How do you Grow Crocus?
This can be a difficult question to answer for beginner gardeners because of numerous factors including climate, soil, and experience level.
This article will help solve this problem and give beginner gardeners Easy-to-Follow Steps on growing crocus ANYWHERE.
And I recommend scrolling to the bottom of this page to find answers to the 7 most frequently asked questions most gardeners have when growing crocus.
Step #1 Plant One of These 5 Types of Crocus
When buying and planting one of these 5 types of crocus you should make sure that the corms are firm, unblemished, with few or no tears to the outer coating.
I am recommending five specific types of Crocus that are simple to grow and care for regardless of your experience.
Best of all is that all of these Crocus are perennials and beautiful!
A) Barr’s Purple Crocus
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 6 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
When the typical gardener thinks of Crocus they are thinking of Barr’s Purple Crocus.
This type of Crocus has a slender neck, purple flower, and opens up to a bowl shape figure that has purple, white, and yellow colors.
This is a deer-resistant and sometimes rabbit-resistant perennial flower that is very hardy and is one of the best types of spring flowers to attract pollinators.
B) Firefly Crocus
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 4 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
Firefly Crocus may be one of my favorite crocus flowers on this list and features light lavender colors and even bright yellow colors.
Not only that, but this type of crocus is deer-resistant, rabbit-resistant, and even chipmunk resistant.
What sets this flower apart is that you can plan is in grass, in a flower garden, or even indoors.
If you do plant it outside you should plant at least 10 together and don’t be surprised if your garden soon looks like a crocus meadow.
Not only that, but these are incredibly fragrant crocus and are perfect to be cut and displayed indoors.
The most popular types of Double Crocus include Abigail, Allegretto, Blue Diamond, and Double Sugar.
C) Pickwick Crocus
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 6 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
The Pickwick Crocus may be the most beautiful Crocus on this list. It features light lavender petals, with dark purple vertical lines on the flower.
They are a very hardy flower that will come back every spring if you plant them in the fall.
It should be noted that this type of crocus is not deer or rabbit-resistant, so you should plant them in between deer and rabbit-resistant flowers and plants.
D) Blue Moon Crocus
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 6 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
E) Blue Pearl Crocus
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 8
- Length & Width: 3 inches x 1 inch
- Watering Needs: Average
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
The Blue Pearl Crocus has light, blue petals and is unbelieveably beautiful.
If you are looking for a softer color to complement your flower garden or just to blend into your yard then you should plant this type of crocus.
And if you are looking for an extra burst of color then combine this with white and yellow crocus.
It should be noted that this type of crocus will bloom early in the spring, but is often planted with mid to late blooming crocus.
Step #2. How to Grow Crocus from Corms
Crocus are a beautiful flower that blooms in early to mid-spring.
Unlike conventional thinking, Crocus are perennial flowers.
Most flower gardeners think Crocus are annual flowers because hybrid crocus can become weakened perennials over time.
Step 1 – Plant Your Crocus Corms in the Fall
First, make sure you buy your appropriate Crocus on Amazon on another reputable garden vendor.
Plant your crocus corms in the fall when your soil has cooled off & the temperature is between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your corms before the first frost!
Take the temperature of your soil and ensure that it will stay below 60 degrees for 12 weeks or think about planting your crocus in pots.
- Hardiness Zones 3 – 5: Plant in September
- Hardiness Zones 6 – 7: Plant in October
- Hardy Zones 8 – 9: Plant in December
*Find Your Hardiness Zone HERE*
Step 2 – Prepare Your Soil THIS Way!
Locate the area of your flower garden or yard where you want to plant your crocus.
- Crocus do best in an area that receives partial to full afternoon sun.
- The soil should be well-draining and should be neutral to slightly acidic (6.0 – 7.0 pH level).
- The flower garden should be well protected from wind and heavy rain.
Mix 3 inches of Flower Garden Soil to the top 6 inches of your garden soil.
Step 3 – Simply Plant Your Crocus Corms
To have the most success planting your corms you should simply dig a hole 8 inches deep and plant 10 crocus corms next to each other.
*Make sure the Crocus Corms “pointy” part is facing up*
Then mix flower fertilizer (that has a 10-10-10 NPK ratio) in the hole (according to the instructions). And then fill the holes with your flower and garden soil mix.
Next, water your crocus corms for 15 seconds. This will help promote the start of root growth. Continue to water your corms for 15 seconds once a week for the first month.
Then continue this process for as many corms as you want to grow. Make sure to spread each set of 10 crocus corms 4 inches apart.
Step 4 – Do THIS in the Winter
In the beginning of winter you will want to mulch your flower garden bed.
After you mulch the flower garden bed do nothing else to your crocus corms the rest of winter.
Step 5– And do THIS in the Spring
Once the year becomes spring and your crocus grow leaves then you should add flower fertilizer again.
Then water your crocus once a week until your crocus bloom.
As soon your crocus petals fall off the flower deadhead it.
And make sure to keep your leaves on the flower for 6 weeks while your flower absorbs and retains energy for next year’s bloom.
Step 6 – Maintain minimal maintenance in summer
Once it becomes summer you should cut the stem and leaves of your crocus where it meets the soil.
Do not water your crocus in the summer. Do not fertilize your crocus in the summer. Simply leave your tuli in the ground all summer.
Frequently Asked Questions (9 Questions)
#1. How Do You Grow Crocus in Pots?
If you are not able to plant your crocus corms in area your garden or yard, or if your soil will not stay below 60 degrees Fahrenheit then you should plant your Crocus in a container.
To have the most success planting Crocus Corms in pots you should do the following:
- Bury your corms in a container with 8 inches of Flower Garden Soil over it.
- Make sure the “pointy” end of the bulb is facing up
- Immediately water your crocus corms for 15 seconds
- Before the first frost of the year move your container to an area of your property that is cool and dry. Keep it here throughout winter
- Once you notice green growth emerging in the winter move your container into a sunny area and begin watering it once a week.
- Once your crocus petals fall off you will want to deadhead your flower.
- Let the green growth of your plant remain for 6 weeks. Then cut it and your stem where it meets your soil.
#2. How Do I Water My Crocus?
You should water your Crocus three different ways.
- Immediately after you plant your crocus corms you should soak the soil for 15 seconds
- Continue watering your crocus corms once a week for the first month and then don’t water until the spring
- Begin watering your crocus once a week once green growth returns in the spring
#3. How Do I Feed My Crocus?
To properly feed your crocus with the fertilizer you should wait until the crocus flowers have faded and begun falling off your flower.
To have the most success use Crocus Fertilizer. This will help your crocus store nutrients properly for the next season.
For best results, simply follow the instructions on your fertilizer product.
#4. How Do I Cut Crocus?
If you want to display your crocus indoors then cut crocus when the flowers have grown, but not blossomed. It is okay if the flower bud is slightly green, but should have color.
Place the cut crocus in a vase with water at room temperature. Every few days change your water.
If you want your crocus to last longer in the vase then you should add Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers.
#5. How Do I Protect my Crocus from Pests
The biggest threat to your crocus is deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. This is both when your crocus is growing and blooming.
To prevent your corms from digging up place bird netting over the ground where they are planted.
If you are trying to prevent deer then you should use deer repellent. If this does not work then grow your crocus corms in pots and containers out of the deer’s reach.
#6. How do I Prevent Common Crocus Diseases
The most common crocus diseases and harmful insects are gray mold, slugs, snail, aphids, nematodes, and bulb rot.
You can help prevent these diseases and harmful insects by using a fungicide spray and an insecticide spray in early spring as green growth begins to emerge.
#7. What are the Best Uses for Crocus?
Crocus are best used for indoor display, but can also add color to raised garden beds, container gardening, or even in your traditional flower garden.
Crocus can complement columbines, azaleas, lilacs, daffodils, crocus, and even hyacinths.
#8. What types of Bulb Should I buy?
Purchasing Crocus Corms is a much easier task than say vegetable or herb seeds, where you have to worry about GMOs, Organic, Heirloom, etc.
When buying crocus corms you should stick to hybrid or heirloom. These will give you the best success in growing Crocus.
Hybrid Crocus Corms are weakened perennials that may or may not come up every year.
Heirloom Crocus Corms are perennial corms that come up yearly but have a higher risk of contracting a disease, harmful insect, or fungus.
Just as important is where you buy your corms from. I recommend buying your seeds from Amazon. This will provide you with the best price and quickest delivery.
#9. What Type of Gardening Pot Should I Buy?
I recommend buying one type of pot.
Buy a 5-gallon pot.
- This is essential if you want to allow your crocus to grow to its fullest. It is also important if you want to continue to grow your crocus outside.
