Interesting things about Crocosmia & Diagnosing Problems

It's Flower Friday! Every Friday we will post a new video about gardening, flowers, pest control, etc, just in time for you to dig into your own garden this weekend!
Last year this Crocosmia was huge and it was beautiful! So why is it so small and sparse this year? I thought it was because of it's unusual growth habit, and it's tendency to climb up out of the soil and kill itself. But when I dug it up I was surprised to find that it was another problem entirely!
Watch, discover and diagnose the problem along with me, and remember to subscribe so you don't miss future gardening videos. We are the only flower gardening channel on KZbin located in the Inland Northwest so you'll learn a lot about our climate, zone and the unique growing conditions of this place we call home.
Thanks for watching! Subscribe for more gardening tips, tricks and hacks! We have lots planned to keep the channel going through winter! See you in the garden!

[@seamus6994]

I believe mine is the Lucifer variety, blood red. I just found out what this plant name is, so I'm watching videos. Glad I found yours to learn about it. I think it came in the mail a few years ago in a bulb mix I bought. I'm in zone 7b-8. Snow off and on in Winter, and hot Summers, 90 to 100. I keep it in full sun and well watered.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

That sounds like the ideal climate for Crocosmia. Our zone is just a little too cold for it, and our soil a little too heavy.

[@Sea_Enjoyer]

Here in the UK crocosmia has become wild and invasive (the orange variety), we like lucifer though. I'm currently dividing mine and although we have less lucifer, its certainly the hardest to dig up. Huge corms. Had about 300 individual plants, but next year my garden will have about 15, in groups of 3-5. They're best when controlled. Let them grow for a few years and they become a little to invasive for my liking.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I've seen some clusters get absolutely HUGE! I can't imagine having to dig them up. I think I would just top dress them if they started climbing out of the soil. It's always fascinating to me what grows well in different places. Here in Eastern Washington, Lucifer is one of the few varieties that can survive our winters, much less thrive.

[@saronnpov3275]

Great video !

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks!

[@j.b.4340]

Thank you. I have to plant hundreds.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

You bet! I'm glad this was helpful!

[@SuddenEden]

Thank you.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

You're welcome!

[@LarryDickman1]

I had 2 Lucifer groupings 3 feet apart in zone 5 in Massachusetts. They both bloomed for 3 years. One of the groups never survived winter 2023.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Major bummer! And there wasn't any major difference in the plantings, so no idea why one died and the other didn't?

[@LarryDickman1]

@@GardenUPLandscape No idea. However I have plenty of corms to make another grouping.

[@shirleyvalente5182]

I planted around 20 corms in different areas Some in a whiskey barrel, some inside with drainage hole and some in a metal pot. I’m in 5b in Colorado. Every single one of the leaves started to turn brown even though I keep it moist. Should I remove each one and check for problems like you did …. Some are at least 2 feet tall, but no stems yet .. started them in June. I live in a condo and not allowed to plant them in the ground. They get around 4 hours of sun. Thanks

[@barbbrock5268]

Good informative video...I am curious as to whether putting some DE in the soil when replanting would help with the bug/worm problem.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I bet it would actually! That's an excellent idea!

[@tmcgee1614]

I have had mine for 4 years and this year i dug it up as its now looking like a mound. I have many with 3 bulbs stacked on top of each other. Do I plant them back with a 3 stacked on top of each other? Or do I take off the top one and plant that? It was very rootbound. No disease that i can see

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Yes, you can separate connected corms before planting to propagate more crocosmias! In spring, you can dig up the dormant corms and gently pull apart the clumps into individual corms. Then, replant the top two corms from each string in smaller groups, spaced 4-8 in apart. You can do this every 3-5 years to reinvigorate them and keep them flowering well.

[@dollyperry3020]

I'm planting some this coming spring. I hope I don't have insect issues too.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

This was the first time I'd seen this particular problem. Usually Crocosmia stays very healthy until it climbs up out of the soil and freezes.

[@cissisarrett8257]

It’s towards the end of August in Texas…temps are below 100…can I plant Lucifer bulbs in a pot and transplant in spring…if so do I bring in during winter or just cover with mulch outside

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I don't know what your winters are like but I would think that planting in the ground is ok. I don't know about transplanting it in the spring.

[@creativeminichitra9802]

i planted a bulb with leaf i,t multipled and the leaves never grow in 3 years , healthy but not growing ,do you think digging and looking for will work?

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I'd say that's a place to start. In our climate they die back in the winter and regrow the following spring. You say they haven't grown in size in 3 years, but there is still a healthy leaf?

[@raquelwright7451]

When is the best time to dig and divide the crocosmia and does it has to be in the sunny location? Lastly what fertilizer to use for crocosmia. Thanks for sharing the video

[@GardenUPLandscape]

The best time for any plant division is in the fall when the weather is cool, but with plenty of time to reestablish before the ground freezes. The second best time is spring. Crocosmia does prefer sun. I've not had any luck with it in partial shade, but it dies for a lot of reasons in our cold climate. I just use Morbloom on all of my bloomers. I might give Crocosmia some bone meal in the spring, maybe top dress with some manure or compost if it looks like it needs a boost.

[@raquelwright7451]

@@GardenUPLandscape Hi there, I want to thank you for your reply on my message, I really appreciate it. I love this flower and I sure will take good care of it from now on. Thanks again

[@petersaula2304]

@@GardenUPLandscape I intend to split some corms this autumn. Can they survive being dried out over winter and being planted out in the spring? Like bulbs. Thanks.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

@@petersaula2304 I'm not certain about that, I've never tried it, but my assumption would be probably, as long as they are stored in a cool, dry place. I would try storing them just like Dahlias or Cannas, in a paper bag with some crumpled newspaper to keep them dry. Check on them periodically to make sure there's no rot.

[@petersaula2304]

@@GardenUPLandscape I know it sounds a bit vague, but I am doing a (mid) long distance swap. Cardoon, to wild set. Hedgerow, Montbretia (Crocosmia) to bring back to a wildflower guerrilla garden, hence requesting that info. Alternative, is to split the corms and a day or two later (after travel), re-pot and re-bed in the spring. Thanks.

[@dougsimons7475]

This was a good video, thank you, but I missed what you thought was the cause of this particular plant failing and "stacking up" to get out of the soil???? What do you think the cause was??? I grow cocosmia out toward the coast in Montesano WA and have shared my plants with many people splitting them in the spring when they first come up. I have to stake my plants because they get so huge........ They are very sturdy, but have so much vegetation and flowers they do not stand by themselves. These are Lucifer by the way.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The root structure that Crocosmia have is called a Corm, and instead of dividing and spreading laterally / sideways like most bulb-type roots, these grow their progeny on top of the previous years growth. From what I understand, in it's native loose, sandy soil, the older Corms tend to dig themselves deeper as they grow, so the plant is always at the right depth. But in heavier soils, especially thick clays or loamy gardens, the older corms cannot do that. So when the new corms grow on top of the older ones they get closer and closer to the soil surface and eventually get too close to the frost line and die. Lucifer is the only variety hardy enough to stand a chance in Spokane, and it's a risk at best. I've seen more Crocosmia die after a cold winter than I've seen survive, but the ones that do survive are GORGEOUS! And they do get huge!

[@nitenursedreams03]

Hi there! I just bought a few of these and find mine temperamental. I was wondering how did yours come out after all of the cleaning up the roots and replanting? Looking for some hope 😂 thanks!

[@GardenUPLandscape]

I filmed this a few years ago and they never came back the year after. The thing is, Crocosmia does not do well here in Eastern WA. The only variety that has a chance at over wintering is Lucifer and that's hit or miss. Sometimes you'll see a big plant that's more than a few years old, but usually they die in their first or second winter.

[@charlesstella6476]

I have this plant in Pittsburgh. I found that covering the cleared stalks with 4-5 inches of mulch helps the plant through the winter. I experimented last year, covered one and left the other area of crocosmia uncovered and the area left uncovered is now sparse. Think the frost got to it.

[@marykoselke9735]

My crocsmia falls over quite a bit. I used some supports but I think the hard rains we had this year really made them flop over more. Any suggestions for what I can do to keep them upright?

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Are they planted deeply enough? They are usually pretty sturdy. If they are planted correctly then I would continue to use the supports. Perhaps a fertilizer would help them grow stronger - top dress with compost or manure and and mix in some bone meal.

[@telsclark]

I find they dont need fertiliser they prefer poor dry soil

[@theclothingcottage]

They need to be thinned

[@annekevrieling8101]

Hi Amy, did you ever found out what the 'worms' as you called them in the corms were? fly larvae perhaps? I'm asking because near us Crocosmia are an invasive species and I'd love to find a creature, native hopefully, that feeds on the corms!

[@GardenUPLandscape]

No I didn't, but what an interesting idea! Where are you that Crocosmia are invasive? It's like pulling teeth getting them to grow here in Spokane, they often don't survive our winters.

[@86753091974]

@@GardenUPLandscape they grow so strong in Seattle area.

[@dougmichaelroossien9115]

I have two of the Lucifers. One is exceptionally taller than the first I have had for years. It's June and my relatively newer Lucifer location is smothering my rose situation. The older variety one would have been more manageable f or the space. Also, the tall heavy green blades obstruct the vision of all the plants... LAST fall it was extremely showy for a long time. But, most of my colors aren't for red. May I move a whole cluster at once until the fall to another open location ...until I decide where these really tall fella's deserve to be? We are talking 6 feet vs 2-1/2 foot differences

[@dougmichaelroossien9115]

the large one is VERY health and many healthy shoots ... just the wrong place. I don't want to miss the show this July ...but it's stealing all the beauty of the roses

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Congrats on having such a healthy Crocosmia! They are so finnicky here, I've all but given up on them. Moving it is what I would do. It would certainly be a lot easier to move clusters of shallow corms than to try to move a rose with it's 3'+ deep tap root. Choose the new locations and yes digging in the fall is best but not entirely necessary. Most any cool day will work, just water well after.

[@jeneendove906]

Thank you from the state of Washington. I have a lucifer I just got.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

You are so welcome! Good luck with your new plant!

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks for watching! Subscribe for more gardening tips, tricks and hacks! We have lots planned to keep the channel going through winter! See you in the garden!

[@GardenUPLandscape]

:)

[@Crazy4Crafting50]

I wish I could actually hear you talking. A wearable microphone 🎤 would have been ideal 8n this situation.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Yeah, this was one of my early videos before I had much equipment or knew how to fix the sound. I almost didn't post this video because of the poor sound quality and because the reason the plant was struggling wasn't what I thought, so I sat on it for months. Ironically it's one of the best performing videos on my channel LOL who would've known! 😆

[@suzannebolt7949]

Music is a bit distracting

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Yeah... sorry about that. I struggled with the background music a lot in my early videos.

[@scharliem]

Sound too low

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks for the tip. I'm fairly new to this so learning as I go.

[@cathysharp3772]

Volume too low

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm learning a lot as I go!

[@pamelaspooner7183]

You don’t need that annoying music.

[@GardenUPLandscape]

Thanks for the feedback. This was one of the first videos I filmed and edited after starting my channel, so I was definitely learning a lot.

[@j.b.4340]

We don’t need your annoying comment.