methods of reproduction, cultivation features.

Description and characteristics

The Japanese gladiolus has several names: crocosmia, montbrecia, tritonia. The culture comes from South Africa. Belongs to the Iris family. The plant is tall.Peduncles reach a height of 1.5 meters. The leaves are narrow, shaped like swords. Their length is about 60 centimeters. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, consisting of star-funnel-shaped flowers. They have a variety of colors: scarlet, yellow, red, orange.

Buds open in early June. Flowering lasts until September. Japanese gladiolus propagates by seeds and bulbs. Each of them is able to grow 3 peduncles.

Crocosmia is used for landscaping the site, used in cut form. In water, the flower arrow is able to stand without wilting for 2 weeks. It can decorate any bouquet.

Additional information. "Crocosmia" is translated from Latin as "the smell of saffron." The plant is named so for the aroma emanating from the dried flowers.

Plant species

Breeders have bred many species and varieties of Japanese gladiolus. They differ in flowering time, height of bushes, color of inflorescences.

Paniculata crocosmia

Japanese gladiolus bushes reach a height of 1.5 meters. At the top of the flower arrow, buds of a bright orange color are formed. They begin to bloom in June.

Lucifer

The flower arrow of this hybrid reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Peduncles with scarlet or red paniculate inflorescences give a unique look to the bush. Japanese gladiolus Lucifer is characterized by increased frost resistance. In temperate regions, the bulbs may not be dug up in autumn.

Star of the East

Star of the East is one of the spectacular varieties of crocosmia. Blooms late. The height of the bush is about 1 meter. Inflorescences consist of buds of apricot-orange color. Large flowers with a diameter of 10 centimeters have the shape of a star. Frost resistance of the Star of the East is low.

Norwich canary

Japanese Gladiolus Norwich Canary bushes reach a height of 60 centimeters. On strong peduncles, bright yellow flowers are formed. Buds open gradually, starting from the bottom.

Emily Mackenzie

Montbrecia EmilyMcKenzie reaches a height of 60 centimeters. Spike-shaped inflorescences consist of brown-orange flowers. At the base of the bud there is a bright orange spot. The plant tolerates temperature fluctuations well. Blooms late.

Methods of reproduction

The gardener can breed Japanese gladiolus on the plot in 2 ways: seeds and bulbs. When breeding hybrids with the first option, parental traits may not be preserved.

Seeds

The procedure is carried out at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring. Seeds are soaked overnight in warm water.Then they are sown in a container with low sides. The substrate is selected loose, breathable. It can be prepared independently from peat, sod land, humus, river sand.

The box with the crops is covered with a transparent film, put in a warm place. When the first shoots appear, the shelter is removed. Care consists in timely watering, loosening the soil.

After the appearance of a pair of true leaves, the plants swoop down. Use for transplanting small pots. The grown bushes are planted in open ground, after hardening. Crocosmia will not bloom in the year of planting.

Bulbs

During the season, babies grow around the bulb. They can be separated and planted separately. Flowering will come next year. If the young bulbs are not separated periodically, the mother bush will become too dense, the inflorescences may become smaller.

The parent corm will continue to develop after the procedure. Children are planted first in pots or immediately in open ground.

Features of cultivation

Crocosmia is planted with bulbs on the plot. Adults will bloom this year, young ones will release a flower arrow only next season.

Selection and preparation of planting material

The bulbs must be dry, clean, without dents or damage. They are taken out of the basement a month before planting, the husks are removed. For disinfection, the bulbs are placed in a solution of potassium permanganate. The procedure is carried out 2 hours before landing in the ground.

Date of planting

Japanese gladiolus is planted on the site in spring, at the end of April or in the first decade of May. The soil should warm up to 6-10 °C.

Preparing and choosing a landing site

The territory for crocosmia is selected well-lit by the sun. Otherwise, the flower arrow will grow thin, weak. Groundwater should be low.The substrate is selected fertile, air and water permeable. The plot has been prepared since autumn. The earth is dug up, nutrients are introduced. For 1 square meter of area, 2 buckets of humus mixed with 40 grams of superphosphate are used. In the spring, before planting, nitrogen can be applied to the ground.

Plant and planting depth

Small bulbs are planted at a depth of 4-6 centimeters. For large planting material, holes are dug 8-15 centimeters deep. Landing is carried out as follows:

pull out grooves 15 centimeters deep;
fill the bottom with a light fertile substrate;
spread the bulbs at a distance of 10-15 centimeters;
watering;
fall asleep with substrate.

Row spacing - 25-30 centimeters.

Features of flower care

In order for the bushes to bloom profusely and for a long time every year, you need to properly carry out agrotechnical measures. Care consists in timely watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil. Flower arrows of tall crocosmia need to be tied up. This is done to prevent breakage of peduncles. Bulbs are dug up for the winter, as they can freeze out in a harsh winter.

How to water the plant?

The land is irrigated as needed. The top layer of soil should have time to dry out. In waterlogged soil, pathogenic microorganisms can form that adversely affect the bulbs. If the soil is not irrigated in time, the flowers will begin to wither and fall prematurely. Water is used warm, separated.

Fertilization

In order for the Japanese gladiolus bushes to grow powerful, and the flowering to be abundant and long, the soil must be fertilized several times per season. In the spring, complex minerals are added. Potash fertilizers are used before flowering. Mullein can be introduced at the end of summer.

Important! Top dressing is applied to moist soil, otherwise the root system may be damaged by s alts.

Loosening the soil

After each watering, you need to loosen the soil. The procedure helps to retain moisture. In addition, loosening prevents the formation of a crust on the surface of the soil. It prevents access to the bulb of water and moisture. Loosening also removes weeds - possible carriers of diseases and pests.

Garter Rules

Low-growing varieties do not need a garter. It may be required only for crocosmia, in which the flower arrow reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Peduncles bend and break when grown in regions where there are strong gusts of wind. Therefore, in the summer they are tied to a support with ropes made of natural material.

Preparing for winter

In areas with severe winters, the bulbs are dug up, otherwise they will freeze. The procedure is carried out not earlier than mid-autumn. Even after flowering, while in the ground, the bulbs grow. If they are dug up prematurely, they will not be able to obtain the necessary nutrients.

After digging up, the Japanese gladiolus bulbs are thoroughly dried and placed in a cool room. On insufficiently dry material, there is a possibility of the formation of putrefactive microorganisms. In the southern regions, crocosmia can overwinter in the ground. In late autumn, the aerial dried part of the plant is removed. Then the soil is covered with sawdust, spruce branches.

Diseases and pests

In adverse conditions, crocosmia can be affected by diseases and pests.

Fusariosis. The leaves affected by the disease begin to turn yellow and dry. Peduncles weaken, bend. The buds are deformed, their color changes.
Grey rot. Bulb diseases are affected. A gray coating appears on them.
Grassy. Leaf plates turn yellow, dry out. It is a viral infection for which there is no cure. Bushes are pulled out and destroyed, the earth is treated with chemicals.
Thrips. Insects suck cell sap from leaves, weakening plants. Over time, the leaf plates dry out, the flowers are deformed.
Spider mite. Pests appear on the Japanese gladiolus during a long drought. Insects entangle the plant with cobwebs, suck out the juice.
Medvedka. The pests eat the bulbs. Special traps are made to destroy bears.

Fungicides are used to prevent and treat Japanese gladiolus from diseases. Insects are disposed of by spraying with insecticides.

Pay attention! Chemical treatment should not be carried out during the flowering period, otherwise beneficial insects carrying nectar may die.

Application in landscape design

Tall varieties of crocosmia are planted next to low ornamental shrubs. Low bushes are planted in a mixborder. Montbrecia goes well with ornamental grasses, daylilies, Gaillardia, Knifofia, spray chrysanthemums.Crocosmia will look spectacular against the background of conifers. Japanese gladiolus is able to emphasize the beauty of other plants, and can also be a bright spot in the composition.

Cleaning and storage of bulbs

Dig up planting material before the onset of frost. The longer the bulb lies in the ground, the more it will absorb nutrients. Cleaning is carried out in dry weather. Corms are thoroughly dried, otherwise they may rot in winter. Store them in a dry, cool basement equipped with good ventilation. During the winter, the bulbs need to be inspected, rejecting rotten ones. One corm affected by pathogenic microorganisms can infect the entire planting material.

Where to buy Chinese gladiolus bulbs?

Planting material is purchased in flower shops. In the spring, a large assortment of flowers appears in them, including crocosmia bulbs. They must be he althy, without dents, stains, or other signs of disease.In addition, planting material is purchased via the Internet. Various sites offer to order Japanese gladiolus bulbs from them. Before making a purchase, you need to read seller reviews.