Crocus October 2014

[Alex]

Cyril,

Splendid Crocus. Can you give a very brief overview of your cultivation of C. moabiticus? Is it much drier than "regular" Crocus? I have just acquired some seedling this year and would appreciate a few pointers very much.

Cheers,

Alex

[Cyril L]

Cyril,

Splendid Crocus. Can you give a very brief overview of your cultivation of C. moabiticus? Is it much drier than "regular" Crocus? I have just acquired some seedling this year and would appreciate a few pointers very much.

Cheers,

Alex

Alex, I grow C. moabiticus in much the same way as other crocus.  Compost is equal parts JI No. 3 and 3-4 mm grit.  It is one of the first crocus to die back and I then keep it fairly dry until repotting in August.  In early years, I used to remove it from its pot and store in a plastic bag with dry vermiculite, but the last few years it has stayed in its pot until repotting.  Keeping it dry when dormant seems to be very important.

Interesting that Janis notes that the flowers of 'Homeri' close for the night - have  those of you growing this plant noticed that?

In my plant, the flowers close for the night which is unlike C. cartwrightianus (although some clones do that).  I have checked it carefully and the style divides well below the base of the anthers which confirms C. cartwrightianus.

[Cyril L]

Here are 2 crocuses today...
Crocus goulimyi from selected variants, from JJA 345.212.
Crocus serotinus ssp. salzmannii, from JJA 352.006, a white flower.

Tatsuo, the white Crocus serotinus ssp. salzmannii with the purple tube is eye catching.  The high light level is keeping it fairly low.  I grow a named pure white form 'El Torcal' but the flowers are taller.

[Alex]

Thanks for that, Cyril, very useful to know how it's doing well for you. I hope I can emulate your success with it.

Cheers,

Alex

[Janis Ruksans]

Some do give the name as pallasii 'Homeri' - however, Janis has written previously : "Another surprise was Crocus which I got as "pallasii" but it seem to be cartwrightianus but it is closing flowers for night. Originally collected on Chios island (Greece) and named 'Homeri' by great ancient Greek poet Homer. Note black anthers (black colour in crocuses is my "weakness" point)."
see more here
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=2639.msg63028#msg63028

Yes I wrote this, but just the point of style division confirms that it is pallasii. I specially visited its locality on Chios and variability there is great but specimens looking as HOMERI are only few. Similar plants I found at several localities in Chios.

[Janis Ruksans]

I'm now together with Liga and two my Czech friends (Vaclav and Jirka) in Greece. It is raining. Visited (for 5th time) locality of C. hellenicus near Varnakovo and again found none. May be not the best time, may be this roadside population is lost. Found only C. robertianus and Liga spotted C. hadriaticus in full bloom - species registered for this spot but never before seen by me there. Now its presence there is confirmed. Tomorrow we will explore vicinity of Vikos Canyon and then back to Peloponnesus and Attica.
Janis

[Yann]

Cyril, marvelous bach of flowers, i'm blown away by your Crocusses

[YT]

Tatsuo, the white Crocus serotinus ssp. salzmannii with the purple tube is eye catching.  The high light level is keeping it fairly low.  I grow a named pure white form 'El Torcal' but the flowers are taller.

You can move to Japan anytime if you want to your plants keep compact, Cyril Your 'El Torcal' pot is so beautiful, well grown

[mark smyth]

I'm guessing my Crocus 'Dream Dancer' are not as supplied?

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I'm guessing my Crocus 'Dream Dancer' are not as supplied?

I'm afraid you're right, Mark.  It should have yelow anthers if I'm correct.

[mark smyth]

As supplied by a well known "rare" bulb seller in UK

[johnralphcarpenter]

Name and shame!

[mark smyth]

I did John. The clue is there

[Maritfri]

Here are some of the Crocus that have bloomed here in October.


crocus banaticus


Crocus pulchellus


Crocus serotinus ssp salzmannii


Crocus kotschyanus Reliance


Crocus cartwrightianus


Now it's wet and cold outside and crocus season is probably over for this year here in Bergen.

Marit

[Maggi Young]

Lovely pictures, Marit  - but I fear you are right - the  year is turning now .... soon be winter.