Crocus is a genus of perennial flowering plant that belongs to the family, Iridaceae. The plant grows from the corm or bulbs, called crocus bulbs. The small and glorious crocus flowers are one of the few flowers to announce the arrival of spring. The calyx or cup-shaped flowers in bright colors often show up through the snow at the end of winter, creating a really beautiful sight to behold. The flowers can particularly look striking in a lawn, especially when they are grown in masses. This flowering plant is native to Central Asia, China, Middle East and coastal and subalpine regions of Central and Southern Europe. The word crocus is actually derived from the Greek word for 'saffron'.
Planting Crocus Plants
Crocus bulb is actually a bulb-shaped corm, with a solid inside. It is one of the easiest bulbs to grow in late winter or early spring. The corm can be found with a very thin parer like outer covering, which is known as tunic. As the plant grows, the bulb or corm becomes smaller and then eventually fades away, as it gets used up in the process. But at the end of the growing season or when the plant goes dormant, a new bulb will be formed, from which a new plant will sprout in early spring.
The crocus plant is a very small plant that grows up to a height of about 3 to 6 inches, with grass like narrow foliage with a silver-gray central stripe. The plant produces cup or calyx shaped flowers that come in an array of colors, ranging from white, golden and yellow to light pink, lilac, mauve and deep purple, that bloom from late winter to early spring. The most interesting feature of the crocus flowers is that they bloom or open up only when there is a lot of sunlight. A single corm can produce multiple flowers.
Right Time
Crocus plants usually bloom either in autumn or spring. The spring-blooming crocus flower bulbs are usually planted in autumn or fall. In colder climates, they should be planted early in the fall. On the other hand, the fall-blooming crocus bulbs are planted in spring.
Right Method
First of all, select good quality or healthy crocus, without any soft or rotting spot. Then, choose a sunny location for planting. The plant needs a lot of sunlight to thrive and the beautiful blossoms will open up only when there is a lot of sunlight. The plant usually prefers sandy and well-drained soil. You can mix fertilizer or organic compost into the soil, before planting the bulbs, if it is required. To plant the bulbs, dig 3 to 4 inches deep holes. Maintain a space of about 2 to 3 inches between the bulbs. While planting, place the bulbs in such a way that the bottom of the bulbs is positioned firmly on the bottom of the hole. After planting, water the bulbs thoroughly and regularly once a week.
Maintenance
Its care begins with planting them in a suitable location. A place that receives direct sunlight throughout the day is the ideal place for planting crocus bulbs. You can spread a layer of organic compost on the selected area before planting the bulbs. After planting the corms, you can also spread a layer of mulch on the soil over the corms. Water the bulbs at regular intervals, preferably once in a week. Later on, when the seedlings appear, you can reduce the frequency of watering. In winter, i.e. in the dormant season, watering is not required. As far as fertilization is concerned, you can add a slow release bulb fertilizer once in a year, just at the end of the flowering season.
Crocus is a very beautiful plant to have in any lawn, woodland and ornamental flower garden. The delicate and attractive blossoms with their bright and striking colors, can give your garden or lawn a truly warm and fascinating look. Besides, the bulbs are quite easy to grow and requires only minimal care and maintenance. They can be planted with other spring blooming bulbs or under deciduous shrubs or tree, provided it is not an evergreen tree. If grown under an evergreen tree, the plants would not receive the amount of sunlight that they need during spring.
