Here is a video of the engine. There are marks on the ball to make it's rotation easier to see. You will notice that at the start I hold the ping-pong ball in my hand very briefly so the liquid nitrogen will boil and start the rotation quickly.
They can be planted in the spring around your last frost date. Gladioli bloom about 90 days (three months) after they sprout in spring, so the bloom time really depends on when you plant them. In warm climates, where they stay in the ground year-round, gladioli bloom anytime from late spring (deep South) to midsummer (middle South).
How to Care for Gladiolus in the Winter. Rather than leaving the corms in the ground to winter, you can dig the corms up for storage four to six weeks after you pick the flowers. Dig the corm up and shake as much soil as you can off the corm. Trim back the leaves to within an inch of the corm itself.