How to Plant Autumn Crocus? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Care Tips

Autumn crocus (scientific name: Colchicum autumnale L.) is a plant in the genus Colchicum of the family Liliaceae, a perennial herbaceous bulbous flower. It blooms from August to October. The flower buds are spindle-shaped and open like funnels, light pink (or purplish red), dignified and elegant, and much loved. Autumn crocus is native to Europe and the Mediterranean coast; China has introduced seeds and corms from abroad since the 1970s. In gardens it is often used for rock gardens or flower bed planting. The bulb contains colchicine, which can be used medicinally, and is especially suitable for polyploid breeding. There are about 60 species in the same genus, most of which bloom in autumn without leaves, with pink or dark red flowers that emerge directly from the underground stem, 1-4 flowers per plant, and it has the reputation of "underground flower."

I. Cultivation Methods for Soil-Grown Autumn Crocus

1. Soil

When cultivating autumn crocus, it is best to choose a sandy soil with good drainage that is also fairly fertile.

2. Watering

The amount of water given when growing autumn crocus should differ according to the season; the specific methods are as follows:

In summer, reduce the amount of water given to autumn crocus, because in summer autumn crocus prefers a hot and dry environment.

In autumn, continuous autumn rain is common, and at this time the anthers of autumn crocus are easily infected by pathogens, and the bulbs are also prone to rotting. At this time it is best to move the autumn crocus indoors and control the amount of water given, to prevent waterlogging and similar problems.

In winter, autumn crocus prefers a moist environment, so more water can be given at this time. Autumn crocus is relatively cold-hardy, so no special cold protection work is needed.

II. Cultivation Methods for Water-Grown Autumn Crocus

When planting water-grown autumn crocus, first peel off the brown outer skin of the prepared autumn crocus bulb until the ivory-white part is exposed. Then cut a cross on the upper part of the bulb, cutting gently so as not to damage the flower buds. After that, soak the bulb with the cut side facing down overnight.

Next, formally plant the bulb into a water basin; the water should just cover half of the bulb. Generally, the water needs to be changed once every 1-2 days, and the temperature of the growing environment for autumn crocus is best kept at 10-18 degrees. At this time, good ventilation should also be maintained, along with sufficient sunlight. When growing indoors, note that autumn crocus during the growing period must not be exposed to artificial light at night. Generally it takes 40-60 days to bloom.