Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Parrot Gladiolus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Parrot Gladiolus, Parrot Glad, Candy Corn Glad, African Parrot Gladiola (Gladiolus dalenii).

More about parrot gladiolus

About Parrot Gladiolus

Gladiolus dalenii · also called Parrot Gladiolus, Parrot Glad · flowering

Gladiolus dalenii is a robust South African cormous perennial producing tall spikes of vivid orange-red and yellow hooded flowers in summer. It is notably hardier than hybrid glads, persisting in the ground to zone 6 with mulch. Plant corms in full sun, well-drained soil after last frost; lift in cold climates after first fall frost.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Thrips (Gladiolus thrips, Taeniothrips simplex): Tiny insects feed on leaves and buds, causing silvery streaks, distorted flowers, and failure to open. Inspect corms at lifting; dust with an appropriate insecticide powder before storage. Avoid planting in the same bed for at least 4 years.

The reasons parrot gladiolus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming parrot gladiolus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding parrot gladiolus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get parrot gladiolus to flower

Maximise sun. Give parrot gladiolus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for parrot gladiolus and get the feeding right with the parrot gladiolus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Parrot Gladiolus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full parrot gladiolus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Parrot Gladiolus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my parrot gladiolus flower?

Parrot Gladiolus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make parrot gladiolus bloom?

Give parrot gladiolus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does parrot gladiolus normally bloom?