It’s always best to cut flowers in the morning when the air is cool and the plant is the most hydrated.
Avoid using scissors or a blunt tool because these will crush the cells in the stem, shortening the cut flower’s life span.
You may want to bring a bucket of water into the garden with you to make it easier.
Be wary because the cut flower stem is tall and heavy and can tip over a lightweight vase. A tall cylindrical vase with a weighted bottom is a good option. Make sure the vase isn’t too wide at the top so the stems stay as vertical as possible. Add weight to the base with gravel or pebbles. If necessary, add more water to the vase to provide some stability.
If you are making a multi-flower arrangement, use those to pad the space between the gladiolus stems so they stay in place.
For safety’s sake, don’t put the vase somewhere it will cause damage if it tips over.
It’s important to clip them regularly because microbes will grow at the base and block the flow of water up the stem. If you notice the ends are slimy or dark green after snipping the end, cut it again about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) at a time until you see a fresh base. Cut gladiolus will last anywhere from 6 to 12 days depending on the health of the plant when you cut it and how you take care of it.
You can buy cut flower feed at any superstore or grocery store that has a plant nursery. You can also use half a crushed aspirin pill instead of flower feed.
Wilted florets will appear shriveled and limp or show signs of discoloration (like darkening or browning). Remove each flower as it begins to wilt—don’t wait until the seed head begins to form. Take care to remove not just the shriveled petals but also the swollen bit at the base of the dead flower (where it connects onto the main flower stem). This is the bit that forms the seed.
