Pest identification
What's eating my gladiolus 'purple flora'?
Gladiolus thrips (Thrips simplex)
Signs: Silvery streaking and browning on petals; leaves speckled white; corms pitted and discoloured
Control: Dust stored corms with insecticide; spray plants with spinosad or neem oil during the growing season
Aphids
Signs: Distorted new growth; honeydew and sooty mould on stems and foliage
Control: Use a strong water jet to dislodge colonies; apply insecticidal soap repeatedly; encourage predatory insects
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes in young leaves and chewed-off emerging shoots at soil level
Control: Scatter ferric phosphate pellets; use beer traps; clear mulch and debris where slugs shelter
Keep gladiolus 'purple flora' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Gladiolus 'Purple Flora' pests — FAQ
What is eating my gladiolus 'purple flora'?
Like all gladioli, 'Purple Flora' is most vulnerable to gladiolus thrips, which scar and distort the vibrant purple blooms. Aphids weaken stems, and slugs attack young shoots. Checking and treating corms before storage stops thrips persisting from season to season — the key defence for repeat flowering.
How do I get rid of gladiolus thrips (thrips simplex) on gladiolus 'purple flora'?
Silvery streaking and browning on petals; leaves speckled white; corms pitted and discoloured Dust stored corms with insecticide; spray plants with spinosad or neem oil during the growing season
How do I get rid of aphids on gladiolus 'purple flora'?
Distorted new growth; honeydew and sooty mould on stems and foliage Use a strong water jet to dislodge colonies; apply insecticidal soap repeatedly; encourage predatory insects
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on gladiolus 'purple flora'?
Irregular holes in young leaves and chewed-off emerging shoots at soil level Scatter ferric phosphate pellets; use beer traps; clear mulch and debris where slugs shelter