Hello I have just joined this site and was wondering if anyone know why gladioli bulbs revert back to white, most of my bulbs have lost their colour. Any help woulb be greatly appreciated, Thank You.

Sand069

Don't know but if you look up the internet you will no doubt get a very detailed answer.

As far as I know,it's a fallacy. Gladioli form clumps and in time the one will colour will dominate and the other will disappear. But for a better, fuller explanation, I too would suggest that you google it. Better than using a dictionary!

Thank You for your input but so far I have not found the revelant info by googling it but will keep looking.

Ask at the local garden shop, they will know. if not handy they would welcome a phone call.

I understand that they need to be lifted and stored over winter then replanted in the warm spring to retain their hybrid colour.

I have been growing gladioli for 40 years and have never seen them change colour or revert to white. I have has some of my bulbs for 20 years and taken them from house to house and they always flower true. I do lift them every couple of years or so if I remember.

Before I was married and still lived with parents, there was one of thse old wooden type villas across from us on the corner. The front white picket fence went around both sides and the garden was all in gladiolii of all shades. We admired them. One morning I looked across and not one flower was left. We heard that a thief in the night had stolen them all. We were all devastated that the glorious display was gone.

Hello

Gladioli do not revert to white. They will keep their own colour as long as the corms are alive. Even the cormlets will have the same colour. Colour may be different if new corms are raised from seed.

There is one thing to be aware of and that is a virus which will effect colour usually with pink to red specs in the colour of the flowers. If you see this occurring remov e the corms and burn them or dump them.