How to grow crocuses at home

In early spring, crocuses bloom in many flower beds. They are so charming in their miniature that they are often presented directly in pots. But it’s not enough just to stuff the corm on the ground. I would like to present a blooming flower. Yes, and to coincide with a certain date.

How to grow crocuses at home? Actually very easy. The secret of distillation in imitation of natural processes. This can be done by the most beginner grower. And if you properly prepare the planting material and take high-quality, then success is guaranteed.

What bulbs to plant

The first thing to do is choose a good planting material. Unlike other bulbs, the size of crocuses is measured not by diameter, but by the circumference in the widest place. We need packaging, on which stands the number 10 with a plus. From such raw materials the largest flowers are obtained on plump stems. And at the same time up to 6 pieces.

If the package has a smaller number, then accordingly there will be less colors. They themselves will be medium-sized.

Choose Holland breeding varieties for yourself. These are most hybrids. They work out very well at home. Local or natural plants produce small flowers or do not bloom at all. Why then all the work? And do not confuse with plants blooming in the fall. During your distillation, they have just a period of deep rest after flowering.

But it’s not enough to go for a beautiful photo on a cardboard. You need to have some more idea about the right choice of corms. They must meet the following requirements:

1. Firm and resilient. Lightly press on the raw material. It should be nice to spring. Softness indicates the beginning of spoilage.
2. If possible, smell it. If at least the slightest aroma of mold is present, put it aside without regret. Such material was stored in inappropriate conditions.
3. Carefully inspect the onions. They should not have dark or wet spots, as well as visible damage.

Once you have made your choice and brought the purchase home, do not rush. Quarantine bulbs. Dark cool place. Look at them after about 10-12 days. Everything is fine? No signs of disease, mold, rot? So you can safely plant.

Tip. Get corms in season. This time is from late July to late September.

Which pot to choose

The material of the tank does not matter. Much more important is its size. Shallow but wide containers are suitable for crocuses. A group of landings in one bowl looks very impressive. And decorated with fine gravel or pebbles - in general a masterpiece.

It will be enough to take a pot with a height of 12-14 cm. But always with wide drainage holes. And it is not installed on a pallet, but on a stand. This will allow excess fluid to drain. Crocus bulbs react very nervously to stagnant water. Immediately begin to rot and fade.

How to plant

Some sources recommend planting crocuses close to each other. This tip applies only to small onions. They give one flower, so the splendor of the bouquet is due to the tightness of the planting.

If you have chosen large ripe corms, then try to keep at least 2.5 cm between them. This will allow glasses of crocuses to unfold in all its glory.

The landing depth should be such that only the tip remains on the surface. Let's analyze step by step how to plant crocuses correctly:

1. A thick layer of drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot.These are broken shards, bricks, fine gravel, marble chips. Pebbles and expanded clay also fit.
2. Then pour a little soil. Its composition is simple. This is equal to garden soil, sand and peat. Everything should be loose and permeable.
3. Set the bulb on the bottom down.
4. Holding it with one hand, pour the other to the top with a mixture of sand and peat.
5. Watered. As soon as the water drains, cleaned for rooting.

The difference in the composition of the soil mixtures allows the roots to firmly hold the plant in the tank, and the bulb - as little as possible in contact with water.

When to plant crocuses

Calculating the landing time is very easy. Subtract 14 days from the expected flowering date. And also reduce the time for the cool period. This is 12 weeks. Total: 14 weeks for everything.

For example, you need a blooming crocus by January 1st. We do all the necessary calculations. Plant the bulb on September 24th.

Cold Care and Maintenance

So we come to the moment when we take on the role of creator. That is, we artificially create conditions of detention as close as possible to natural ones. To do this, for 12 weeks, you need to place the containers with the bulbs in a dark, cool place with high humidity. Temperature is from +4 to + 8 ° С. Humidity not lower than 70%.

The refrigerator is not good, it's too dry there. It’s too warm under the bath. Insulated loggia or balcony - a lot of light. Suitable shed, cellar, basement, underground. Just be careful, corms are very popular with many rodents.

If necessary, periodically water your blanks for pasture. Humidify the air around by spraying or watering. And watch the temperature. Too high will make crocuses wake up ahead of time. Too low can cause rotting and mold. And absolutely eliminate the slightest lighting.

There is no way to often go down to the cellar or basement to water containers with corms? Then cover them with a thick film. Just be sure to make a few small holes. This is necessary for ventilation and evaporation of condensate.

Next stage
As soon as 15 days are left until the expected date, they pull out the plots with corms for distillation. Just do not change dramatically the power of lighting and temperature. The approximate procedure is as follows:

1 day. They carried it out of the cellar and put it on the floor at the front door. It's a little bit cool and dark.

3 day. They put the pot on a stand, a table, a nightstand in the back of the coolest room.

5 day. They pushed it close to the window, but covered it with a central heating battery.

7 day. Put on the windowsill. We do not open the battery. We do not put insulation under the pot, because the roots should still feel cool.

14-15 day. We admire the flowering.

All these days, do not forget to dry the top layer to water the crocuses. We periodically spray from the spray gun. Just do not flood them like a fire truck. The soil should be slightly moist, but not moist. Otherwise, crocuses will quickly lose their decorative appearance or even turn yellow and wilted.

If you did everything right, then you can enjoy beautiful flowers for up to 11 days in a row. At the same time, nobody canceled the usual care. And be sure to cover the flowers from direct sunlight. It prolongs flowering well.

Content after flowering

Do not rush to get rid of corms after they delight you with their beautiful flowering. They can still be planted in a flower bed or in the garden. Indeed, in one place they are able to grow up to 5 years. And during this time they will bring you great offspring. Small bulbs can be grown and planted everywhere. Or use milking cultivation at home.

To do this, you must not change the content mode. Used flower stalks are carefully removed. For example, scissors or secateurs. This will not delay the nutrients in the uterine bulb.

Around the beginning of June, all the leaves turn yellow and dry.This is the most natural time for crocuses to rest. Up to this point, it will be necessary to feed the plant twice with a complete complex mineral fertilizer. Preference is given to a composition where there is most phosphorus and potassium, but a minimum of nitrogen. The solution for feeding is prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package. Each manufacturer has its own.

Crocuses do not treat organic matter. This can cause root rot and other diseases. Indeed, in natural conditions, they are used to living in mountainous terrain with scarce soil that has a neutral reaction. And organic matter is nitrogen and soil acidification.

After the entire aerial part has dried, you need to carefully remove the corm from the soil. Brush off, carefully inspect for mold, disease, signs of decay. Everything is fine? Is the onion clean? Dry it in a cool dark place for about 9-11 days. Next, cut off the roots, dry leaves, stems. Remove the falling husk. And we remove it back to a dark and cool place before autumn planting in the ground.

About once every three weeks we inspect the planting material. We reject dried and diseased corms of crocuses, if any.

Useful Tips

1. After quarantine, but before planting, be sure to disinfect the corms, containers and soil. By any means at hand. Good results are obtained by soaking 20 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate and spraying with phytosporin. Do not neglect this procedure, avoid many problems.
2. Crocuses do not feed at home. They have enough onion nutrients. Too much will result in warping or a complete lack of colors.
3. Plant one variety and corms of the same size in one container. Otherwise, you will have to observe the following picture: flowers of one variety are adjacent to the sinking leaves of another. Or faded buds next to unblown ones. Ugly and unprofessional. It is better to plant them in separate pots. So it will be easier to take care of. Moreover, one flower also looks elegant and spectacular in a pot if it is well-groomed and healthy.
4. Do not listen to those who advise you to use crocuses for culinary purposes. Eat innocent flowers. In the food industry use only stigmas of flowers. And even that, of a certain sort, purple sowing crocuses. Dutch hybrids were clearly not bred for the purpose of obtaining fragrant spices. They are intended to give flowers and are completely unsuitable for food. And then in each article they write such nonsense, without even bothering to find out the truth. And after all, many are led to this stupidity, plucking poor plants. Shove in sauces or pastries. And they wonder: where is that divine aroma and beautiful color?
5. Do not try to grow crocuses from seeds on your own at home. This is a whole science with strict requirements for conditions, temperatures and a period of stratification. Torment yourself to wait and dance around with a tambourine. Although, if you are a biologist, nerd, or just an experimenter by nature, then try. Suddenly it will work out.

How to grow crocuses at home? It turns out quite simple. Following the recommendations, you can enjoy flowering on the windowsill yourself. Or adjust the process to your birthday. Agree, an original gift.

Video: how to plant crocuses in a pot