I just found out that acidanthera are a type of gladiola, and since my glads (near the house) overwinter, I was wondering if the acidanthera would too. I live in the fraser valley, zone 7? Thanks
Gladiolus callianthus. Harder to keep over here than some others. Lack of flowering is a problem even if they come back up. Dig and store for best results.
I live in Gibsons bc. I have very successfully overwintered Acidanthera planted in the ground for two years in a row now. The first year I didn't mulch them and to my surprise they were fine. This year I just checked and all the bulbs are viable. I did mulch them this winter. As soon as they start growing I will apply a solution 20/20/20 fertilizer every two weeks. The ones last year responded brilliantly to the fertilizer and we had a wonderful Fall show. The fertilizer is key for re-blooming. Best of luck!!!
do you have your acidanthera in an all-day sun location or part shade. our cottage has half-day sun then shade so I wonder if I could grow these pretty flowers up on the coast I noticed some of these flowers the other day next to that nice dress boutique in the village near mollys reach (in the parking space next to the former bank now gallery)
Yes they grow better in a sunny location for sure. Worth a try in the part shade. They are not too expensive..I think around 6.99+ for 25 bulbs I see you have found one of my patches by the store there !!!:) They are usually blooming in September. They are early this year.
hello and thank you for your prompt reply at what time of year did you plant those ones by the dress boutique? and - do you think they would do well in a container (on patio or deck) up on the coast? are these bulbs readily avail at the local nurseries in Sept or do they sell these ones in the spring? should I look for them in the city or can I buy locally up there? thanks again!
I am sorry I can't remember what time I planted them this spring. Late spring I imagine. Perhaps it's a good idea to stagger them. Plant some every two weeks. It's nice to have them blooming in the fall when other things have fizzled out. They do great in pots! plant one inch apart and 2-3 " deep...and fertilize with 20/20/20 every two weeks. You will definitely have to dig and store the bulbs that bloomed in the pots. Ones in the ground could be fine if you mulch them. All the nurseries in Gibsons usually have them. But be warned, they sell out.
Two years is not long enough to establish lasting winter hardiness, unless a killer winter occurred during that time and the plants were not affected.
reviving our thread from last year - i bought some bulbs recently in the Sunshine Coast area (near Vancouver) - and will be putting them in pots at the cottage hopefully sgileo (see above) has put some in too - in the village near Molly's Reach and the dress boutique and various galleries. They looked great last year.
Yay you got some bulbs! I don't think that I will have to buy any new bulbs for Zocolo. The ones in the ground should have overwintered fine because I mulched them well. I will check on them soon :)
Well actually I was wrong. This year I just recently dug up the bulbs that I had mulched well from last year and many had died.. so I had to replant with new bulbs. The few ones that seemed to have overwintered were way larger than the originals. I re planted those towards the rear/ back of Zocolo. Hope they are amazing. Thinking that if they are amazing that they will bloom later than the ones at the front. ;)
