What to expect when your gladioli arrive
We send our gladiolus flowers in bud, while they’re still sleeping, so they wake up beautifully in your vase. Kind of like tiny astronauts, travelling in suspended animation. This means they arrive looking small and unopened. But trust us: this is a good thing. It protects the delicate blooms on their journey, and guarantees they stay fresher for longer.
We also ‘tip’ our gladioli by removing the very top of the flower spikes, which helps them fit in the box. The top section doesn’t bloom, so this also makes sure you get the fullest, flowering part of the stem.
Our florist’s top five gladioli care tips
You don’t need a green thumb to be able to properly care for your gladioli. You just need to follow these easy tips.
1. Choose the right vase
A tall vase that can support heavier or longer stems is best, to support your gladioli while they bloom.
2. Strip away excess leaves
Remove any leaves or flower heads that sit below the waterline in the vase. This prevents bacteria growth, which can shorten the life of your flowers.
3. Trim your stems at an angle
Use sharp scissors – or even better, floristry scissors – to cut 5-10cm off the ends at a 45-degree angle. Repeat this every few days. This creates a larger surface area for water uptake, helping the flowers to stay hydrated. For a dramatic look, aim to trim your stems into different heights, like stadium tiers.
4. Get them into water as quickly as possible
Use clean, cold water and then add the first sachet of flower food to the vase. This provides essential nutrients and helps keep the water clean. Save the second sachet for when you change the water in 2-3 days.
5. Keep away from light, heat and fruit
Place them somewhere out of direct sunlight, and ideally not next to any bowls of fruit or vegetables. They release gases which can cause your flowers to wilt.
How to arrange like a pro
Gladioli are real scene-stealers. They may arrive looking unremarkable. But give them a couple of days, and they unfurl into the most dramatic shapes. Make sure to cut yours into different lengths, which adds interest to the eye, placing your taller flower stalks at the back. Aim for an airy, spaced-out arrangement – the lower flowers need plenty of room to bloom.
As styled by you
Just like nature herself, every arrangement is unique. We love seeing how you style these beautiful flowers. Tag us on Instagram @bloomandwild for the chance to be featured on our feed.
Gladioli FAQs
We send all our cut flowers in bud, so they bloom over several days and stay fresh for as long as possible in your vase. You should see them start to bloom in 24-48 hours.
Gladioli are naturally long stems, and can sometimes tend to lean. This isn’t anything to worry about. Try re-cutting the stems, refreshing the water, and give them time to rehydrate. In the meantime, you can arrange other stems around them to help support.
With proper care, they can last 7 to 10 days. But we often hear from customers whose bouquets have lasted well beyond that. We guaranteed 7 days’ freshness. If anything’s not totally right, just get in touch with our friendly Customer Delight team.
The growing season for these beautiful flowers runs from early summer to late summer – around June until September. You might see them growing in gardens when you're out and about over the summer months. We source a lot of our gladioli varieties from British farms, where they're grown in naturally sunny locations and well-drained soil.
The name 'gladiolus' comes from the Latin 'gladius' – literally meaning little sword. Due to their long, thick stems and sword-like leaves, gladioli are also referred to as the sword lily. They're often seen as a symbol of strength and integrity, as well as celebrating victory and success. So they make the perfect gift for the friend who's got that long-overdue promotion, or passed their exam with flying colours. As the birth flower for August, they're also our top pick for August birthdays.
