cultivation problem ?

[Catwheazle]

Perhaps someone can explain that to me:
This year I bought 3 Crocus tournefortii and planted one of them in a dry, covered area in the garden.
2 of them in a 15cm pot (because I am not sure about the frost resistance). Same soil, same location, same watering.

The planted out one has blossomed beautifully and now has about 10cm large leaves.
In the pot: Only one of the two brought a stunted flower, both now have about 5cm long leaves.

..... I have to say that, to my amazement, the onions differed greatly in appearance and buds when they were received!

Any Idea

Thx
Bernd

[Ian Y]

It sounds like you have a possible answer when you state the corms, (onions) differed greatly so they were not all starting from an equal place.

My experience has shown that bulbs planted outside the restrictions of a pot always seem to do better, I notice this even under glass where the bulbs growing in the sand beds grow better and flower earlier than identical clones in pots.

[Catwheazle]

Yes, I know that from my terrestrial orchids, for example.
Is there anything special that I have to pay attention to when cultivating pots
(I already use at least 13 pots anyway)? (except careful watering)


greetings
Bernd

[Yann]

cold and humidity that trigger the bulbs blossoms are very different between garden's soil and pot substrat.
The same happens here, microclimate of a pot is somewhat changing all along a day, it's less the case in your garden.
Growing in pot is more convenient for moving plants in a greenhouse, rain protection, controling water, photographing, fertilising but
is definitely not ideal for conditions. That's also why many growers plundge their pots into sand to recreate ground inertia.

[Catwheazle]

Thank you!
Unfortunately, due to space problems, I cannot make sand beds, nor can I lower the pots.
.... I have to come up with something ...
greetings
Bernd

[Catwheazle]

... I took a large styrofoam box and sunk the pots there in sand.
I also have the lid for it so that I can cover it up in severe frost.
Let's see how it works.
...