Gladiolus (genus)

Japanese name: グラジオラス（夏咲き）
Scientific name: Gladiolus

[Overview]
A perennial up to 1.5 m tall.
It has a corm underground.
The leaves are sword-shaped, and the leaf bases form sheaths that clasp the stem.
A spike at the stem tip bears many flowers.
The flowers vary widely in size, color and shape.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing the corms.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil.
It dislikes humidity, so during long rainy spells move potted plants out of the rain; for plants in the ground, plant them under the eaves or build up a mound so that rainwater runs off.
Be careful not to overwater; for potted plants, water when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
Apply organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and apply slow-release fertilizer after flowering as a thank-you fertilizer.
Too much nitrogen causes disease and rotting of the bulbs, so use a fertilizer high in phosphate and potash.
The plants grow tall, so set up stakes.
When the leaves turn yellow, dig up the corms, dry them in the shade, divide them, and store them in a place where they will not freeze.
Pests and diseases include corm rot, neck rot, virus disease, red spot, cutworms and spider mites.

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