Not sure why the instructions said to start them in water. Should have been instructed to just start them in potting mix or waited and planted directly outside. I would plant them now, but be forewarned ... The water roots they have currently formed will likely die off once planted in soil. The bulbs will need to regrow roots (this time soil roots) which will set them back a bit.

Thanks, Paul. The bulbs were given out at Church. So I'm not sure who provided the instux :) The instrux said to fill a container with Marbles... add water... place bulbs on top. Perhaps the intent was never to replant them. I don't know much about gardening so I followed the instrux w/out question :) Thanks for the info. I will plant them this weekend!

Paul, do I plant the bulb only under the soil or part of the stalks as well? Thanks in advance.

Gladioli end up several feet tall. A strange choice for growing in water. That's usually a method used for forced spring flowering bulbs green to get some blooms indoors in winter.

You are more likely to kill them through procrastination. They need to get them planted in the ground asap. They should be flowering around now. If you just keep them unplanted they are quite likely to dry up or rot.

Growing in water would be appropriate for growing amaryllis indoors but not glads. In any case, plant your glads in ground or pot asap.

Actually "appropriate" is not a good term. You can torment the plants to death slowly that way, but it's not a good cultivation method for ANYTHING.

Not to beat dead horses and all, or even to be unkind...but I simply have to ask a question and see what your answer is, if you will respond. I'm truly curious what goes through people's mind.

Have you ever seen a plant (in television or life) that is not aquatic (like seaweed or pond scum algae) that grows in water alone in nature, like you were instructed to do?

I have to say, I am truly disappointed in some of the responses I've received on Houzz. Many of you have been gardening for years. This is my second season I have tried to grow/cultivate plants of any kind. I consider myself an intelligent and educated individual but gardening has always been a mystery to me me and I never understood the passion some had for it. But when the perennials I planted last spring came back this spring, I was utterly amazed! Yes, amazed. I found myself waking each morning to see how they grew from the night before. I started to read about gardening on Pinterest and began to view videos on YouTube. My interest grew. I found an app called "Gardentags" where I have received nothing but positive support and encouragement. The only problem with that app is that is mostly for posting/sharing pix. There are no open forums to ask advice of others more experienced like this. Unfortunately, I've only asked two questions on Houzz and some of the responses I've received - though perhaps not meant to be "unkind" - are not encouraging to the beginner. For those of you who posted helpful advice, thank you. Truly. @dbarron, as for your response, it was pointless and was in my opinion, unkind. "I'm truly curious what goes through people's mind." Really? I simply followed the instrux. on the package of bulbs that were handed out and the plant grew just as the instrux said they would.

A number of aquarium plants can do well inside aquarium or as potted plants. Also, My mom had a pothos ivy for years and years that grew in water.

growing hippies in water is appropriate but not OPTIMAL. It is an option for growing warm weather flowering plants indoors when too cold outdoors.

if we are splitting hairs re: wording, accept my apologies. If we're talking in general terms, I stick by "appropriate".

Hippeastrums can be forced in that manner if you wish to discard the bulbs after their grueling endeavor, but if you want them to be recurrent bloomers, soil and nutrients are much better.

Nothing really GROWS in pure water. There are no nutrients (unless you add them in a semi-hydroponics endeavor). The pothos would have almost certainly did better in a soil media. With so many variables against the plants in a household environment, I prefer to stack what odds I can toward their survival.

Though, obviously, do as you will.

I don't know why most of you, dbarron especially, are being so condescending and rude when the OP was just asking a question. Obviously she is new to gardening and reaching out for help, and your hurtful comments do nothing to help attract others to the hobby that "has always been a passion" to you. Furthermore, there are MULTIPLE sources found from a simple google search that talk about growing gladiolus bulbs in water/rocks in order to sprout the gladiolus early in preparation for spring. This also helps show the growth of the roots (which is probably the intention of the instructions as it was given out at her church). Now that she needs to transfer them, she's ASKING you all for your advice. She obviously is trying to salvage the bulbs after following instructions given to her that show followed. Instead of being kind people and offering friendly advice, you leave rude comments like "I'm truly curious what goes through people's mind." or "Though, obviously, do as you will." That is incredibly condescending, and you (dbarron) are an elitist that is helping no one. I'm disappointed this is what the gardening community on this site is like.

SOURCES:

http://madincrafts.com/forcing-gladiolus/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/gladiola/start-gladiolas-early.htm

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-bulbs-container-soil-36574.html

https://gardening-guide.wonderhowto.com/how-to/force-bulbs-water-with-stones-161642/

Hmmm. Perhaps the reason I've never heard of growing glads in water is b/c of my warm climate--I can plant inground in late fall and have blooms in early spring and thru late summer (bragging here). According to links Steve has posted, it is meant to get a "head start" but none say it is THE way to grow. More like a way to get ahead of Mother Nature.

i might, as an experiment, grow a couple of glad bulbs in water and see how early they bloom once transplanted. I do it w/ amaryllis/daffies/hyacinths. So if we think about, why not glads. But again, as a strategy to force early blooming, not as best growth practice.

We're all still learning...or we're mostly dead (at least). However, some basic issues are like bossy said, so basic and so often repeated, that I have to wonder where they come from. People try to grow plants without light, without soil, and sometimes without water (and often with too much water). Too much I can understand, we're generous people. The other basics make me wonder what planet they're from that they've never seen a plant apparently.

Then I have to realize that some people live in a sterile asphaltic jungle, which is quite alien to me. And perhaps are only later in life beginning to wonder about the vegetable kingdom. I guess it's like so many other meme's on the internet, there's a lot of misinformation.