Gladiolus palustris

[Paul T]

Maggi et al,

At this rate there are going to be a lot of "digression" topics, if the Arisaema one was used as an example.  We can have Scots digressions, smiley digressions, and I'm sure many other digressions.  As long as there aren't any indisgressions. 

[Maggi Young]

As long as there aren't any indisgressions.

Perhaps we should commission Forum "Milk of Magnesia", Paul, as a preventative measure?








...apologies to the non- native-English-speakers for these very english jokes!

[Paul T]

I guess that depends on what sort of indiscretions you're hoping for.    I'm not entirely sure that Mild of Magnesia is used as a preventative measure for anything, is it?  Usually it starts things, not stops them.

[Anthony Darby]

I guess that depends on what sort of indiscretions you're hoping for.    I'm not entirely sure that Mild of Magnesia is used as a preventative measure for anything, is it?  Usually it starts things, not stops them.

Milk of Magnesia was that horrible white liquid my mother gave me when I had an upset tummy. It is mildly alkaline and neutralises stomach acid. Better than Bisodol, but these days the chewy antacid tablets or Gaviscon are better in all senses of the word.

[Paul T]

Anthony,

When I looked it up it said it was designed to clean out your system rather thoroughly.  On rechecking it does mention the antacid qualities, but I think I more noticed the other more explosive qualities and focused on them. 

[partisangardener]

Has anyone ever grown Gladiolus palustris or seen them growing in the wild in Europe? 

I grow this gladiolus palustris now for more than 10 years. The first plants were grown from seeds. They flowered after 3 years, the first time.  They stayed outside in a pot every winter, which is quite cold here sometimes (eventually 2-3 weeks a piece below -20 C° at night with little snow). I gave away my mother plants because I had to leave house an garden.
 
Some I had kept together with some Sarracenia purpurea, they had survived for 4 years until they succumbed to the bad environment and died  some years  ago at a friends garden.
The last seed harvest I had, was  sown in a pot into commercial earth and a little garden soil.
As there where a great lot o pots and in autumn nothing visible they were neglected a bit.. 
After two years without care at all, I identified them again (by leaf and sticker ), and they were watered a bit, fed very little. They are now about 50 quite healthy little bulbs finally re potted in a 30 cm plastikpot and 4 or 5 might even bloom the next year.
There is a bit swampy meadow in the mountains near the Ammersee /Germany where they say it grows in the wild. I saw this meadow from a distance of about 300 meters there was Juncus ssp., as far I could see. But it was not possible at that time to have a close look.

This late bulb I would not leave outside uncovered. If you have snow cover you could leave it probably even outside, with the pot in the ground. Frost free inside is OK They are quite hardy once established.

[David Nicholson]

Greetings Axel and welcome to the Forum. A very interesting first post too.

[Ragged Robin]

Axel, welcome to this great Forum for sharing ideas and experiences and I am so pleased to have a reply from you about G. palustris 

Your experiences give me a clear idea about what to do now and I have 6 bulbs in individual pots sent from a specialist nursery that I will tend to - I think I will put a couple into the ground which remains moist all year but not waterlogged and see how they grow away next year, the other 4 I will keep frost free in an out house until the Spring and keep them just moist.....that way I have covered all eventualities.  My other questions, assuming they survive, is whether they need an open sunny position or whether they would be alright with morning/late afternoon sun - in other words do the bulbs need some heat as well as moisture to thrive?  I know they grow in meadows near the river but up here at 1200 metres the soil can get very baked and dry in the summer and is not very deep so I need to plant in semi shade on a slope.

You sound as if you have had some good results and it would be great to see yours flowering next year - mine to I hope!

[partisangardener]

I had them always partly shaded, at the westside of my house shaded by two large trees (weeping willow and Ash a few meters south of this house side). They flowered well. Now they have sun for a few hours during midday, partly shaded by some large stones and other plants in front of my studio. I think they did there better but the leafs withered earlier.

[Ragged Robin]

I think they did there better but the leafs withered earlier.

More interesting observations in growth pattens, Axel, thanks very much....I wonder if the leaves withering earlier will effect the regeneration of the bulb/corm and therefore naturalisation?

[Maggi Young]

Hello, Axel, warm greetings to you, welcome to the Forum!

[partisangardener]

Thank You for Your warm wellcome.
The bulbs looked good when I re potted them in august. The leafs were more than double as strong in the end. I will know for certain next spring. I would dig a bit to have a look how they are doing, but yours look too far developed, mine will be probably in the same state, I don`t dare .

[partisangardener]

Thats what mine look like this year. Now I am no more 100 % shure about the species . If I am lucky some will flower for the first time, then I will see.

[Ragged Robin]

Axel, I am anxiously looking at the ground where I planted some tiny bulbs of G. palustris last year - I shall be devastated if they don't - will be looking to see what happens with yours