Log 22

[ronm]

Another interesting and informative Bulb Log, thank you Ian.

Particularly interesting for me was the 'problem' you experienced with Crocus laevigatus. I have observed much the same thing with C. vallicola this year. The leaves started to grow and then stopped about half 'normal' length. They stayed like this until recently. On the Forum Janis thought frost  ( as did I ), and advised that I stopped watering and hoped the corm was still good. This I did. I have, last week, emptied the pot out to find that the old corm is still very much intact and hardly reduced in size, and three good sized new corms are on top of it. Would you recomend that I remove the new corms ( they are very firmly attached ), or replant and see what happens?
 

[Ian Y]

As there are good sized new corms I would try and remove them by gently twisting. if they resist too much then leave them attached.
The danger is that the old corm will eventually wither away and may rot which can damage the new active corms.

Crocus vallicola is one of the species that like cooler moister growing conditions and can easily go into premature dormancy if they get too hot or dry out.
It sounds like your plants suffered frost damage to the leaves earlier but I suspect they have been affected by the recent heat as well.
Most of ours are still in good leaf despite a week of hot weather. We have returned to the usual cool moist conditions again now.

[ronm]

Thank you Ian, I'll give it a go.