Oscar Wilde once defines crocus flower as a moon of fire in the spring. Considering the beauty of this small flower, such comparison is perfectly relevant.
Coming in various bright colors, crocus will be able to lighten up the mood when the spring comes.
Here you can learn more about how to plant and care for crocus in your own garden.
Table of Contents
1. Crocus Flower at First Glance
Crocus belongs to the Iris family or Iridacae. It is characterized by tube-shaped flowers in various colors, including white, red, and purple.
Crocus belongs to the Iris family or Iridacae. It is characterized by tube-shaped flowers in various colors, including white, red, and purple.
A bed of crocus flower can be found in the coastal area as well as in the woodlands or suburban lawns.
Crocus blooms in early spring; right after the last snow on the ground melts at the end of the winter. Instead of bulbs, crocus flowers bloom from the corm.
The corms become the main part of the plant where the new stems grow year after year, every spring season.
They usually spread into a larger area from the previous year.
2. Several Varieties of Crocus Flower
Crocus comes in various colors: pink, yellow, orange, red, blue, purple, and some other bright shades.
The flower itself is categorized into several varieties in terms of its colors or size.
Here are some popular varieties of crocus flower with their own special characteristics.
- Snow crocus, the first variety that blooms in the transition period between winter and spring.
- Giant Dutch crocus, one of the biggest varieties of crocus which can reach up to 2-4 inches tall.
- Purpureus Grandiflorus or purple crocus, a crocus variety with an abundance of violet and purple shades.
- Pickwick, a striped variety of crocus that blooms in early summer with its lilac and purple flowers.
3. Where, When, and How to Plant Crocus Flower
Every flower and plant needs a specific condition to grow, so does crocus flower.
This flower will thrive better if you plant it in the right location, at the right time, and with the right planting procedures.
The following information will tell you where and when to start planting crocus and how to plant it properly.
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Where to Plant Crocus Flower
Basically, the flower can grow almost anywhere in the garden. However, you should never plant it in a dense shady area or under the thickets where the bushes and trees grow too closely.
The best place to plant crocus is in your lawns or garden flowerbed, so the flowers can form a beautiful floral carpet in the planting area.
Moreover, to answer the question of where to plant crocus, you should also take the soil condition into consideration. Plant the corms in the soil with good drainage.
The soggy ground is not a good match for crocus because it may cause the bulbs to decay, thus, damaging the flowers.
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When to Plant Crocus Flower
To get spring crocus which blooms at the beginning of the season, the flower corms should be planted in early or mid fall.
The ideal time to start planting crocus is around 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes.
Crocus planting period usually falls between September and November with the average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
For this reason, it is advisable to grow crocus corms in October if you want to play safe.
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How to Plant Crocus Flower
Here are the procedures of planting crocus that you can follow as a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Preparation
Before planting the corms, make sure to prepare a good planting medium that is rich in nutrients and organic matters.
You can add a certain amount of compost, peat, or shredded leaves to the soil where you will plant the corms.
The mixture should be placed into 10 inches deep at the very least.
Step 2: Sowing the Corms
Sow crocus corms with the depth of 3-4 inches in the planting medium. Make sure that the pointy ends of the corms are facing up.
When you finish sowing all the corms, don’t forget to water them thoroughly.
Step 3: Setting the Groups of Crocus Corms
Crocus flowers will look more beautiful as a group. However, there are several rules that you should follow when planting a group of crocuses.
- The minimum number of crocus that you can plant in one location is 10 corms. The more, the better.
- Plant the corms in clusters instead of in a single line or along the walkway.
- Plant a few inches apart from one corm to the other.
- To create an attractive carpet of crocuses, plant the early bulbs or corms in front of the taller ones. Such an arrangement is great for color contrast.
4. Crocus Flower Care Guide
When caring for crocus flower, you need to water and fertilize the flowers regularly, as well as perform some additional cares on certain circumstances.
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Watering
Water the crocus whenever the weather gets dry in the summer and throughout the fall.
However, don’t let too much water clogged in the soil, or the corms will start to rot while the flowers gradually decay.
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Fertilizing
The flower can be fertilized in early fall or late winter, depending on the length of the spring season.
Use a balanced fertilizer to give the flowers extra nutrients and carbohydrates.
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Additional Cares
To protect crocus flower from heavy frost or severe cold weather in the winter, you need to cover the flowerbed with mulch.
Keep it safe and still until the spring draws near. Remove the much in early spring or between February and March.
5. Some Problems with Crocus Flower
Water-clogged in the soil will cause the flower to gradually rot or decay. The corms with too much moisture are also susceptible to several types of molds.
Because of this, it is important to keep the flower moisture at a balanced level.
In addition, be aware of some types of rodents that may attack the crocus flowerbed.
These include mice, voles, and squirrels. If necessary, you can protect the planting area with buried wire cages.
Once you’ve known about the right procedures to plant and care for crocus flower, it’s time for you to plant a group of these pretty flowers in the flowerbed.
Bonus articles :
- How to Dry Flowers: 5 Cool Ways to Immortalize Your Flowers
- Alstroemeria Flower Meaning and Symbolism in Everyday Lives
Caring for crocuses does not take a lot of efforts, but in returns, you will get a bunch of small flowers in attractive colors that will highlight the springtime.
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