Gladiolus Rainbow Flower Bulbs – Mixed Colours
Gladiolus grandiflorus
Gladiolus produces some of the tallest, most striking flower spikes you can grow at home - a single stem carries ten or more trumpet-shaped florets. This Rainbow pack gives you a mixed/assorted colour range...
Inclusive of all taxes.
- 48-hour arrival check — if bulbs arrive soft, mouldy or damaged, report it within 48 hours with photos.
- Free shipping on orders above ₹999. Dispatch in 1–2 business days.
- Breathable bulb-safe packing — cushioned and ventilated, never sealed in plastic.
Full growing guide
Gladiolus produces some of the tallest, most striking flower spikes you can grow at home - a single stem carries ten or more trumpet-shaped florets. This Rainbow pack gives you a mixed/assorted colour range in one go. It is also one of the easiest flowering bulbs for a beginner: no seed-raising, no transplanting, no delicate seedling stage.
A full rainbow of tall flower spikes, from one pack of bulbs
Gladiolus produces some of the tallest, most striking flower spikes you can grow at home — a single stem carries ten or more trumpet-shaped florets, rising well above the leaves. This Rainbow pack gives you a mixed/assorted colour range in one go, so a single planting session can turn a plain balcony into a row of colour.
It is also one of the easiest flowering bulbs for a beginner. There is no seed-raising, no transplanting and no delicate seedling stage. You bury a bulb the right way up, water it sensibly, and give it sun.
What makes this listing different: we tell you the exact number of bulbs in the pack, we show you a photograph of the actual dormant bulbs you will receive, we clearly label which photographs are bloom references, and we include a printed India-specific planting guide in every box.
Why customers will love it
- Exact count, written down. 10, 20 or 30 bulbs — whichever variant you select is what gets packed and counted.
- Mixed colours in one pack. One order, a multi-colour display, instead of buying five single-colour packs.
- Tall, cut-flower quality spikes. Gladiolus is a florist's flower. What you grow can go straight into a vase.
- Works in pots. You do not need a garden. A pot at least 30 cm deep is enough.
- Beginner-friendly. No seed tray, no pricking out. Plant the bulb and wait.
- India-specific guidance. A planting calendar for your region, not a translated European one.
- Honest expectations. We publish the timelines as ranges, explain dormancy, and do not promise flowers we cannot control.
Choose your pack
| Pack | Bulbs | Price | Price per bulb | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Starter Pack | 10 | ₹249 | ₹24.90 | Trying gladiolus for the first time; about 2 pots |
| Rainbow Garden Pack | 20 | ₹499 | ₹24.95 | A filled balcony or a short border; about 3–4 pots |
| Rainbow Value Pack | 30 | ₹649 | ₹21.63 | Full border, cut-flower supply, or sharing with family |
The 30-bulb Rainbow Value Pack has the lowest price per bulb in this range — ₹21.63 against ₹24.90 in the 10-bulb pack, which is ₹3.27 less per bulb. Thirty bulbs bought at the 10-bulb pack rate would come to ₹747; this pack is ₹649.
The 20-bulb pack is priced for garden coverage rather than for a lower per-bulb rate. If price per bulb is your main consideration, choose the 30-bulb pack.
What is inside the box
- Your selected number of gladiolus planting bulbs — 10, 20 or 30
- Mixed / assorted colours
- A printed PlantsGram planting guide, written for Indian conditions
- Breathable, cushioned packaging designed to keep bulbs dry and un-crushed in transit
Not included: pots, planters, soil, potting mix, fertiliser and gardening tools are not part of this pack unless a bundle is explicitly selected at checkout.
What you will actually receive
You will receive dormant gladiolus planting bulbs. A healthy dormant bulb is firm to squeeze, has a dry papery or brown outer covering, and shows no green shoot at all. This is what a correct, healthy, ready-to-plant gladiolus bulb looks like.
Dormancy is a resting stage, not death. A bulb that looks dry on the outside is behaving exactly as it should. The growth you are waiting for happens after it is planted and watered.
You will not receive a flowering plant, a plant with leaves, a seedling, or seeds.
About the flower photographs on this page
Bloom-reference images on this page are illustrative and may be digitally created. They are not photographs of flowers grown from this batch. The images of the dormant bulbs themselves are real photographs of our actual stock.
Any image on this page showing mature gladiolus flowers is a bloom reference — it shows what this type of bulb can produce under suitable growing conditions. It is not a photograph of the item being shipped to you. The delivered product is dormant planting material. Every bloom-reference image on this page is labelled on the image itself.
About the colours
Colours are supplied as mixed/assorted unless a specific colour is explicitly mentioned on the pack. Exact colour distribution may vary.
We do not promise a fixed number of bulbs per colour, and we do not promise that every bulb in your pack will be a different colour. Gladiolus bulbs cannot be identified by colour from the outside, so any seller claiming an exact per-colour count is claiming something the product does not allow. The colour range may include reds, pinks, yellows, oranges, whites, creams and purple tones.
Where you can grow these
- Pots and containers on a balcony, at least 30 cm deep
- Terrace gardens and grow bags
- Garden beds and colour borders
- A dedicated cut-flower patch for vase arrangements
- Along a boundary wall or fence, where the tall spikes get support from behind
Gladiolus is not suitable as an indoor plant. It needs direct sunlight for most of the day and will grow weak, leaning stems in low light.
Best planting season
Indian horticultural guidance is clear on this: October is the main planting month for the plains, and March to April for hill regions. Flower-size bulbs are typically planted from mid-September to mid-October.
Commercial growers also plant in succession — small batches every two weeks from early September to the end of November — to spread flowering from November through to May. You can do exactly the same thing at home: plant 10 bulbs now and 10 a fortnight later, and your flowering season lasts twice as long.
Will they grow in my city?
Gladiolus performs well in a temperature range of roughly 16–30°C and needs long, bright days. That makes most of India suitable at the right time of year — but the right time of year is different in different places.
| Region | Suggested planting window | Suitability | Special precaution |
|---|---|---|---|
| North India — Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan | Mid-September to end November; October is ideal | Very well suited | In a severe cold wave, young shoots can stall. Plant by early November so growth is established first. |
| West & Central India — Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh | October to November | Well suited | Avoid planting into soil still waterlogged from a late monsoon — drainage matters more than timing here. |
| South India — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, AP, Kerala | October to December; cooler plateau areas tolerate a wider window | Well suited, longer window | In high-humidity coastal belts, space bulbs wider and water less often to reduce rot risk. |
| East India — West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam | October to November | Well suited | High humidity raises rot risk. Use a free-draining mix and never let pots stand in water. |
| Hill and cool regions — Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K, North-East hills, Nilgiris | March to May | Very well suited, different season | Do not plant in autumn here. Flowering follows from roughly June to October. |
These are planting windows, not guarantees. Local microclimate, altitude, soil and that year's weather all affect the result.
How to plant gladiolus in 7 steps
- Pick the right container or spot. A pot at least 30 cm deep with drainage holes, or a bed in full sun. Common mistake: using a shallow 15 cm pot — the tall spike has nothing to anchor into and topples. Correction: depth matters more than width.
- Prepare a free-draining mix. Well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter, pH 6–7. Common mistake: heavy garden clay that holds water. Correction: add coarse sand or cocopeat until water drains through within seconds.
- Find the pointed end. One side is pointed, the other is a flat scar where roots emerge. Common mistake: planting upside down. Correction: pointed end faces up, always. If you genuinely cannot tell, plant it on its side — the shoot will correct itself.
- Plant 5–8 cm deep. Indian university guidance is 5 cm; go towards 8–10 cm for larger bulbs or a windy terrace. Common mistake: planting 15 cm deep because a foreign guide said so — the shoot then takes much longer to surface. Correction: stay in the 5–8 cm range in pots.
- Space them correctly. In pots, 5–10 cm apart. In beds, 15–25 cm apart. Common mistake: packing a pot to look full on day one. Correction: crowded bulbs compete and trap humidity, which invites rot.
- Water once, then wait. Water well after planting, then only when the top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry. Common mistake: daily watering before any shoot appears. Correction: there are no roots drinking yet; constant wet soil is the single most common way a bulb is lost.
- Support the spike before it needs it. When shoots reach about 20 cm, heap soil 10–15 cm around the base, and add a stake for tall varieties. Common mistake: staking after the stem has already bent. Correction: earth up early; a bent spike never straightens.
Growing in pots
- Pot depth: at least 30 cm (12 inches), with working drainage holes
- Bulbs per 30 cm pot: 5–7 — our recommendation, chosen deliberately on the conservative side because crowding raises rot risk in Indian humidity
- Spacing in a pot: 5–10 cm apart
- Place in the sunniest position you have; rotate the pot weekly if light comes from one side only
- Pots dry faster than beds — check moisture rather than following a fixed schedule
- Never leave a pot standing in a water-filled tray
Growing in a garden bed
- Choose a spot with full sun for most of the day
- Loosen the soil to at least 25–30 cm and mix in compost
- Space bulbs 15–25 cm apart; commercial spacing is 25 × 25 cm
- Plant in rows or a ridge for easier watering and staking
- A wall or fence behind the row gives useful wind protection
Sunlight, soil, depth, spacing, water, feed, support
| Requirement | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Full sun. Gladiolus is a long-day plant and needs roughly 12–14 hours of daylight for good spike development. |
| Soil | Well-drained sandy loam, rich in organic matter, pH 6–7. |
| Temperature | Performs well around 16–30°C. |
| Planting depth | 5–8 cm typically; up to 10 cm for larger bulbs or windy sites. |
| Spacing | Pots 5–10 cm apart; beds 15–25 cm apart. |
| Watering | Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry. Field crops are irrigated at 7–10 day intervals in sandy soil; pots will need it more often. Avoid waterlogging at every stage. |
| Fertiliser | A balanced fertiliser once at the 2-leaf stage and again when the flower spike starts to emerge. Follow the dosage printed on your fertiliser pack — do not over-feed a pot. |
| Support | Earth up 10–15 cm when shoots reach about 20 cm. Tall varieties benefit from a stake; commercial growers use stakes around 1.5 m. |
Expected sprouting and flowering
| Stage | Typical range under suitable conditions |
|---|---|
| First green shoot above soil | Approximately 10–21 days after planting. Warmer soil is faster; cool soil can push this past three weeks. |
| Leaves established, earthing-up stage | Roughly 4–6 weeks |
| Flower spike emerges and opens | Approximately 70–120 days after planting, depending on variety, bulb size, planting month and climate |
| Flowering duration per spike | Florets open in sequence from the bottom upwards over several days |
These are approximate ranges, not guarantees. Published horticultural sources themselves differ on the flowering window — some Indian university guidance states 110–120 days to spikes, other field practice reports 60–90 days depending on variety. We publish the full range rather than pick the most flattering number. Sprouting, flowering, flower colour and flowering dates are not guaranteed.
Common problems and how to avoid them
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No shoot after 3–4 weeks | Soil too cold, planted too deep, or constantly wet soil | Stop watering and let the soil dry out. Check depth is 5–8 cm, not 15 cm. |
| Bulb soft and foul-smelling when dug up | Rot from overwatering or poor drainage | Discard it. Improve drainage before replanting in that pot. |
| Silvery streaks on leaves turning brown | Thrips — a known gladiolus pest | Act early; remove badly affected leaves and treat per label instructions on a suitable product. |
| Yellowing leaves, plant collapses | Fusarium corm rot/yellows, the most serious gladiolus disease | Remove the affected plant and do not replant gladiolus in the same soil that season. |
| Tall stem bends or falls | Shallow planting, no earthing up, or wind | Earth up early and stake. A bent spike cannot be straightened. |
| Thin, leaning growth with no spike | Not enough sunlight | Move the pot to the brightest spot available. |
| Leaves fine, no flower | Small bulb grade, insufficient light, or poor feeding | Keep growing it — undersized bulbs often build up and flower in a later season. |
Preventing rot — the single most useful habit
- Drainage holes must actually drain. Test with water before planting.
- Do not water on a schedule. Water when the top 2–3 cm is dry.
- Do not soak bulbs before planting. Prolonged soaking is a rot pathway.
- Give each bulb its space. Crowding traps humidity.
- Never let a pot sit in a saucer of standing water.
- If one bulb rots, remove it along with the soil immediately around it.
After flowering
- Cut the spike for a vase, or remove spent florets, but leave the leaves standing. The leaves are rebuilding the bulb for next season.
- Keep watering and feeding while the leaves are still green.
- When the leaves yellow and dry naturally, stop watering.
- Lift the bulbs carefully. You will usually find the original bulb has been replaced by a new one, plus small offsets.
- Remove soil, cut the dried stem back, and let them dry in a shaded, airy place.
- Discard anything soft, mouldy or damaged — a diseased bulb in storage will spread.
Storing bulbs before planting or between seasons
- Keep them dry, cool, dark and well ventilated
- A single layer in a paper bag, mesh bag or open tray — never a sealed plastic bag
- Check every few weeks and remove anything going soft
- Commercial practice uses cool storage below about 10°C after curing; at home, the coolest dry corner you have is the practical equivalent
- Thrips can attack bulbs in storage and make them sticky and shrivelled — inspect before planting
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Thinking a dry bulb is a dead bulb. Dormant bulbs are supposed to look dry.
- Watering daily before anything sprouts. The commonest way to lose a bulb.
- Planting 15 cm deep. Indian guidance is around 5 cm; 5–8 cm is the practical range.
- Using a shallow pot. 30 cm depth minimum, or the spike will fall.
- Soaking bulbs overnight first. Unnecessary, and a rot risk.
- Growing them indoors. They need direct sun.
- Cutting the leaves off straight after flowering. That is how next year's bulb is starved.
- Expecting all bulbs to flower on the same day. They will not, and that is normal.
Important disclaimers
- You are buying dormant planting bulbs, not plants and not seeds.
- Gladiolus is commonly sold as a bulb; botanically, the planting material is a corm. We use the word "bulb" on this page because that is what customers search for.
- Colours are supplied as mixed/assorted unless a specific colour is explicitly mentioned on the pack. Exact colour distribution may vary. We do not promise a per-colour count, and we do not promise that every bulb will be a different colour.
- Sprouting, flowering, flower colour, flower size and flowering dates are not guaranteed.
- All timelines on this page are approximate ranges and may vary by climate, variety and care.
- Growing results depend on bulb condition, planting season, climate, soil, drainage and care — several of which are outside our control once the pack leaves us.
- Flower images on this page are bloom references, labelled as such, and do not depict the delivered product.
- Gladiolus is grown as an ornamental. It is not food, and no part of it should be eaten.
Shipping and arrival
- Dispatch: 1–2 business days
- Approximate delivery: 3–7 days
- Free shipping on orders above ₹999
- Packaging: breathable, cushioned, built to keep bulbs dry and un-crushed rather than airtight — bulbs sealed in plastic sweat and rot
- Arrival claims: if bulbs arrive damaged, soft or mouldy, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with photographs. Claims are handled as per PlantsGram's published policy.
- What to photograph: the unopened pack label, all bulbs laid out together so the count is visible, and a close-up of each affected bulb
- Support: support@plantsgram.com, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Why buy from PlantsGram
- The count is stated and honoured. You know exactly how many bulbs are coming.
- Real product photography. We photograph the actual dormant bulbs, not only the flowers.
- Bloom references are labelled. You will never mistake a reference photo for the delivered item.
- India-specific guidance. A regional planting calendar, not a translated foreign one.
- No fake guarantees. We publish ranges and name what we cannot control. Anyone promising 100% blooming is promising something nobody can.
- A planting guide in every pack, because most bulb failures are planting failures.
- Reachable support at support@plantsgram.com, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Plant this October, cut flowers this season
October is the planting month for most of the Indian plains, and March to April in the hills. Bulbs planted in the right window with sun and drainage do the rest on their own.
Choose your pack size above — 10 bulbs to try, 20 to fill a balcony, or 30 for the lowest price per bulb — and add it to your cart.
Care & growing details
- Light
- Full sun (12-14 hour long day)
- Watering
- Water when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry
- Soil
- Well-drained sandy loam rich in organic matter, pH 6-7. Add coarse sand or cocopeat until water drains through within seconds.
- Fertilizer
- A balanced fertiliser once at the 2-leaf stage and again when the flower spike starts to emerge. Follow the dosage printed on your fertiliser pack - do not over-feed a pot.
- Temperature
- Performs well around 16-30 C
- Humidity
- Open air; avoid trapped humidity around the bulbs
- Repotting
- When the leaves have dried down, lift the bulbs, clean off soil, cut back the dried stem and dry them in a shaded airy place. You will usually find the original bulb replaced by a new one plus small offsets.
- Pruning
- Do not cut the leaves after flowering. Cut the spike for a vase or remove spent florets, but leave the leaves standing - they rebuild the bulb for next season. Cut the leaves only once they yellow and dry naturally.
- Planting depth
- 5-8 cm deep (up to 10 cm for large bulbs), pointed end up
- Flowering
- Spikes approx. 70-120 days after planting - not guaranteed
- Flower colour
- Mixed / assorted
- Approx height
- Typically 60-120 cm - to be confirmed against our own stock
- Pet safety
- Keep away from pets - gladiolus is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested
Common problems
No shoot after 3-4 weeks: soil too cold, planted too deep, or constantly wet soil. Soft, foul-smelling bulb: rot from overwatering or poor drainage. Silvery streaks turning brown: thrips. Yellowing leaves and collapse: Fusarium corm rot. Stem bends or falls: shallow planting, no earthing up, or wind. Thin leaning growth, no spike: not enough sunlight.
What you will receive
Dormant gladiolus planting bulbs (corms) in the exact count of the pack you select - 10, 20 or 30 - in mixed/assorted colours, plus a printed India-specific planting guide, in breathable bulb-safe packaging. Not a flowering plant, not a plant with leaves, not seeds. No pot, soil, fertiliser or tools included.
Frequently asked questions
Are these seeds or bulbs?
What is a corm?
How many bulbs will I receive?
Are the exact colours guaranteed?
Can they grow in pots?
Which season is best for planting?
How much sunlight do they need?
How deep should I plant them?
How much spacing do they need?
When will they sprout?
When will they flower?
Is flowering guaranteed?
What if the bulb looks dry? Is it dead?
What if a bulb arrives damaged or mouldy?
Can I store them before planting?
Are pots and soil included?
Can beginners grow them?
Will all the bulbs flower at the same time?
Can the flowers be used as cut flowers?
What care is needed after flowering?
How many pots do I need?
Will they come back next year?
Checking your bulbs on arrival
A dry-looking bulb is not a dead bulb. Dormancy is a resting stage — the test is firmness, not appearance.
- Normal: firm when gently squeezed, a dry papery brown outer covering, and no green shoot at all.
- Also normal: light surface marks, slight size variation, dry roots at the base, a little soil dust.
- Not acceptable: soft or hollow, wet or foul-smelling, visible mould, crushed or split, or a short count.
- Count all the bulbs in one frame and photograph them before planting.
- Report any issue within 48 hours of delivery with photos of the pack label, all bulbs together, and a close-up of each affected bulb.
Email support@plantsgram.com, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Claims are handled as per our published policy.
Shipping & claims
Dispatched in 1–2 business days. Approximate delivery 3–7 days. Free shipping on orders above ₹999. Tracking details are sent once your order is dispatched.
If bulbs arrive damaged, soft or mouldy, contact us within 48 hours of delivery with your order number and photographs. Claims are processed as per our published policy.
