crocus buds shriveled before blooming?

[Kino]

Unfortunately I do not know the exact KIND of crocus that I'm growing, as I wasn't the one to purchase the bulbs. The story behind that one is that my college had a 'paint your own pot' event back in August where we could paint a little ceramic pot and we'd get a free flower bulb to grow. Unfortunately the students in charge of the event bought crocus bulbs without really knowing what was needed to make them grow. I somehow managed to get the little plant to grow inside in a pot anyway, and it actually seemed to be doing pretty well.

It sprouted greenery and has been growing rather well. When I was home over Christmas break the plant even started to sprout little flower buds. Now, however, the greenery of the plant is still doing very well (by now it's about 3-4 inches tall) but over the past week or so the flower buds have shriveled. I haven't taken them off or anything because I'm not sure yet if 'dead heading' them might encourage more buds to grow since spring is on it's way soon? The buds were still very small when they started to shrivel; the outer coating is still on them but it's so shriveled by now that I can see the color of what would have been the flowers through them. (They're yellowish orange, if that would help with anything).

I know they'll need fertilizer soon anyway, since they've been in the soil for quite some time. All I've been able to give them is some used whole-leaf tea leaves mixed into the top layer of soil. When I go home for spring break I also have some seaweed/fish fertilizer that I'll probably sprinkle in, but that's the extent of my fertilizing abilites.

For now, I'm wondering about the shriveled buds. I've tried looking over the internet but nothing seems to have an answer. They seem pretty much dead as far as buds go, but the rest of the plant is fine and fresh and green.

Should I just leave the shriveled buds alone? Should I gently tug them off? I'm really hoping that them having shriveled doesn't mean the plant won't flower at all. The idea of getting the plant to flower in the spring was one of the only things keeping me determined enough to keep this thing alive in a college dorm.

Thanks for any help!

 

[jojo54]

Welcome from BC, Canada. I can't answer your questions help you but you've come to the right place. There are a number of knowledgeable people on this forum that like to share their expertise. I've learned alot by being here. :rainbow-sun

 

[lesa]

Welcome!! Is it possible that you missed the flowers opening? They really don't last too long, even in the garden.... If you do nothing with the shriveled blooms, they will fall off.
If you let the leaves die back, into the bulb and store the bulb in a cool, dry place until fall- you can plant it in a garden setting and see it bloom in the spring.
Good for you, gardening in your dorm room!! I see a great gardener in the making!

 

[vfem]

Welcome!! Is it possible that you missed the flowers opening? They really don't last too long, even in the garden.... If you do nothing with the shriveled blooms, they will fall off.
If you let the leaves die back, into the bulb and store the bulb in a cool, dry place until fall- you can plant it in a garden setting and see it bloom in the spring.
Good for you, gardening in your dorm room!! I see a great gardener in the making!

Agreed! Crocus are short lived and seasonal... its probably done. And when all the green and things are gone from the plant, the bulb will remain dormant... not dead.

Congrats on your green thumb... you seem to be doing VERY well!

 

[Kino]

I definitely did not miss them blooming. They never got big enough to bloom in the first place, which is why it was a little sad that they ended up shriveling! I live in only one room when I'm at college though and they are constantly in eyeshot of where I am sitting while doing homework/etc, so I would have seen them bloom for sure. But either way, they never even got to be the size of a pinky nail, and they never even got taller than the leaves. For that matter, the plant is so young that the leaves are still more stringy and haven't really opened up yet.

Thanks for the suggestions though! I am glad to hear that they will come back in the spring anyway, but I was so hoping to see them bloom this spring.