Anemones

I picked up a bag of these at HD this week and the instructions say to soak for 12 hours before planting. I had a few minutes earlier today so did a "how to" search and found info stating that they should first be planted in dry vermiculite and not to water for three days. Evidently they are suppose to get moisture from the air at this point. After 3 days, it then said to lightly mist with water until the corm starts sending up a stem. Once the stem is up, you can start watering normally.

Soaking for 12 hours seems alot easier, so I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on what the best method is. The "how to" info stated that the croms could crack with too much moisture too fast and that the cracks could promote disease to get into the crom. Any takers on this one? Wallaby?

I've just soaked them and planted and they sprouted fine. Must pick up some, I just love 'em.

I had no idea about doing all that. I purchased some last fall and just plunked them into the ground. I guess in this case ignorance is bliss. They have been blooming now for a month and hardly have gotten any water at all. These are "Mr. Fokker". Never have grown any anemones before, but I sure will get some more this year.

everyone i have ever soaked more then an hour has rotted.

i have also just stuck them in the ground watered well and they do fine.

Thanks for the vote of confidence beaker! What type of anemone do you have? Some are not very long lived, and some are just not good at all if they are the coronaria de caen group, it depends where they come from. I had some Mr Fokker and they did well for a year then gradually disappeared. This type (coronaria de caen) is mostly planted in the spring for summer flowers, some I got from J Parkers catalogue once were, as I discovered, very poor and very few grew. They were I think from Turkey, they also had some better ones which were Dutch grown, I complained and got a replacement. This was a special existing customer offer but had a different code, probably very cheap for them to buy.

They are best bought from a garden centre where you can see what you're getting, they should be a good size and not shrivelled looking. I wouldn't soak them, they will get moisture if you put them in the ground (adjust thinking for your own climate!) but should be very free draining. I have a couple that have hung on for a few years but don't do much. Too wet and cold and they will rot. I never soak bulbs, and only ever keep them slightly moist to start with, they don't need it. Imagine them with no roots to take up moisture, it will just soak into the bulb and rot it.

Anemone blanda is long lived if treated correctly, and will seed around. I put mine in pots of leafy compost in the autumn, this gave very good drainage, to get them started, left outside and they grew well. I planted them on a slope in sandy soil where they get part sun/shade. The have naturalised well and seedlings everywhere. The colour does go quite dark blue/violet but difficult to capture

I'm not home right now, but I'll check later if there's anymore description about waht they are. They are the strangest looking corms I've ever seen. They are all shriveled and puckered looking. I picked them up from my local Home Depot.

Well, I'm glad I asked.

The corms are usually knobbly, but a good one should have a solid look about it and is dark. The de Caen corms are mostly longish. If they are the different bright colours they will be those, they are mostly offered in spring.

Hi beaker,

I bought anemones from Home Depot last year also. They were just a mixed bag. Reds, pinks, and purples mostly. I soaked them overnight and planted them the next day. They are blooming beautifully right now in one of my front beds. I do remember them being all shriveled looking and puffing up a bit after soaking...I guess they soak up some of the water.

-Tia

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The package says single coronaria anemones, The variety is Sylphide and it says to soak for 12 hours. Hum... What these actually look like is something I forgot to pick up in the yard (from the dog) and sat in the hot sun for a week. Seeing as this was an impluse purchase, I think I'll experiment and soak half of them. Thanks All for the feedback.

Tia, how long have yours been blooming? Did they go dormant over the winter?

Hi beaker,
They have been blooming for a good month now...seems like some will bloom and then finish up..then more open up after them. .the petals blow off them and leave cool looking seedheads. I don't know about the winter dormancy thing yet, I just planted them last fall so this is my first bloom with them. The really do add nice color. I don't care too much for the foliage but the flowers are wonderful!

Have fun! Tia

I saw some of these at the Atwoods store just today. They were marked 1/2 off. Is it too late to plant them ? If it isn't, I'm going back to get some.

Yep, they looked like something the petsitter missed in the yard. LOL