What Is Wrong With My Crocus Flowers?

Are the leaves stems and buds distorted?

Is the foliage yellow and distorted, flowers are absent, and the corms are rotted?

Are the plants stunted and yellowed and do the roots have lesions on them?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Do the corms have watersoaked spots on them?

Are the flower petals color streaked?

Are the leaves and petals spotted?

Distorted stems, buds, and leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Likely cause for these symptoms is Bulb mites. These, almost microscopic insects feed on plants' corms and bulbs. Severely infested corms should be dug up and destroyed. Don't replant corms in infested soil. To destroy bulb mites in infested corms, dip them into 120°F hot water for a few minutes.

Stunted and yellowed plants with roots that have lesions on them are caused by Bulb Nematodes. Bulb nematodes are microscopic, wormlike creatures that attack bulbs. To prevent nematodes mulch regularly with compost to ensure that soil organic matter levels remain high. Heavily infested plants can only be removed and replaced with some other plant species.

Large, ragged holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

Sunken, black, shiny-surfaced lesions on corms indicate fungal disease - Corm Scab.

Mottled or streaked flower petals are caused by Mosaic virus. There is no cure for infected plants. Remove and destroy all plants that have the symptoms of mosaic virus. Mosaic virus is spread by aphids so the best way of preventing the disease is to control these insects.

Crocuses caught by late spring frosts may have small brown spots on their leaves or petals that later merge into blotches. Sometimes leaves split and look ragged. Prevent this by laying down a mulch layer over the corms right after the ground freezes in the fall.

If the plant has disappeared and the corms are missing the culprits are animal pests. Rodents such as mice, voles, squirrels, and gophers will eat crocus corms and can quickly make a planting disappear. The presence of a pet dog or cat often deters rodents. Line planting beds with screen or hardware cloth to keep pests from burrowing around corms.