Gladiolus cormels are the small, baby bulbs that form around the base of a gladiolus corm. These cormels are essentially immature corms and can be planted to grow into mature, flowering gladiolus plants, though it takes time for them to reach blooming size—typically 2 to 3 years.

### What are Gladiolus Cormels?

- **Appearance**: Gladiolus cormels are much smaller than the parent corms, typically the size of a pea or smaller, and covered in a hard, protective coating.

- **Purpose**: They serve as a means of propagating gladiolus plants, allowing you to grow new plants that will eventually flower, although the first year is usually dedicated to vegetative growth rather than blooms.

### Growing Gladiolus Cormels

1. **Collecting Cormels**:

   - Cormels are collected by separating them from the mother corm. They are often found attached to the base of the larger corm.

2. **Storing Over Winter**:

   - Cure the cormels by letting them dry in a cool, dry location for 2-3 weeks.

   - Store them in a breathable container (like a mesh bag or paper bag) in a cool, dry place (around 35-40°F or 2-5°C) over the winter months.

3. **Planting Cormels**:

   - **Timing**: Plant the cormels in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.

   - **Location**: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil.

   - **Planting Depth**: Plant the cormels about 1-2 inches deep, depending on their size.

   - **Spacing**: Space them 2-3 inches apart, as they will take a couple of years to grow large enough for blooming.

4. **Care During Growth**:

   - Water regularly but ensure the soil does not become waterlogged.

   - Apply a balanced fertilizer (like 10-10-10) monthly during the growing season.

   - Protect from pests like slugs and snails that may eat the young shoots.

5. **Yearly Progress**:

   - **First Year**: Cormels will produce leaves and store energy in the growing corm beneath the soil, but no flowers.

   - **Second Year**: By the second or third year, depending on how fast they grow, the cormels should reach a size large enough to support flowering.

6. **Lifting and Storing Again**:

   - At the end of each growing season (typically in the fall), lift the corms, allow them to dry, and store them over winter to protect them from cold temperatures, just like you would with mature gladiolus corms.

With patience, the cormels will grow into blooming gladiolus plants that will brighten your garden in a couple of years!

Gladioli, or sword lily