The dormant bulb-like corms should be planted mid- to late-summer for fall blooms.
It does well in a variety of soils and will benefit from good sun.
Autumn crocuses are toxic to humans and animals.
Autumn Crocus ‘Innocence’Chris Burrows / Getty Images
Autumn Crocus Care
Autumn crocuses are low-maintenance garden plants.
They dont typically have serious pest or disease issues, and rabbits and deer tend to leave them alone.
The flowers attract butterflies and bees.
Autumn Crocus ‘Waterlily’Photos Lamontagne / Getty Images
Here are the main care requirements for autumn crocuses.
Light
The autumn crocus needs at least a half-day of full sun during its foliage phase.
The flowers will grow fine with some shade.
Autumn Crocus ‘Disraeli’Stuart Blyth / Getty Images
Soil
Autumn crocuses can grow well in sandy loam or rocky soil.
Moreover, they can handle a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil pH.
The critical factor is good soil drainage.
Water
A moderate level of soil moisture is ideal for the autumn crocus.
Water weeklyabout one inch per weekduring the spring, reducing watering when the foliage dies.
Increase water again when the flowers appear.
Neither frigid winters nor warm winters provide the right conditions for dormancy for the corms.
Fertilizer
The autumn crocus grows fine without additional fertilizer.
Onlyprune away the foliageafter it has turned yellow.
Allow it to die back naturally.
Propagating Autumn Crocus
Autumn crocus can propagate by division or sowing seed.
Your autumn crocus will naturally propagate by forming small corms on the main corm.
Having space between plants helps to ventilate plants and reduces the threat of fungal diseases that target overcrowded plants.
Autumn crocus seeds need a chill period to trigger germination.
Cover the seeds with a scattering of soil on top (1/16 inch deep).
Seed germination rates are low and slow.
If the seeds eventually sprout, they may take one to two years.
Use containers that have good drainage holes.
Corms like to be planted deeply, so get a pot at least 12 to 16 inches deep.
Every few years, thin the corms from a pot that becomes too crowded.
Pot them in mid- to late-summer using a standard potting mix, and water when the soil is dry.
Place the plant in a sunny location and keep it evenly moist.
Repot every few years when the corms become crowded.
Remove the mulch in the spring.
Place organic baits, such as iron phosphate, around the area.
you’ve got the option to also use beer traps.
Sink a shallow bowl in the soil, so the rim is at the soil line.
Fill it with beer.
The slugs and snails will drown each evening trying to drink the beer.
A low fence and a castor oil repellent spray will keep them out.
It acts like a barrier and will discourage the animals from tunneling to the bulbs.
Autumn crocus corms are also susceptible to fungal infections.
Fungal smut or fusarium fungal rot can infect and kill the corms.Keep the soil well-drained to prevent these diseases.
Soggy conditions make corms vulnerable to fungal infection.
Once it takes hold, the damage is hard to rebound from.
Be proactive with well-draining soil and avoid overwatering.
Divide and move the corms every few years to avoid fungal diseases from cropping up.
Dig up the corm to inspect it.
If it’s blackened and mushy, it has rotted.
Check the other corms.
Destroy the infected corms.
If any corms are salvageable, replant them in a new site with fresh soil.
Discard the old soil.
How to Get Autumn Crocus to Bloom
Bloom Months
Autumn crocus is a fall bloomer.
It will show in the months of September, October and November.
How Long Does Autumn Crocus Bloom?
A single flower can last up to two weeks and sometimes three before naturally fading.
What Do Autumn Crocus Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Each stem produces a star-shaped flower that is colored in shades of lavender-pink to lilac-pink.
The blooms are said to have a neutral smell.
Avoid clay soils, as these will hold moisture.
Also, allow the foliage to die back.
This process will naturally feed the bulbs for the following season.
This process is completely necessary for flower production.
Flowers Flop Over
Autumn crocuses prefer full sun.
Brown Spots On Leaves and Stems
Autumn crocuses are susceptible to late spring frosts.
You might notice tiny brown spots that turn into larger blotches on the leaves that split or look ragged.
Winter protection can help prevent this condition.
Lay down a mulch layer over the corms after the first freeze.
Bulb mites are minuscule and hard to see with the naked eye.
They have four pairs of legs, piercing-sucking mouth parts, and very compact bodies.
Below ground, hundreds of mites will feed on the corm pulp.
Dig up and destroy any infested corms.
Remove and destroy affected corms.
Leaf mold encourages beneficial fungi that attack nematodes.
With proper care, nutrients, and good soil, crocus bulbs can thrive for up to 5 years.
The critical difference between the two plants is that they are not related.
Although “crocus” is in its name, the autumn variety is not a crocus species.
Spring crocus plants come from the iris family, while autumn crocuses are part of the lily family.
Autumn crocuses are such a unique plant that their full-grown corm will flower indoors.
All it needs is a warm, sunny windowsill.
Lay it flat; it does not require soil or water and will flower.
Otherwise, it’s best if it’s planted in-ground or kept outdoors.
Autumn Crocus is highly toxic if consumed.
The bulb is especially poisonous, but all parts of the plant should be avoided.
Poisonous and non-poisonous plants.National Capital Poison Center.
Colchicum autumnale.North Carolina State University Extension.
