Your Gladioli Glow Up: Tips & Tricks
Gladioli are adored for good reason – not just by us, but by pollinating butterflies and bees. Be it their rich history, tall sword-like stems or 360 trumpet flowers, they keep our gardens humming and our planet spinning, so let’s work with nature to make them last longer at home. Unleash your inner florist with Freddie’s tips
Know how to pick ‘em
First things first, pick stems that haven’t flourished yet. Fortunately, by choosing Freddie’s, that’s the case for all your flowers: we handpick and deliver our blooms in bud, so they pop before your eyes and last up to two weeks.
Keep it clean
Remove any foliage below your vase’s waterline and rinse their stems to avoid bacteria build-up. This will help stop their water from stagnating – keeping things fresh, clean and rot free.
Trim like a ninja
Chop an inch off each stem at an angle for maximum water absorption. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife to prevent decaying, fraying ends and submerge each stalk in water as you go (this will help prevent water blocking air bubbles).
Tend like a bee
Keep your gladioli nourished, and they’ll beam back with bright, full blooms. That’s why we always send two sachets of our secret recipe flower food per order – so you can refresh their water every 3-4 days to keep them quenched, alive and thriving. In need of a top-up? You can make your own from home with ingredients from your cupboard – follow along with these simple steps.
Find their sweet spot
A warm room will help them bloom and cooler temperatures will make them last longer. It’s worth keeping this in mind when choosing where to place them: we recommend finding a happy medium or moving them away from direct sunlight, draughts and heaters once they’ve flowered.
Freddie’s gladioli tablescaping tips
Once most of your florets have opened, you can pluck off the bottom ones and use them to decorate your tablescapes. Not only will this bring a nice touch to your interiors, but it’ll help save extra energy and nutrients for those bigger flowers up top.
There are thousands of gladioli varieties under the sun, and we’re committed to selecting the best of the best for each of your bunches. It’s one of our all-time favourite stems, and for good reason: discover why on the journal, as we explore the gladioli’s surprising history, symbolism, and tips on how to grow them yourself.
Up next...
Nature’s Banquet: Your Guide to Tablescaping
The best things in life come naturally – like, fresh fruit, wild flowers and the ones you choose to share them with. But, around one table, you can make the moment last longer: set the scene with our tablescaping tips, invite a couple friends and make a meal of it.
Postcards From The Med, with Aline Gaiad
In conversation with London based artist Aline Gaiad - who created the covers of our August guides - she tells us everything about her art, inspiration and bond with nature.