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Thanks Tonywould you recommend that Crocus tournefortii be planted in the open garden side in a sand bed or well drained clay soil to use the earth to wick away the excess moisture from fall rains? or use a smaller pot? This was in a 16 per flat size pot (~2/1/2"), i use 32s (~2" pot) for seedlings. though we has a lot of rain and the pots in the sand plunge were quite damp, the undisturbed soil (clay) in the open garden is rather dry, but the disturbed garden soil is very wet. I think the undisturbed soil texture is very important for drainage. but fall planted bulbs result in disturbed soil that absorbs too much water, then heaves in the winter freeze thaw cycles.Rimmer
And finally Crocus tournefortii - or is it a hybrid?Poul
I think warm and wet is the starting point for this problem. Now I delay watering pots until later, when the weather has cooled and the nights are a little longer. Since this change, no rots. In the garden soil you do not have the same issue with heating up. Once cooled by rainfall the great mass of soil does not heat up so easily or so much as a pot. If you suffer such sever frost as to heave up the soil, I'd be planting Crocus in a sand bed.
I, like Tony W, have had autumn rot, roots too. Not for several years now though. My problems came in years when I watered early and the weather stayed warm. I think warm and wet is the starting point for this problem. Now I delay watering pots until later, when the weather has cooled and the nights are a little longer. Since this change, no rots. In the garden soil you do not have the same issue with heating up. Once cooled by rainfall the great mass of soil does not heat up so easily or so much as a pot. If you suffer such sever frost as to heave up the soil, I'd be planting Crocus in a sand bed. I have had C tournefortii in a sand bed here for many years ..... but it does fine in light, sandy garden soil too.
Hi Tony I find Your explantion interesting. My experience also indicate very careful watering in the autum. I follow Ian Young's modus with the two storms. This year we have a very warm october in Denmark, which give my some thoughts about extra watering, at least to the specieces with leafs. I killed some bulbs over the past 10 years, not only Crocus but also Tulips, Colchicums and Fritillarias, where I blame my watering as the main reason, and not the Cold weather as many others forumistas.Jens
"Black Frost" - deep freezes with no snow cover is the norm. I don't think the cold bothers too many crocuses (if they dont heave or have roots exposed too long) , it just delays flowering to when it warms up. Rimmer
Great photos guys!!Here's a few more of my I assume speciosus again? (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) I'm waiting for ligusticus to turn up but I'm afraid I lost them...this was last year's pic can you tell me if it was in fact ligusticus?? (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
Hi Poulthis the my Crocus tournefortii from PC blooming a few weeks ago. yesterday i noticed some shoots on Crocus tournefortii that seemed stalled in growth so gave a little pull and they dislodged as if the base was rotten. is this problem due to too much moisture or inconsistent moisture after being covered and baked all summer?We have had a lot of rain recently and these are in an open frame. i have had this problem of stems aborting before with other fall crocus coming into bloom after heavy rain.
I agree if it stays constantly frosty. Fatal are situations when a warm weather period caused prematurely growth followed by days with deep black frost. So happend Feb. 2012. I've found almost all shots break off at the base by soil heave up due extreme temperature fluctuations (i.e. sunny day +12°C / clear nights -18°C). My raised beds with a moist sandy soil (w/o top protection) heaved up more compared to a heavy loam soil with sod (my meadow).Armin
I suppose that this is some disease. I had similar in some years in few pots. If it would be overwatering - all corms would show same symptoms, but usually it is only 1-2 specimens in pot with 5 - 16 corms in each.Janis (from waiting hall in Airport)