To the amazement of flower lovers, crocuses even continue to grow when snow falls again after they sprout. The spring bloomers cope well with low air temperatures. As long as the soil temperatures are high enough, they thrive even in frost.
Why don't crocuses freeze in the snow?
Crocuses in the snow do not freeze because they have natural frost protection in their petals. They continue to grow and bloom despite snowfall as long as the ground temperatures are sufficiently high and the sun is shining or at least it is very bright.
Why don't crocuses freeze in the snow?
To answer this question, the gardener must know something about when and why the onion plants sprout in the first place. The following factors play a role:
- Cold Phase
- Soil temperature
- Sun
- Cell protection
When do crocuses start to sprout again?
Like almost all spring bloomers, crocuses need a cold phase of several weeks before they produce new flowers. This is a protection of nature that prevents the plants from sprouting too early. The gardener calls this process “stratification.”
Crocuses sprout after the cold phase, when the ground slowly thaws and is no longer frozen. As soon as the days get longer and the sun warms the upper layers of the soil, this is the signal for the onion plants to start sprouting.
In very mild winters with a lot of sun, it can even happen that the crocuses bloom in December or January.
Crocuses have their own frost protection
It often happens that winter returns for a short time and fresh snow falls, covering the ground.
Another cold snap is not a major threat to the crocuses. The delicate petals contain substances that act as natural frost protection. They protect the cells of the leaves from freezing.
The flowers just keep growing despite the new snowfall. The flowers develop a solid tip at the top with which they pierce not only the layers of earth but also the snow cover.
Crocuses bloom in the snow
Once the flowers have broken through the snow, they even begin to blossom into full bloom. The prerequisite is that the sun is shining or at least it is very bright and the ground is not frozen.
For many hobby gardeners, the sight of colorful flowers in the snow is a special event. The bright colors are particularly effective over the white blanket of snow.
Tips & Tricks
Never clear fresh snow from flowerbeds or lawns. In doing so, you damage the crocuses floating under the snow and prevent them from blooming at all.