Question
I recently visited a friend in NY state. She has a lovely garden full of various vegetables and flowers, one of them being gladiolas. Upon seeing them I mentioned how beautiful they were and had wanted
to take some home with me. Before I left town,she graciously wrapped a couple of gladiolas in newspaper, so they would travel easily. I have placed those flowers into a vase but they are dying quickly and find myself trying to save the buds that haven't bloomed.
What suggestions can you offer with regards to gladiolas? Is there a plant food I should sprinkle in the vase or should I give up altogether?

Thank you,
Maria

Answer
Dear Maria

What a shame your Gladioli didn't last. I have only ever used commercially grown Gladioli, so I have not experienced your problem. Sometimes if you fail to cut off the very reddish/purplish end of the stem you have this problem. If you make sure all the ends of the stems are cut into the green. I often have a huge vase of all white gladioli in my kitchen, they are my favourites but sadly the buds do not often open once cut from the corm, they tend to go brown. Also probably the transition from garden to vase (with the journey) was quite a trauma and if some of the blooms were already opened, they would have been susceptible to wilting. Try cutting them in bud next time, as this is how we buy them here.   Food in the water, along with changing the water after a couple of days and trimming a little off the bottom of the stem each time and keeping them out of the sun will all help to lengthen their lives

I really hope this has helped and better luck next time

Kindest regards

Sue.