My Glads look great and are ready to bloom but I noticed this morning that something is eating the buds before they can open. Do you know what pest does this? I've searched and can find nothing, please help!
This could be a squirrel or other four-legged critter. Squirrels unfortunately have a taste for Gladiolus. Here is some advice:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/animals/get-rid-squirrels.htm
I bought Gladiolus bulbs at end of summer clearance. Should I go ahead and plant them now and dig up before frost or will they keep until spring in a paper bag in the basement?
I would store the bulbs for the winter.
Here is a link with storage information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/gladiola/storing-gladiola-corms.htm
Best way to prepare are keep gladiolus in pots over winter. I have a greenhouse.
This article will help you with winter storage for Gladiola corms.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/gladiola/storing-gladiola-corms.htm
I planted some bulbs I had lying around earlier this fall, and now, come to find out that a.) they're Gladiolus, and b.) they should have been planted in spring. Will the leaves sap the bulb and lead to their dying, or should I just ignore them and wait for spring (I live in a temperate zone 8 and glads don't need to be lifted in winter.) Help!
There is little to be done if the corms have broke dormancy. Just allow them to grow and die off naturally.
It could effect the flowering the next season.
I put my gladiolus bulbs into storage for the winter, in peat moss, but some of them have started to sprout. Evidently, there was sufficient moisture in the peat moss to stimulate growth. Is there any way of stopping this, or am I too late to save those bulbs that have started to sprout?
You may be able to keep the sprouts from growing any more if you move the bulbs to a colder location. A refrigerator or cold garage could work, as described in this article:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/bgen/how-to-store-bulbs-that-have-sprouted.htm
The bulbs will probably survive anyway; if anything some of them might not flower this year if they have used up too much energy in sprouting, but they might still be able to flower.
My gladiolus is planted in zone 9. They are done blooming, and I want to dig them up for storage & replant my bed for summer. Everyone says to wait till the foliage dies back. That never happens till winter in my area even w/o watering. How can I force them to become dormant without hurting them? How long after flowering is finished should I wait before I can do this?
Unfortunately, digging your gladiolus up now will probably kill them, unless you plant them promptly in a new spot. Flowering uses up a lot of energy, and after flowering, the gladiolus use their leaves to store energy in the bulb for the following year, which is why it's best to wait until the leaves die back before digging them up for storage. It might be possible to dig them up in late summer or so, but that might inhibit them from flowering the following year.
what do in need to do with glads in zone 9 when are done blooming, Can the bulbs be saved ?
Yes, the bulbs can be saved. In your warm region, the bulbs can be left in the ground although gladiolus experts often choose to lift their bulbs at the end of the season.
Allow the plants to stay in the garden until the foliage yellows. During this period the bulbs are gathering strength for next year's show. Then lift, trim and store in a dry, non-freezing location.
See tips here:https://www.leafari.com/gladiolus-planting-guide.html