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Tips on Growing Crocuses
Crocus is a perennial flowering plant that is native to the Europe, North Africa and Middle East. Crocus is derived from the Iridaceae family of the Iris plant. Crocuses are propagated through corms. They are often found in large group in woodland and meadow.
There are over 80 species of crocus. Each crocus species differ from colors including lilac, mauve, yellow and white. Some of the popular crocus varieties include. C. vernus, C. shrysanthus, C. flavus, C.sieberi and C. ommasinianus. Crocus is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring so gardeners like to plant them in their garden. During the cold winter weather, the waxy cuticle on the crocus flower and leaves will protect them from the frost. Crocus should be planted during the fall.
The first step in growing crocuses is to determine a planting site. Crocuses prefer a sunny location with a well drained soil. The soil must not be too soggy in the spring. Crocuses will do well near foundations or rocks. Crocuses can also be planted under the large trees which provide shade for your garden. You should choose a site which you can enjoy when looking out from the window in the house.
After you have prepared the bulbs, you can dig a planting hole in the site. The planting hole should have a depth of 8 – 10 inches. If there are any rocks or debris, you must remove them. The weeds must also be pulled out with your hands. After the hole is dug, you can add composts and peats in it. The materials that can be used as composts include straw, peats, hay, and manure. You can use all types of manure as compost except horse manure because of the high amount of weed seeds. After that, you can put the bulbs in the planting hole. You must place the bulb with the pointy end facing upwards.
If you want to make the soil more fertile, you can fertilize the plant with organic fertilizer. You can sprinkle the fertilizer over the ground and mix it in 2 or 3 inches of loose soil. The fertilizer must be mixed thoroughly into the soil so that the young roots will not be damaged.
The corms should be planted to a depth of 3 - 4 inches in the ground. For a more natural landscape, you can plant crocuses in group of three, five or seven. Crocuses don’t mind being overcrowded so you can plant as many of them as possible
After planting the bulbs, you can cover it with 2 inches of mulch. The mulch will help the ground to have good drainage system and keep away the weeds.
Some crocuses such as the C. tommasinianus can spread their seeds naturally so their population can increased at a faster rate. These types of crocuses are perfect for people who want to naturalize their environment. However, if they are left unattended, they can develop into weeds and become difficult to remove. Crocuses perform the best in zones 4 -8. If the crocuses is not doing well, it is likely that you over water it during the summer. Crocus will thrive in damp soil during the spring and fall. However, it prefers dry and warm soil during the summer.