In early spring or autumn, a delicate flower resembling a snowdrop blooms in flowerbeds by amateur gardeners - this is crocus. His homeland is considered the south of Europe. In total there are about a hundred of its species. The color of the flowers is blue, white, lilac, yellow. The plant harmoniously woven into the design of garden beds: it is low (up to 25 cm) and will look good on alpine hills or as a border on the sides of garden paths. Crocuses flowers also look wonderful in plantings . Growing and caring for them is very simple, since the plants are very unpretentious. Flowers are not demanding on the composition of the soil, but it is better if it is neutral, loose. If it is poor, it is recommended to add rotted manure, and sand should be added to the clay soil.
Either the beginning of September or August is suitable for landing. Initially, you need to choose planting material. When buying bulbs, pay attention to their integrity, lack of damage. It is desirable that they are not germinated. The largest and healthiest of them are best developed. To correctly develop crocus flowers, the care of which is quite simple, they are planted at various depths, depending on the size of the bulb. The smallest of them are embedded in the ground at a distance of 5-7 cm, and the largest - from 10 to 12 cm. There should be a distance of at least 4 cm between them.
The plot for the flowers should be chosen sunny, but in a small shadow they will successfully develop. Crocuses, the cultivation and care of which require sufficient watering, do not like, however, stagnation of water. In winter, the flowers tolerate the cold well enough, but experienced gardeners advise covering them with foliage or grass. Varieties that bloom in autumn should be dug from June to August, spring - from July to September. This operation is performed to remove poor quality bulbs. Then the best of them are dried and stored in a dry and warm place until planting.
In order for crocuses to decorate your garden, cultivation and maintenance require not only the right choice of planting place, loosening the soil and fertilizing, but also top dressing. It should be carried out during the growing season, after the formation of the buds and when the plants bloom. In this case, you need to monitor the amount of fertilizers containing nitrogen. This element can lead to fungal diseases.
If you want to plant crocus in your apartment, home care should be the same as when growing in open ground. Bulbs are selected of the same grade and size. At room temperature they are kept for 2 weeks in a warm and well-ventilated area. For flowers pick up low containers and fill them with loose earth. After planting the bulbs, they should be placed in a cool place, after 2 months the pots with plants are transferred to a well-lit room.
In order for crocuses to bloom for a long time, cultivation and care must combine several important factors: proper lighting, fertile soil, sufficient moisture, regular plant transplantation. Only in this case you will have a garden decorated with bright, beautiful, large flowers.