There are few spring bloomers that require as little care as the crocus. The harbinger of spring reliably comes back every year, even without you paying any special attention to it. What you should consider when caring for crocuses.
How do you properly care for crocuses?
Crocuses are easy to care for and require little attention. Crocus care includes: Planting crocus bulbs, placing the container in a dark and cool place, keeping it moderately moist, placing it warmer and brighter after sprouting, plucking out spent flowers and making sure that they are not too moist. Special fertilizer or winter protection is not necessary.
Can crocuses be grown indoors?
Yes, you can also grow crocuses indoors. It is important that the planters are kept very dark and, above all, cold for a long time. Only when the tubers sprout do the crocus move to a warmer, but not too warm, place.
- Planting crocus bulbs
- Place the container in a dark and cool place
- Keep moderately moist
- After sprouting, place warmer and brighter
- Pluck out spent flowers to extend the flowering period
Do crocuses need to be watered?
You don't need to water crocuses that grow outdoors. In spring and autumn the soil contains sufficient moisture. Waterlogging causes problems for the tubers. Therefore, make sure that the crocuses are not too moist.
Do crocuses need special fertilizer?
As with all bulbous plants, care should be taken when fertilizing crocuses. Only crocuses that you plant close to other flowers need any additional fertilizer.
Some gardeners recommend fertilizing crocuses if they want the plants to produce particularly colorful, large flowers. A little liquid fertilizer is then administered once during budding.
Do flowers and leaves need to be cut?
Withered flowers and leaves grow in on their own. The leaves should under no circumstances be cut as the bulbs get their strength from them.
What diseases or pests can occur?
Illnesses almost appear. When the number of crocuses decreases significantly, voles are almost always responsible. The only advice is to drive away the mice or plant new crocus bulbs in wire baskets.
Do crocuses need winter protection?
The crocus is completely hardy. It doesn't need any winter protection. The flowers are so robust that when it snows again they will even grow through blankets of snow.
Tips & Tricks
You only have to plant crocus bulbs once. The robust flowers come back every year. They form breeding tubers underground and in this way reproduce independently.