Troubleshooting
Gladiolus 'Impressive' problems — and how to fix them
Gladiolus 'Impressive' (Gladiolus 'Impressive') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Spikes flop or snap
Tall flower stems lean or break in wind and rain. Stake individually or plant in supportive blocks, and choose a sheltered site.
Thrips damage
Gladiolus thrips streak and silver the leaves and distort flowers. Inspect corms before planting, dust or treat at first sign, and store cleaned corms cool over winter.
Corm rot and fusarium
Wet soil and infected stock cause corms to rot. Plant healthy corms in free-draining soil, rotate planting sites, and discard soft or mouldy corms.
Few or weak flowers
Caused by too much shade, small corms or poor feeding. Give full sun, plant large firm corms, and feed with potassium as spikes form.
Prevent gladiolus 'impressive' problems before they start
Most gladiolus 'impressive' issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for gladiolus 'impressive' in general rather than its problems? Read the full gladiolus 'impressive' care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Gladiolus 'Impressive' problems — FAQ
Why is my gladiolus 'impressive' spikes flop or snap?
Tall flower stems lean or break in wind and rain. Stake individually or plant in supportive blocks, and choose a sheltered site.
Why is my gladiolus 'impressive' thrips damage?
Gladiolus thrips streak and silver the leaves and distort flowers. Inspect corms before planting, dust or treat at first sign, and store cleaned corms cool over winter.
Why is my gladiolus 'impressive' corm rot and fusarium?
Wet soil and infected stock cause corms to rot. Plant healthy corms in free-draining soil, rotate planting sites, and discard soft or mouldy corms.
Why is my gladiolus 'impressive' few or weak flowers?
Caused by too much shade, small corms or poor feeding. Give full sun, plant large firm corms, and feed with potassium as spikes form.