How to feed gladioli. How to fertilize gladioli before flowering. The main stages of top dressing

Gladiolus are large beautiful plants that have a rich color range. Therefore, they look great in a flower bed and serve as a decoration for a personal plot. In order for the flowers to develop and bloom normally, they require serious care. These are very fastidious plants that cannot grow in one place for more than two years - they must be transplanted.

It also requires constant loosening of the soil and removal of weeds by watering every week. Problems in growing gladioli can arise at the very beginning. The depth of planting the bulb will determine whether the plant will sprout and bloom. Much also depends on the nutritional value of the soil: the necessary fertilizers for abundant flowering should be applied on time when the ovary is in the process of formation.

The root system of gladioli is relatively shallow, and the peduncle is large. Therefore, phosphorus and potassium supplements should form the basis of plant nutrition.

What types of fertilizers are necessary for gladioli

The first phase of growth is the growth of green mass. During this period, the plant needs nitrogen and phosphorus, since in parallel with the growth of leaves, the formation of a rhizome occurs. You can use both organic and mineral fertilizers. The lack of one of the elements will negatively affect future flowering.

Mixing nutrients is necessary depending on the growth phase. Next, you need potassium. The best way to feed gladioli for abundant flowering is ash. She is very fond of gladioli. Top dressing with ash saturates the soil with potassium and phosphorus. If there is ash after burning charcoal or firewood in a stove, then it can be used.

Banana peel is rich in potassium. If it is not thrown away, there will be something to fertilize gladioli before flowering. To do this, banana skins are dried in the oven and crushed. Before planting the bulbs, dry matter is added to the soil. Under the action of soil microorganisms, the peel decomposes, and potassium passes into a form convenient for assimilation.

The second option, how to feed gladiolus, so that they bloom faster is an aqueous infusion of a banana peel. To do this, fresh skins are poured with water and insisted for a week. You can water the plants with such water during the budding period. One problem - you need a lot of raw materials, and therefore you need to collect banana skins all year round. In the presence of a large plantation of flowering plants, a more concentrated potash fertilizer is needed, which can quickly make up for the lack of an element in the soil. Foliar top dressing with banana water kills aphids.

Superphosphate is the only mineral fertilizer that can be used to feed gladioli after flowering, since its effect is long-lasting. Plants will take in as much phosphorus as they need during the various growth phases. The rest of the amount will be in the soil, because this substance is not washed into the lower layers.

In the spring time

The first feeding in the spring is carried out with the appearance of 3 - 4 leaves. Of natural mineral fertilizers, urea is more often used. One matchbox is enough for 10 liters of water. You need to water moist soil. From organic fertilizers, the best top dressing for gladioli is a solution of slurry or chicken manure. You need to be careful with these substances, since in a concentrated form they can burn the roots of plants.

A safe solution of manure or litter, which can be used to feed gladioli before flowering, is prepared according to the following scheme:

• a container of any size is taken and a third filled with manure;
• filled with water and infused for up to 2 weeks;
• the resulting concentrate is still diluted with water in a ratio of 1/10.

Plants should be watered in special trenches near the roots..

Gladiolus love to feed by watering, as this system is most suitable for their roots.

Top dressing of gladioli during the growth period is carried out with ready-made compost, which is introduced into the soil and dug up. The substances in the rotted compost are in a form convenient for assimilation, therefore they are quickly absorbed by plants.

Video: 3 whales when growing and feeding gladioli

Foliar top dressing in the spring is necessary if there are signs of nitrogen starvation or phosphorus deficiency. In this case, top dressing of gladioli on the sheet is carried out urgently. Also indications for foliar spraying is excessively acidic soil. In this situation, some elements will be poorly absorbed by the plant or will be unavailable to it.

To check the effect of the solution on the leaves, it is necessary to process one plant, wait a couple of hours. If the solution is of acceptable concentration, then after 2 hours there will be no noticeable damage

Fertilizing gladiolus before flowering helps the plants form a long peduncle and large buds. How to fertilize gladioli - with mineral or organic substances - does not really matter, since many mineral mixtures are made from natural ingredients, are highly soluble in water and are well absorbed. Top dressing for gladioli can consist of half of organic matter, and half of mineral salts.

If you grow flowers for cutting for bouquets, then none of the feeding stages can be ignored, since both the size and quality of the flowers and the shape of the leaves matter. For this, top dressing of gladioli during the budding period is carried out especially carefully. It is important to avoid plant diseases - fungal infection, gray rot, viruses. The main cause of the disease of flowering plants are ticks, aphids, African thrips, which carry viral infections that weaken the immunity of plants. Once infected with viruses, the plant is more susceptible to other diseases.

Professional breeders suggest growing flowers from babies that are pre-soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Every 10 days, treat the plants with Fitoverm, to which pests have no resistance

During the summer

Feeding gladioli during flowering involves at least five stages. More frequent fertilization helps maintain a constant level of nutrients in the soil.

There are many options for homemade and store-bought mixes to feed your gladioli during flowering during the summer months. Foliar top dressing with micronutrient fertilizers plays an important role:

• copper sulfate;
• boric acid;
• potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate);
• iron preparations;
• magnesium.

Depending on the gardener's availability of nutrients, you can decide how to fertilize gladioli during flowering in July. The main needs of the plant in the summer are potassium salts. Fertilizing gladioli for abundant flowering is a combination of potassium with nitrogen and phosphorus. Top dressing of gladioli in the open field is carried out taking into account the time of growth of flowers in one place without transplantation, soil fertility, and rainfall.

Top dressing of gladioli in August after flowering is done with the help of superphosphate and potassium. You can use double superphosphate, which is poured with hot water, waiting until it is completely dissolved. Next, 200 g of the solution is diluted in 10 liters of water and the plants are watered. The most suitable substance for feeding gladioli in August and September is potassium magnesia or potassium sulfate.

Top dressing of gladioli ends in early September

Do-it-yourself fertilizers for gladiolus

For watering and spraying, you can prepare green fertilizer. To do this, nettles, weeds, tops are poured with water and insisted for 10 days. A third of the greens and two parts of water are poured into the container.

You can periodically use a yeast top dressing to revitalize the soil in which gladioli grow. Top dressing and care in the open field involves the introduction of microorganisms into the ground that improve its composition.

Video: About the benefits of yeast dressings

Compost takes longer to mature, but is a versatile fertilizer for flowering plants. To lay a compost heap, you need to fence off a place on the site and lay out layers of manure, grass residues, tops, culinary waste and soil. Compost rot takes about a year. If you start to form layers in the summer, then by spring it will be ready for use. The compost is mixed with the topsoil and added to the pit when planting.

Top dressing is one of the important points in the cultivation of gladioli. Proper application of fertilizers in compliance with the dosage and recommended timing allows you to achieve lush flowering and guarantees the formation of children at the end of the season. A sufficient amount of nutrients in the soil and proper care are a guarantee that gladioli will become a real decoration of the flower bed, and not just a green mass for the background of other plants.

Gladiolus are flowers with a long growing season, during which they constantly consume nutrients, micro and macro elements, minerals from the soil. Regular feeding eliminates the deficiency of the necessary components, which inhibits the growth of these bulbs.

For normal development and abundant flowering, gladioli need to be fed with the following components:

• Nitrogen - provides growth due to the formation of protein substances. It is optimal to apply to the soil at the initial stage after planting the bulbs. It is easy to determine the lack or excess of nitrogen by the leaves of the plant - in the first case, they fade, become light green, in the second, on the contrary, they acquire a rich, dark color;
• Phosphorus is responsible for hydrocarbon metabolism, stimulating the formation of buds. It is necessary to make such top dressing during the flowering period, when gladioli actively consume the component. The main signs of a lack of phosphorus are the poor quality of budding, its delay, the formation of a small number of inflorescences or their complete absence;
• Potassium promotes a more active metabolism, stimulates the formation of carbohydrates. Potassium starvation is fraught with malnutrition of the bulbs, which subsequently suffer from a lack of essential trace elements. It is important to make a component as a top dressing during the initial formation of buds and throughout flowering. In addition to a positive effect on budding, potassium increases the immunity of plants to diseases, reduces susceptibility to low temperatures.

These chemical elements can be included both in the composition of single-component mineral fertilizers, and complex or complete dressings. The following are considered optimal for gladioli:

• Urea, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, bone meal, potassium carbonate;
• Potassium nitrate and potassium magnesia;
• Nitroammophoska, nitrophoska.

You can buy fertilizers for gladioli in a flower shop, while it is advisable to give preference to liquid complex compositions.

In addition to mineral dressings, gladioli also react positively to the introduction of organic matter. Most often, flower growers use compost, rotted manure or diluted chicken manure.

We fertilize: proper feeding of gladioli in summer

Since gladioli are planted outdoors in late April or May, the first leaves begin to sprout in June. It is during this period that flowers need nitrogen, which is quickly absorbed by plants and has a positive effect on the rate of development of the rosette.

1-2 phase of top dressing

Most often, nitrate, ammonium sulfate or urea, as well as sodium or potassium nitrate at a concentration of 20-30 g per 10 liters of water are used as nitrogen supplements. However, an important nuance must be taken into account here: if gladiolus bulbs are planted in a plot with fertile soil, it is recommended to reduce the dosage by 2 times in order to avoid overfeeding.

Nitrogen fertilizers are applied only after the appearance of 3 true leaves, however, these dates can be shifted if a pair of true gladiolus leaves was formed under adverse weather conditions or the bulbs were planted in the ground late. In such a situation, the compounds are applied to the soil before the 3rd leaf appears.

In addition to mineral fertilizers, during the early growing season of gladioli in the open field, you can also use organic matter diluted with water in the correct proportions:

• Mullein - 1:10;
• Chicken manure - 1:20.

To obtain an infusion of fertilizer, you need to insist in a closed container for 10-20 days, then dilute to the desired amount. If desired, organic matter can be combined with mineral supplements by adding 20-30 g of superphosphate and 1 g of potassium permanganate to the finished solution.

Another fairly effective fertilizer is prepared on the basis of cut grass infusion with the addition of 50 g of wood ash per 1 bucket of water. Top dressing is necessarily introduced “under the root”.

The 2nd phase of top dressing occurs when the gladioli are overgrown with 6-7 true leaves. During this period of growth, flowers need complex mineral fertilizers, in which nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are present. It can be used as compositions for flowering garden plants, as well as for vegetable and berry crops. The recommended dosage is 10-20 g of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, 20 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. The specified amount of solution is enough for 1 m 2 flower beds.

3-4 phase of top dressing

3 times fertilizer for gladioli is applied when the plants are actively releasing flower stalks. To enrich the soil with phosphorus, superphosphate is best suited, which is scattered over the site (30-40 g per 1 m 2). The combination of superphosphate and potassium chloride is highly effective (35 g and 15 g, respectively, per 1 m 2). After adding phosphorus, the flower bed is watered with a solution of urea.

If you want to prolong flowering as much as possible, feed the gladioli a fourth time, focusing on a high potassium content. The solution is prepared according to a simple scheme - 30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate are dissolved in 10 liters of water (consumption per 1 m 2). Nitrogen is not applied at this stage!

It is optimal to fertilize gladioli with liquid solutions - in this case, the nutrients are quickly absorbed by the root system. High-quality flowering in open ground can be achieved by dividing the prepared top dressing by 2 times and watering the bulbs with them at intervals of 7 days. Be sure to water the plants after fertilizing to avoid burning the bulbs.

Gladioli respond very positively to foliar feeding before flowering, for which boric acid or potassium permanganate is most often used. Flowers are sprayed only 3 times during the summer season, and only in cloudy weather or after sunset.

At the end of June - in early July, when the gladioli are not yet blooming, a composition (1 liter of solution) is used from the following components:

• 0.2 g of boric acid;
• 0.15 g of copper sulfate;
• 0.2 g of cobalt nitrate;
• 0.1 g of zinc sulfate.

For spraying, it is better to use a spray gun with a fine spray, carefully processing the sheet on both sides. Foliar top dressing has a positive effect on the quality of flowering, contributes to the laying of bright, saturated buds. Fertilization must be combined with proper agricultural technology and care.

Gladiolus are distinguished by their amazing beauty and grace. In order to grow gladioli and see a good result, you need to know and follow a number of rules, an important place among which is given to fertilizing gladioli with mineral fertilizers.

Growing Rules

• It is not recommended to grow gladioli in one place for more than two years;
• In the third year of cultivation, it is necessary to change the site, observing all the rules of amateur flower growers;
• To transplant flowers, you need to choose a suitable place with the necessary structure and composition of the soil. If earlier the flowers were grown in sandy loamy soil, then they must be transplanted after some time into light alumina;
• It is recommended to purchase the planting material that is right for your climate, as the flowers are badly affected by moving from a warm climate to a cold one, and vice versa. If you bought Dutch gladiolus bulbs, they will be able to decorate your flower bed with beautiful flowering in just one season.

Growing conditions

When growing, you must follow some rules that are due biological characteristics of the species. Gladiolus are considered light-loving and heat-loving plants. Therefore, when choosing a landing site, the following requirements must be considered:

• The site for planting flowers should be lit, protected from the wind, with properly drained soil;

• Even a slight dimming does not allow the plant to develop and bloom;
• You can not place flowers in places with a high standing of groundwater;
• In warm regions, plantings may be shaded at midday;
• The growing area should be horizontal and at an angle (5 degrees) to the south so that excess water can easily drain.

Acidity is an important component of the successful development of plants. Optimal acidity has a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8. With strong acidity, the ends of the leaves of the plant may darken or wither, fusarium is formed:

• In an alkaline environment, the iron contained in the soil becomes insoluble, inaccessible to plant roots. Because of this, the appearance of chlorophyll in the leaves of the flower is inhibited, and they can gradually turn yellow;
• Chalk, flour, egg shells are used to neutralize the acidic environment. They are introduced into the soil at 200 g per 1 sq. meter when digging;
• A suitable soil structure for gladioli, in addition to chernozem, is light loam, sandy loam. To create the desired composition, it is necessary to add sand to heavy loam, with the addition of humus and compost.

Preparing for landing

Previously, 2 weeks before planting, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the bulbs from scales, without damaging the sprouts, and remove the affected roots. Sore spots of the roots of plants that are affected by sclerotinia, scab, can be cut off, and the cut points can be treated with brilliant green.

After peeling off the unnecessary layer-scales, processing the roots, the bulbs are placed with the sprout up and kept in a warm, dry place to wake up the emergence of shoots.

Before planting, the bulbs are treated with special chemicals to neutralize thrips and fungi. To do this, they are kept for 1 hour in a 0.3% solution of potassium permanganate or 1 hour in a 0.3% solution of fundalose.

Landing

It is not necessary to plant flowers close to each other, especially large bulbs and small ones, as large ones will put pressure on small ones. It is recommended to grow them in one row, making a smooth transition from small to large. It is advisable to grow large bulbs completely separately.

It is recommended to maintain a certain depth of planting bulbs: on light soils, it should be four bulb diameters, on heavy soils - three. If the bulbs are not planted deeply, then it is necessary to tie up the arrow. If the bulb is very deep, then the gladioli may not bloom at all in the future.

Care

• The area with plantings must be ventilated, otherwise, various diseases may appear;
• If the flowers are grown in sandy loamy soil, then foliar top dressing should be done - spray the leaves with solutions of mineral fertilizers;
• In the summer, it is recommended to water the flowers once a week, in the morning or in the evening, adding 10-12 liters per square meter. meter. It is necessary to water in inter-row furrows with a depth of 3-5 cm in order to prevent water from entering the leaves, with further loosening of the soil to a depth of 5-6 cm; During the heat, in order to avoid overheating of the soil, it is necessary to water the gladioli every day with further loosening of the soil, hilling, weeding;
• If the seedlings grow powerful and tall, the bed should be mulched with humus 5 cm thick, which will protect the soil from further dehydration, overheating and provide root feeding at the same time.
• Loosening the soil must be carried out with a multiplicity of 1 time per decade;

You should also remove dried flowers in a timely manner so that gladioli do not waste nutrients on the ripening of seeds that you do not need.

Throughout the season, care must be taken to ensure that weeds do not drown out seedlings. In places overgrown with weeds, there is a likelihood of diseases and fungi.

An important component of the care of gladioli is the cleaning and preparation of the bulbs for storage, which must be taken very seriously and carefully.

Top dressing rules

Top dressing is carried out with mineral additives at various stages of development.

First must be nitrogen-rich. It is performed during the ripening of 2-3 leaves. For 1 sq. meter of dry soil is injected with 20 g of ammonium sulfate, 20-30 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of urea.

At the initial stage of plant development, you need to add a tincture of litter:

• In this case, 3 buckets of manure are diluted with 4 buckets of water and infused for 10-12 days;
• Next - 1 liter of tincture is diluted in 10 liters of water;
• The mixture is added to the inter-row furrows with further loosening of the soil;

The multiplicity of such dressings is once every 2-3 weeks;

With a lack of nitrogen, pale leaves are observed, and an excess leads to rapid growth, a healthy shade of green mass, but reduces resistance to various diseases, slows down flowering.

Second top dressing should be nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus. It must be performed after the formation of 6 leaves, making per 1 sq. meter of soil for 20 g of superphosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate.

Third top dressing carried out during the formation of buds with the use of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers - per 1 sq. meter contribute 35 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium chloride.

Blooming gladioli need organic fertilizers. They must be administered in liquid form to provide nutrients to the roots of the plant.

• After August 15, top dressing should be stopped.

Horse droppings should not be used as fertilizer.

An excellent effect is brought by foliar top dressing by spraying the leaves with a composition of useful minerals.

This order of fertilizing provides powerful development, healthy appearance, fast, beautiful flowering, increases the decorative effect of gladioli.

Gladiolus is one of those flowers that, with proper care, pleases with abundant flowering. But in order to get large flowers, you will have to try and supply the plant with the necessary trace elements. Sadly, but even with proper planting, if you do not provide the flower with proper care, you will not be able to wait for luxurious flowering.

Why feed

Gladiolus are bulbous plants, but, unlike their relatives, they form a flowering arrow in the year of planting. For its successful formation, timely top dressing is important. To fertilize the soil means to provide first aid to plants.

Feeding carried out in time ensures good growth, the formation of a strong stem, a large flower, abundant flowering, it is important to feed gladioli during the budding period. Each phase of plant development requires its own trace elements, which it receives from the applied fertilizers.

Important! Without fertilizer, it will be impossible to form children, through which gladioli are propagated.

With improper care and a lack of nutrients, the plant will grow weak, the flower-bearing arrow is curved, and flowering will be sparse.

Gladiolus

Fertilizer for gladioli

During the growing season of gladiolus, various fertilizers will be used, the composition of which directly depends on the timing of feeding.

First dressing

The gladioli are fertilized during the growth period. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied first. The term of the first feeding is the appearance of 2-3 leaves. During this period, urea is introduced, per 1 sq. m use 30 g of urea diluted in 10 liters of water. If you do not fertilize during this period, the timing of flowering will shift, the growth of the flower slows down, the leaves turn pale.

Urea is not the only fertilizer that is useful during this period. It can be easily replaced with an infusion of mullein or chicken manure. The first one is taken 1 liter per bucket of water, the second 0.5 liter - per bucket of water. Green manure, or in other words, an infusion of grass with the addition of ash, is an excellent analogue of urea.

To prepare green fertilizer, you will need a large container, which is filled by a third with grass without roots and filled with water. The container is closed with a lid and the infusion is kept for three days. 1 liter of the resulting solution is diluted in 10 liters of water, a glass of ash is added and watered with the resulting amount of 1 sq. m landings.

Attention! On fertile soils, half the nitrogen fertilizers are applied.

foliar top dressing

Additionally, after the second leaf has appeared, zircon is sprayed, which stimulates the formation of roots, accelerates growth and flowering. 1 ampoule of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water. Spraying is carried out in the evening in dry weather.

Second top dressing

When the plant has 4 true leaves, it is time to carry out the second feeding. This time, potassium nitrate and potassium sulfate are used. In 10 liters of water, 35 g of saltpeter and 25 g of sulfate are diluted. The resulting fertilizer is watered 1 square. m plantings.

In the absence of potassium nitrate, it is replaced with ammonium nitrate (25 g) or urea (25 g). The need for nitrogen fertilizer can be judged by the color of the leaves. If there is not enough nitrogen, they will be pale. Their dark green color indicates an overabundance. In this case, it is better to refuse nitrogen fertilizer, since its excess negatively affects the growth and development of the plant.

Third top dressing

The timing of this top dressing corresponds to the appearance of 5-6 leaves. Priority is given to potash fertilizers. But do not forget about nitrogen and phosphorus.

Top dressing of gladioli

Potassium is essential for plant metabolism. It also stimulates the protective functions of the plant, it is less sick and more easily tolerates temperature changes. Use 30 g of the drug per 10 liters of water. The watering rate is still the same - 1 bucket per 1 sq. m. In this solution, you can add 15 g of urea.

Fourth dressing

It is produced during the ejection of the peduncle. How to fertilize gladioli before flowering? In this case, complex fertilizers are used, for example, nitrophoska, nitroammophoska, kemira. The consumption rate of nitrophoska is 30 g per 10 liters. How to feed gladioli before flowering? Enough complex fertilizers. They contain all the trace elements necessary for the development of the plant, including phosphorus, which is necessary for abundant and longer flowering, as well as for the ripening of the bulbs.

When flowering, a solution of boric acid is used. 1 sq. meter plantings are watered with 10 liters of water with the addition of 2 g of boric acid.

Fifth dressing

It will be final. Spend it after the end of flowering. The irrigation rate is still the same: for irrigation, 30 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added to 10 liters of water.

At the end, in early September, a plot with gladioli is shed with a solution of potassium permanganate - 5 g per 10 liters of water. This will be not only the final potassium top dressing, but also the disinfection of bulbs and soil.

On a note! Starting from the second decade of September, top dressing is not carried out.

The best top dressing for lush flowering

How to feed gladioli for abundant flowering? The timing of the release of the peduncle and the number of buds on the arrow are directly related to the application of phosphorus fertilizers. After all, it is phosphorus that is responsible for hydrocarbon metabolism. If its deficiency is observed, then few buds are formed, the growth of the plant, respectively, and the flowering time slows down, flowering is weak.

It is during the period when the plant should bloom that they are fed with complex fertilizers, which have in their composition all the necessary trace elements. You can additionally stimulate the rapid development of the plant and abundant flowering already in July with the help of funds available to everyone.

How to feed gladioli for abundant flowering? Interestingly, ordinary ash is a source of phosphate and potash fertilizers, which is why gladioli are so responsive to its application.

Potassium is equally important for flowering, which is responsible for metabolism and speeds up metabolism. If it is not enough, then this affects not only flowering, but also the development of corms.

Another available source of trace elements is a banana peel. It is rich in potassium and will help plants bloom faster. To obtain fertilizer, it is crushed and dried. The resulting powder is applied to the soil before planting. In the future, it will decompose, and the plant will receive the necessary dose of potassium.

Gladiolus

To stimulate faster flowering, you can feed the gladioli with an infusion of banana peel. For this purpose, fresh banana skins are poured with water and infused for 7 days. Many of these skins may be required, but for small plantings this is an excellent flowering stimulator. This solution not only helps gladiolus bloom faster, but also fights aphids perfectly.

As they say, a lot comes with experience. Therefore, in order to get beautiful flowers, it is important to listen to the opinion of experts who willingly share their recommendations:

1. Moisten the soil before fertilizing. After fertilizing, water abundantly.
2. Feeding is best done in the evening.
3. Sunny places are most suitable for planting.
4. Watering - 1 time in 7 days, per 1 sq. m spend 1.5 buckets of water.
5. Feeding should be regular.
6. During the rainy season, it is better not to carry out top dressing, so all fertilizers applied will simply be washed with water.

Compliance with the recommendations for growing and feeding gladioli will allow you to get a piece of paradise in the garden with beautiful and unusual flowers. How beautiful bouquets of gladioli will look in vases! Of course, these are traditional flowers that are given to teachers on the first of September.

Gladiolus have a long growing season, during which they consume from the environment through the roots and partly through the leaves nutrients from various natural compounds and fertilizers. In large quantities, they, like all other plants, need nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), in slightly smaller quantities - calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), sulfur (S) and other elements. Nutrients consumed in large quantities are called the main, or macronutrients, consumed in smaller quantities - micronutrients. The latter also include boron (B), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo) and others. Only 65 years ago it was believed that about ten nutrients that make up the bulk of the plant, such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and sulfur, are sufficient for normal plant growth. Relatively recently, it turned out that the list of nutrients needed by plants is much wider. Gladiolus are rather finicky plants and flower growers have to make a lot of efforts to achieve flowering. How can I feed gladioli for abundant flowering? What "menu" does this flower prefer? Their lush flowering will depend on how you care for and feed gladioli.

The frequency of feeding gladioli

Nutritious top dressing of gladioli in the open field includes 4 main stages of introducing the necessary substances. Top dressing is applied mainly in liquid form, this is more effective than scattering over the area with plantings. The time for the next top dressing is determined based on the degree of development of the plants, since gladioli can be planted from the end of April, their growth will depend on specific meteorological conditions.

If possible, each stage can be divided into 2 procedures and top dressing can be applied in smaller quantities with an interval of 5-7 days at each gladiolus growth phase. Before and after liquid top dressing, it is recommended to water the plants in order to exclude the possibility of burns, to improve the delivery of trace elements to the root system.

Stages of growth of gladiolus, which determine the application of top dressing to the soil:

1. the appearance of the first 2-3 true sheets;
2. the formation of 6 leaves;
3. the beginning of the formation of peduncles;
4. flowering period.

Between the main stages of development, gladiolus can also be fertilized; in these cases, top dressing is carried out depending on the condition of the plant. If signs of a shortage of a certain element are found, the necessary fertilizer is additionally applied separately or as part of a complex solution.

Any top dressing of gladioli is carried out with moist soil, sufficiently warm air temperature and dry weather. If there is heavy rainfall, the nutrients are washed out with water. In this case, you must either repeat the application of fertilizers, or cancel it until a more suitable time.

Types of mineral fertilizers for feeding gladioli

The use of mineral components as a fertilizer for gladioli is a more common practice, since these are flowers, not a fruiting plant, so the use of chemical components is not contraindicated by any prejudices, but you are sure that your plant receives the necessary useful complex, which it needs so much . Mineral fertilizers for gladioli are divided into:

• One-component, which contain one nutritional component for gladioli. These include nitrogen (in the list - urea, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulfate), phosphorus (of which - simple and double superphosphate, bone meal), potash (the best - sulfate, chloride and potassium carbonate) fertilizers.
• Complex. They have two components. Potassium nitrate, potassium magnesia are well suited for gladioli.
• Complete, containing three elements - nitrophoska, nitroammofoska.

Types of organic fertilizers for feeding gladioli

The most common and affordable for flower growers are:

• Overripe manure. Feeding gladioli with fresh manure is strictly prohibited. It contains pathogenic bacteria and fungal infections, which will lead to flower diseases.
• Chicken droppings. As well as manure, only infusion of litter is used and diluted. It is advisable not to use other types of litter.

Organic fertilizers (manure, litter) must be diluted with water (1: 1) and insisted for at least 10 days. And then the infusion is once again diluted with water to a ratio of 1:20 if chicken manure is taken and 1:10 in the case of mullein.

Do-it-yourself gladiolus fertilizers for abundant flowering

For watering and spraying, you can prepare green fertilizer. To do this, nettles, weeds, tops are poured with water and insisted for 10 days. A third of the greens and two parts of water are poured into the container.

You can periodically use a yeast top dressing to revitalize the soil in which gladioli grow. Top dressing and care in the open field involves the introduction of microorganisms into the ground that improve its composition.

Compost takes longer to mature, but is a versatile fertilizer for flowering plants. To lay a compost heap, you need to fence off a place on the site and lay out layers of manure, grass residues, tops, culinary waste and soil. Compost rot takes about a year. If you start to form layers in the summer, then by spring it will be ready for use. The compost is mixed with the topsoil and added to the pit when planting.

Foliar top dressing of gladioli for abundant flowering

Foliar fertilization is a very effective tool in quickly solving specific problems. If the leaves grow poorly and are too light in color, foliar top dressing with urea can help. For the fastest outflow of nutrients to the bulb during flowering, you can spray the plants with superphosphate, avoiding the solution getting on the flowers.

Foliar top dressing of gladioli is done using mechanical or manual sprayers, in cloudy weather or in the evening, in order to retain fertilizer on the leaves longer. For better adhesion, add dissolved soap. Given the vertical arrangement of the gladiolus leaf apparatus, spraying should be done in such a way that the sprayed composition falls on both sides of the leaves.

Gladiolus are not demanding plants, but in poor and heavy soil they are unlikely to give you lush inflorescences. Water the flowers regularly and loosen the ground, be sure to remove the weeds. The key to getting a good bouquet for relatives, friends, schoolchildren on September 1 is the fulfillment of flower growers proven by many years of experience - this is top dressing.