The Q&A Archives: Planting Callas and Glads

Question: I am new to planting bulbs and just purchased some hardy orchids, gladiolus, and calla lily. The bulbs look like they have stems or roots sprouting from one side of them, but I don't know if this is the side that gets planted towards the sky or ground? The glads have nothing sprouting, both sides look the same, have no clue as to what side gets planted up or down. Can you help please? There was no instruction for this on the packaging.

Answer: The Calla Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is propagated from rhisomes. The rhisome should be laid flat about 3 inches deep in the soil. If you grow them in containers, repot annually in well-aerated potting mixture containing 30% organic matter; if indoors, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth once a month to remove dust.<br><br>Gladiolus are propagated from corms. The bottom of the corm<br>has a slight indentation and should be planted with this side down. Gladiolus should be planted in full sun in a fairly rich soil.<br><br>Orchids are propagated by seeds or division. If you have a<br>division, there will be some evidence of growth on the top of the plant. Plant the divisions with this top growth up. If you are planting in containers, use a very porous medium, such as fine bark, peat moss, small stones, chopped tree fern fiber and charcoal. <br><br>

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