Japanese gladiolus: description and features of cultivation

The Japanese gladiolus is a beautiful garden plant of the iris family, characterized by orange-red campanula flowers collected in paniculate inflorescences, and a fan-shaped bundle of pointed hard leaves. A feature of the montbretion (also called a garden plant) is its similarity to iris and gladiolus; If the gladiolus flowers are pretty tightly clad similar to a huge spike, then the Japanese gladiolus they grow branched.

The Japanese gladiolus, planting and caring for which gives gardeners a real pleasure, has about fifty species, most of which come from South America, and has another name - the crocosmia, derived from "crocos" and "osme" - the smell.

Japanese gladiolus (crocosmia): species

• Crocosmia Paniculata - early-flowering tall plant with medium-sized bright orange flowers. Compared with the rest, it is the most frost-resistant species, which tolerates wintering well, provided a small shelter is provided.
• Crocosmia Lucifer - a hybrid created on the basis of the Paniculate's Crocosmia. Flowers of coral-red shade. Frost resistance is relative.
• Crocosmia the Golden. Characterized by large (about 5 cm in diameter), yellow-orange flowers. Can grow in a small shadow. The flowering period is autumn. Looks great in the cut.
• Crocosmia vulgaris. The most common hybrid in the culture of Japanese gladiolus, obtained by crossing the crocosmia of Pottsi and Golden. The height of the plant is about 1.2 meters. Flowering occurs at the end of the summer period.

Montbretia is characterized by high resistance to pests and diseases; Needs minimal maintenance: irrigation, weeding, feeding and weed removal.

Japanese gladiolus (montbretia): description

Montbretia has small corms (about 2 cm in diameter), covered in several layers by mesh shells; One unit per season gives 3-4 beautiful peduncles and several replacing onion cubs. The height of the stem is about 0.6-1.0 meters. The leaves are collected in a basal rosette, which gives the monotony a special appeal. Small flowers (about 3-4 cm in diameter) are funnel-shaped, with petals diverging in sides. The plant is spreading gradually, one by one, from the base to the top, so that from the beginning of flowering (July-September) until late autumn, the Japanese gladiolus looks elegant. In the simultaneous flowering, about 10 flowers are revealed. For wintering in the open ground the plant is not adapted.

Growth conditions

Japanese gladiolus (photo conveys all the charm and bright orange beauty of the garden plant) feels comfortable in a loose, well drained, humus-rich soil. Place under the landing is desirable to choose well-lit, without drafts and sun in the summer noon. You should not plant a montbretion in the shade, otherwise the plant will begin to stretch and not bloom at all.

Since autumn, the site where Japanese gladiolus is to be grown is required to be prepared by adding organic fertilizers to the soil in conjunction with slaked lime and superphosphate. Before budding, and then every 2-3 weeks Japanese gladiolus, the cultivation of which - it's not too troublesome, it is recommended to feed mineral fertilizers.

Montbretia in the Garden

Japanese gladiolus (photo can be seen in the article) - a flower that looks attractive in rock gardens and against the background of stunted flowers. The plant is suitable for cutting, inflorescences stand in the water for about 10 days and longer. The dried flowers keep color and shape well, so they can be used to decorate a winter bouquet.

Bulb landing and storage

Planting bulbs of montbretion is carried out in April-May to a depth of 6-10 cm with an interval between plants from 10 to 12 cm. In still quite cool ground, the Japanese gladiolus will first form a root system, during the warming up of the soil actively begin to build up the aboveground part. When planting at a later date, the flower will immediately grow and will not have time to acquire good roots, which will negatively affect its appearance. Digging bulbs is done. After excavating the bulbs, which is required after yellowing of the leaves (late September-October), the stem must be carefully trimmed, leaving a root of 5 cm in length. Then bulbs with children should be dried in a cool room (cellar or cellar) at a temperature of 6-8 ^o C for 1-2 weeks, folded in containers with dry peat, moss or sawdust. Before the spring planting in March, the bulbs are recommended to stand for several days at room temperature, after which to perform such preparatory actions as detachment, peeling, root pruning and shoot remnants. Before planting the bulbs should be held in a light solution of potassium permanganate for several hours. The plant needs to be planted in a container, and in May it can be transplanted to a permanent growth site in the open ground.

Methods of reproduction

Japanese gladiolus, planting and caring for which do not require special efforts, can be grown from seeds, children and corms. To obtain seeds, bulbs of montbretion are planted in March in a flower pot, all summer the flower is kept in street conditions (without transplantation), in autumn it is brought back into the room. It is required to wait for the completion of its flowering and ripening of seeds, seeding of which for seedlings is made in February. Young plants of the Japanese gladiolus before planting in the open ground (early June) is recommended to be hardened first. Flowering of the Japanese gladiolus grown from seeds comes in the third year. More convenient and labor-intensive reproduction of children, which for a year the Japanese gladiolus gives 5-6 pieces each. Planted in this way, the motifs bloom in the year of planting.