Crocosmia

Cultivation : Crocosmia can be easily grown from the corms which split and grow into new plants. In order to plant crocosmia, the corms must be planted deep in the soil at least 10 cm below the soil level and the spacing between the corms must be at least 15cm. Care should be taken while finding location for planting the corms, the location should be such that the soil drains well if it is not so organic materials must be added to the soil so as to raise the level 5-8cm in order to improve the drainage. These plants must be placed in the location of full sun; hence crocosmia find difficulty to survive in water logged soil.

After planting it must be watered regularly, to soak the soil. Within a few weeks roots and top growth takes place and additional watering is not essential once plants are established, hence rainfall is enough. When the plants are grown up it produces flowers and when it finished flowering, cut the stems leaving the leaves on the soil even when it is dead. On absorbing the sunlight the leaves helps for better growth of next year’s flowering and act as insulation against frost in the winter months. Those leaves may be removed when they become yellow.

Propagation : Crocosmia can be propagated by placing seeds in containers in a cold frame. It must be placed in containers after they ripe or by dividing the corms. If growing crocosmia in a containers, select a large pot with drainage holes and water it regularly and for good growth of plants add fertilizers. Clumps division is good to be done in early spring, just before the growth of plant starts and the strongest corms must be replanted immediately. In order to maintain the strength of the plant clumps must be divided for every 3years.

While growing in cold area, add required amount of mulch to protect the corms and also cover corcosmia plant’s roots with bark chippings in order to protect them from winter frosts.

Varieties : The principal varieties of crocosmia are Crocosmia crososmiiflora and Crocosmia masonorum.

Cracosmia crososmiiflora Its common name is Montbretia which is further divided depending on the size of flowers, short flowers and long flower varieties. It blooms in late summer (March/April onwards) in orange/red, Red with yellow centre, tomato red colours. These plants can grow up to 80-100cm. It grows in abundant and can be viewed even in road sides.

Crocosmia masonorum It is the rare Crocosmia species in the wild which can grow up to 0.8 m height and produces bright orange-red flower with tangerine throats. It blooms in summer from December to January. It will be strong and healthy in zones 6-10.In spring weather it can be affected by fungus diseases, as a precaution the plants must be treated with systemic fungicide.

Some of the varieties of crocosmia are Amberglow, Bicolor, Bressingham Beacon, Bridgemere hybrid, Chinatown, Cornet, Culzean Peach, Diademe, Emberglow, Firebird, Firefly, Golden Fleece, Highlight, John Boots, Lana de savary, Lucifier, Marcotijn, Mistral, Moira Reed, Orangeade, R.W.Wallace, Scarlatti, Severn Sunrise, Spitfire, Tangerine Queen, Voyager, Vulcan, Zeal Giant, Zeal unnamed, Jupiter, Rowallane Orange, Rowallane Yellow, Culzean Pink, A.J.Hogan, Babylon, Canary Bird, Citronella, Constance, Corona, Custard cream Debutante, Dusky Maiden, Venus, Sulphurea, Star of the East, Sonate, Solfatare, Saracen, Red Knight, Queen of Spain, Mount Usher, Honey angels, Emily McKenzie and so on.

Disease and Cure : The crocosmias are moderately sensitive to ethylene gas, it will cause the sensitive florets to shrivel and make it to fall prematurely, so in order to avoid it, the flowers are treated with anti-ethylene agent at the farm level and also during transportation.

Spider mites which are small spider like creature with 8 legs which grows in dry and hot conditions, eats up the plant with their strong and piercing mouth. This causes scattered dots and yellowish colour in leaves. These direct effect causes leaf drop and death of plants when it comes to heavy infestations. Spider mites are capable of multiplying in a higher rate and thus the spreading also becomes high.

In order to prevent and control it, weeds are kept around the unaffected plants to protect and removing the infested plants from further spreading. Dry air is an ideal factor for the infestation to spread and so it must be avoided, by watering the plants regularly. Ladybug larvae, the natural enemy of spider mites can be used in favour to fight spider mites. Take advantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae. Concentrate more on undersides of leaves where the spider mites live mostly.

If needed use pesticides and fungicides, but in most cases crocosmia is resistant to pests or diseases. Hence it is a type of plant lasting for at least three seasons.

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