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Forcing Crocus: Spring Species, Fall Bloom, 'Vernus' hybrids...

18 years ago

crocus are my absolute all-time favorite flower ever! I want to force some in containers (prob'ly 4" pots) for this season. Will fall-blooming species work for this? What about spring species? I have some "vernus" hybrid corms left over from last year and they all put up foliage but not all of them bloomed. If I repot do I have a decent chance of getting flowers this time?

There's no such thing as a "sunny window" at my house. I have a couple of shop-lite fixtures that I grow my African Violets under, would this be an adequate substitute? They're about 10" to 14" from the pot rim of a 4" pot, depending on the shelf.

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
Fall-blooming crocus don't need to be forced. They will flower this autumn whether you plant them or water them or not. It is hard to control the timing.

Spring-blooming types can be forced by chilling and then planting them. There are timetables giving time and temperature for doing this, and you can have flowers almost to the exact day that you want.
florabundant
Original Author
18 years ago
I know that both Colchicum sp. and Fall-Blooming Crocus sp. are referred to as "Autumn/Fall Crocus".

I'm referring to the Fall-Blooming Crocus sp. Is this what you meant?
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I donÂt know. I planted the Cream Beauty in the fall of 07. When I planted that year I covered everything with rocks to foil the squirrels and I think 80% of what I planted must have rotted. The Cream Beauty is the only thing that came up, except for 2 (only 2!) Tricolor in another bed. So that mean it overlaps at least with Tricolor. Last fall (08) I planted a lot more and covered them with mesh. Those were a species crocus assortment. Since it is their first year they are coming up later. I looked today and only 3-4 buds on those are showing: and it looks like those will be yellow. (I never would have noticed that one color bloomed earlier if you hadnÂt mentioned it!) I planted Ruby Giant too in another bed (those are crocus tommasianus, which supposedly squirrels donÂt eat) and did not use mesh to cover them. So either they are very late bloomers, or the squirrels couldnÂt read and ate them anyway.
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You are welcome Tiger Fox. The Dutch growers and flowermarkets have used the forcing process for amaryllis to controll the market so tightly for fall and winter holidays seasons by incorporating it into the world distribution chain. This has been great for introducing some of the most beautiful hybrid flowers on Earth, but has almost reduced this fairly easy perrenial plant to an expensive annual. I would like more people in more regions to enjoy more scapes per bloomset; more flowers per scape; more bloomsets per season; very long seasons [4 to 6 months]. You will find many well known experts saying these techniques can't be done. They are correct. They can't do them. You can. Try it and enjoy. If it does not work for you, email me. I have failed in my instructions and need to improve my communications. Two of my most troubling failures have been with people who speak another language. In each case it was an assumption I made that they would know a specific step. I am about to try to help one of them with my techniques and some other difficulties they have. It is a wonderful personal challenge. Soon I expect to publish a guide to growing and blooming techniques only. No history or other background. Bill Warren
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This may contradict some of your comments already posted, but I've had great luck for the last three consecutive years forcing my bulbs to bloom for Xmas and Lunar New Year. I followed Maria's advice by uprooting the bulbs, washing off the roots, cutting off all the leaves, and placing the bulbs in the veggies compartment of the fridge to sleep for 8 weeks. Then I took them out, cleaned up the bulbs and the dried roots, and replanted them in good soil. For 2007, 2008 and 2009... three years in a row, I always have had blooms on the bulbs I forced. I reported the results on this forum in 2008 but I cannot find the old thread. This year, I'm having two bulbs in the fridge and will take them out end of this month for their timed bloom in mid-December. I shared the tips with blogger friends in Malaysia and already one of them also has had success. You can read about his story in the link below. Another friend is also working on the tips at the moment and awaiting blooms. Thanks for reading my story. Xuan
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Assuming you have the native patens pasque flower, The only flowers that . . . whoops! Sorry, BIG faux pas here with Leaves(assuming). Never mind. I hope the daffs will do ok Joyce: it's a little late for planting them now. But if we have a late fall like it's been for the last few years, you could be fine. Tulips, of course, are fine planting right up until the ground freezes. Everyone thinks of springs bulbs as the first color in spring. Not really, although they might be the showiest. Pansies will bloom far earlier than the earliest crocus, and my little 4 inch Iris pumila (not a bulbous iris but a rhizomatous) blooms earlier than daffodils. There is a native trillium that begins bloom in early March. Nearly all Carex species are up and growing, and some bloom in March, although you might say that only a botanist could love their inflorescence. Has anyone tried winter aconite? Another March bloomer(well maybe that is a bulb), and every year I say I'm going to get it, but never do. And there are little (6-24") willows too, that not only have the white catkins, but produce brightly colored stamens all over the catkins to boot! My favorite bulbs are the botanical (species) tulips, the little Fritillaria michailowskya, the petite daffs and certain viridis tulips. Rick Fritillaria michailowskya Artist (viridis) tulip - a very late tulip
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shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
Neither of them need to be forced, they will flower in a paper bag if you don't get them in the ground! Colchicum are especially forceful and you will find that they have flower stalks now or very soon.
LAA668984
18 years ago
I'd like to force spring crocus also. Do I chill them in the refrigerator, then plant? Or do I plant them (in pots) and then chill? Would keeping the pots in my garage (which gets about 50 degrees) be cool enough to force them? I can't seem to grow crocus outdoors, the rodents always eat the bulbs, so I thought I'd try to force them in pots.
amaryll
18 years ago
You can force spring crocus easily. Place them in the refrigerator for a couple of months, and then place them in bud jars that allow them to sit just above the water. You can pay more for special "forcing" jars, but they aren't any different. Place in the dark for the first week, then in light for the remainder. Maintain the water level throughout.
shrubs_n_bulbs
18 years ago
You can plant in pots and then chill if you have enough room in your fridge :)
amaryll
18 years ago
If you happen to live near the store CVS, this week they have some fall items out in the seasonal items section. Among them are some little colored vases that are .99 but on sale at 25% off. They are perfect for forcing crocus. You may want to take a look if you are near one of their stores.
shoshana_mom
16 years ago
I want to plant chrysanthus/snow crocus with my daughters 6th grade. Can I leave 2-300 bulbs in a dry box or bag in the cold garage for 6 weeks to replace a chilling period? I would have the kids pot the bulbs in December. Would they still need to chill after, or would they be ready for the windowsill? Never planted successfully in my life!

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