Baby offsets from Acidanthera

Question

I recently asked this question but the info is too general and doesn’t address the question… Can you tell me how offsets get bigger if they are not attached to the mother bulb any longer? Will putting tiny pea-sized baby bulbs in the soil on their own over the summer help them to get bigger or grow roots if fed? How do small offsets grow into larger bulbs? Do they need to stay attached to the mother bulb in order to grow? Thank you!!

Answer 1

Gladiolus will generally divide into exactly 2 new large bulbs each year, plus several small offsets.
These small offsets will take several years to grow and before they will bloom.
No, they do not need to stay attached.
Treat the small offsets the same as larger bulbs, but just have patience.