Plant Doctor Archive

Rust on gladioli - 1

I HAVE always grown gladioli successfully until last year. I bought new corms but was disappointed when the new plants had rust and the flowers were deformed. I only lift my corms when they need dividing and thought that this year all would be well, but I was dismayed to find that again they have rust and it appears to have spread to my healthy stock. A friend said after lifting the corms they could be treated with diluted Jeyes Fluid but didn't know any further details. Please could you tell me if this is true?

RUST will definitely run rampant on gladioli - I know from personal experience. I don't have a recipe for Jeyes Fluid spray, but alternatively, spray with Yates Bravo, Fungus Fighter or Greenguard or Watkins Saprol or Fungus and Mildew Spray. Spray other plants to protect against further spread. When lifting bulbs, a light dusting of captan will protect against fungal problems and rotting during storage.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.