Ruby Giant Crocus Crocus 'Ruby Giant'

Water

The Ruby Giant Crocus requires moderate watering during its growing season. Before and during the blooming period in spring, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, by giving the plant about 1 inch of water per week. After blooming has finished and the leaves start to die back, you can reduce watering significantly, allowing the soil to dry out to help the bulbs go dormant. It's important not to overwater as this can cause the bulbs to rot. During the fall and winter, watering is typically unnecessary unless you're experiencing an unusually dry season.

Light

The Ruby Giant Crocus thrives in full sun to partial shade. For the healthiest blooms, place this plant in a spot where it can receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it can tolerate some light shade, the flowers may not be as vigorous. Avoid planting in deep shade, as this can lead to poor flowering.

Temperature

The Ruby Giant Crocus prefers cooler temperatures and is quite cold-hardy, able to withstand winter temperatures down to -20°F. This plant enjoys the chill of winter, needing a period of cold to trigger spring blooms. Ideally, the Crocus will flourish when spring temperatures are between 35°F and 65°F. Extreme heat above 75°F may inhibit blooming and can stress the plant.

Pruning

Pruning the Ruby Giant Crocus usually isn't necessary, but deadheading the faded flowers can promote better plant health. You should not cut back the foliage after blooming, as the leaves are needed to gather energy for next year's blooms. Allow the leaves to die back naturally before removing them, usually by late spring or early summer.

Cleaning

Not needed

Soil

The Ruby Giant Crocus thrives in well-draining soil enriched with compost or organic matter. A balanced soil mix with a pH ranging from 6 to 7 is ideal. To create the perfect soil mix, combine two parts garden soil, one part perlite or coarse sand, and one part compost or well-rotted manure for fertility and drainage. It's important for the soil to be loose and not waterlogged to prevent bulb rot.

Repotting

Ruby Giant Crocus bulbs should be lifted and divided every 3-5 years to prevent overcrowding and to rejuvenate the planting. After flowering, wait until the foliage dies back before lifting the bulbs in late spring or early summer. Replant immediately or store in a cool, dry place to repot in the fall.

Humidity & Misting

Ruby Giant Crocus plants are not particularly demanding regarding humidity levels. They tolerate the average outdoor humidity levels well and do not require any special adjustments when grown in typical garden settings. The focus should be on providing proper soil drainage rather than humidity control.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place in bright light, plant in well-drained soil mix, water sparingly.

• Outdoor

  Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil.

• Hardiness zone

  3-8 USDA

Life cycle

The life of a 'Ruby Giant' Crocus typically begins when a corm, a bulb-like storage organ, is planted in the ground during late summer or early autumn. In autumn, roots start to grow from the base of the corm, preparing the plant for winter. During the winter, the corm lies dormant underground, protected from the cold. As temperatures rise in late winter to early spring, the corm sends up shoots, and the 'Ruby Giant' Crocus flowers emerge, often while snow is still on the ground. After flowering, the plant produces narrow, grass-like leaves that photosynthesize to replenish the corm's energy reserves. Finally, as temperatures increase in late spring, the plant’s above-ground foliage dies back, and the corm enters dormancy again until the next growth cycle.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Late summer

• The Crocus 'Ruby Giant', commonly known as the Ruby Giant Crocus, is typically propagated through the division of corms. Propagation time is best during the dormant period, after the flowering has ended and the foliage has died back, usually in late summer to early fall. During this time, the corms can be carefully lifted from the soil, and any cormlets, which are the offsets that form around the base of the parent corm, can be separated. These cormlets should have a bit of the parent corm's base to ensure they contain the necessary food reserves to establish successfully. Once separated, the corms and cormlets can be replanted at a depth of about 3 to 4 inches (approximately 7.5 to 10 centimeters), and spaced around 3 inches apart to allow for enough growing space. This division method is an easy and effective way to increase your Ruby Giant Crocus collection and ensure healthy growth in the following season.