Bloom Summer 2026 Day 67

I still remember the heartbreak of growing gladioli for the first time and the leaves went silver and the buds brown and distorted.

I’ve loved gladioli since I used to add them as a spire shaped flower to bouquets for the people of Bath at my Saturday job on the most beautiful flower stall.

I’d finally got my confidence up enough with gardening to try growing some of my favourite cut flowers and the first year I was rewarded with brown crispy leaves instead of the gorgeous bright colours I was expecting.

At the time of course I blamed myself and my gardening skills, but I soon discovered it was actually the work of gladiolus thrips.

There are actually a number of different types of thrips with common symptoms of an infestation being dull green leaves covered in a silvery/ white colour on their surface. As the infestation grows the thrips leave their excrement on the discoloured areas in appearing to the naked eye as tiny brown/ black spots.

They can cause distorted growth on flower buds and shoot tips preventing flowering completely as in my case. But if the plant does manage to flower the flowers are often marked with white flecks where the pigment has been removed.

These are the best quick ways to deal with them that work for the busy woman.