Crocosmia Question....

I have some seedlings up, now, they are a bit weak cause I have low light, sooo, can I transplant them lower in their new pots than they are now (like you can with a tomato)?
Thank you
Lee Anne

I'm not sure what the answer is but you have D-mail.
Linda

Anybody? They really need to be potted up .........

How are they now? Getting any more light?
I personally wouldn't plant them deeper, as it might rot the tender leaf bases. (but I'm not entirely sure of this) Usually, corm seedlings will pull themselves to the depth they want to be at.

My guess is that they will get stronger as they get more light but don't know for sure. I am in am in 1/2 zone colder than you and don't have growing lights so run into the same problem. Am thinking if you didn't fertize when planted that could give them a light feeding and that might help too but that is another guess based on doing that with non bulb plants.
I am planting some crocosmias this year too. Our zones are too cold for most and read that some like Lucifer may not blossom until second season. Do you plant them as an annual or dig them in fall?
I am hoping someone with more expertise would answer as I would like to know for sure too. Have read in other sections of Garden Talk where some people have said they transplanted non bulb plants deeper that were weak stemed but never tried that and wasn't clear if they took off lower leaves like tomatoes.
Wonder if it would work If planted a little deeper but not so much that bury any of leaves.
Hope yours turn out well. They certainly are beautiful.

I am going to use them as an annual, dig them up every fall and store them like I do my Glads and Dahlias. I really had to transplant them so I did it...put em deeper than they were....so far they seem ok......(fingers crossed).

This site says 5" deep, but as JamesCo says they should place themselves at their correct depth. If they are still very small I would not plant them too deep, crocosmia does send out runners (maybe not all) making new corms.

You would find these closer to the surface. I would replant at the same depth they were at, the weakness may just be due to immaturity or needing to establish if they are newly planted.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-summer/crocosomia.html

They should be lifted about every 3 years and the old corms taken off the bottom, most of them make new corms on top of the old like gladiolus and if left will loose vigour.

Thank you......

You are awfully ambitious trying them as annuals, good luck! I mean it. They tend to perform after establishment, so I hope you succeed with the challenge. Certainly, planted close to a building's fully exposed south side with drainage, you'd overwinter them?

the variety Lucifer is reliably hardy in zone 5