Crocus care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Crocus

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 5 days

From sprouting until the flowers fade, water well once the topsoil dries, as a guide; when the leaves yellow, stop watering and let the corms rest dry over summer.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 7 days

After planting the corms are rooting, so generally keep the soil lightly moist, watering about when it dries.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every 7 days

Roots grow even with nothing showing; as a guide, water well on a mild morning whenever the soil dries.

Light and placement for Crocus

Outdoors in full sun from planting to bloom, as a guide; it needs winter cold to finish its flower buds, generally blooms poorly in a warm room, and the leaves want sun until they die back.

Overwintering Crocus

Overwintering guide: −10°C (14°F) or above

Hardy enough to stay outdoors all winter without protection; pots generally just need to be kept from drying out, for example under the eaves.

Fertilizing and repotting Crocus

Fertilizer

Slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at planting is usually enough; as a guide, two or three doses of dilute liquid feed after bloom help the corms fatten.

When to repot

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Common problems with Crocus

• Wintered in a warm room, it misses the cold it needs and does not flower.
• A pot dried out in winter sends up weak shoots or small flowers.
• Cutting the leaves right after bloom starves next year's corm.

Tips for growing Crocus

• Plant in October or November, just deep enough to cover the corms and close together for a full show.
• After a spell of outdoor cold, the pot can come indoors in January or February for earlier flowers.
• After flowering pick off only the spent blooms and leave the leaves until they yellow.

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