Does anyone have experience growing crinum in pots in a colder zone (6)? Any suggestions on getting them to bloom ?

I've only grown Crinum in the ground and it only took 2 seasons to realize it had to go. Crinum makes babies like crazy and bulbs get very large, very fast - I personally classify it as invasive. I don't think Crinum could last in a pot for very long without breaking it.

Depends upon which Crinum you plant, though. Some don't get all that large and might do fine in a pot. I had a clump, I forget which one now sorry, that had about 2ft. high foliage and the flower spike was maybe 30in. White lily shaped flowers, very fragrant lasted about 2 or 3 days.

The ones you see in public gardens here grow to the size of a Volkswagen, pretty quickly though. They have clumps of smaller spidery flowers on very tall stems, so the flowers bloom in succession for a while. They're gorgeous, but too big for a small garden.

I stopped growing them, frankly, because although they're ok foliage plants, and the flowers are nice and fragrant, they (flowers) don't last long enough to make it a worthwhile endeavor.

The Ellen Bosanquet I had scared the bajeebers out of me .. in two years the bulb went from baseball size to basketball size and made over 20 babies which actually managed to push out a board that was screwed into another board. That's what made me give them all away.

Judy, I was snooping and found this thread. I just decided to try crinum as an indoor pot plant late this summer when I saw an online "special." I have the bulb and its 2 small "bulblets" potted up and next to my light stand. They seem to be doing well -- they had stood awhile after they were divided (that's why they were on special), but are recovering. They are just such beautiful plants I decided I wanted to try... I'll put them outside next summer with all my other light-stand plants. If there are any changes, I'll try to remember to get back here and let you know... Mother Raphaela

My crinum are beautiful plants. I have four pots of them, in summer, they grow big and green and I bring them in when it is getting cold. I do keep them under lights in the winter, but the temperature can be in the 60's in my basement. They usually go dormant, and the leaves become brown. I water them, when they look very dry. I have never had a bud or bloom.

Well, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, they like to be pot-bound and fertilized regularly.
http://www.missouribotanicalga...
Maybe you're not feeding them enough? Or could the pots be too big?

I recall reading that some plants limit their size to how far their roots can travel, I'm wondering if Crinum fits that bill.

The pots my crinum are growing in are probably too small for the size of the bulbs, I try to have a snug fit. I have not fed them, so I will try feeding them when they are actively growing. For now I can give them a mulch of worm castings. Food may be the problem. Thanks for the ideas.

I am going keep them under direct fluorescent light this winter. Last winter they were not under the lights, so their leaves turned brown and went dormant.

The cool temperature in my basement may be a problem too. I may have to move them into an extra room, that is heated, where I have a plant stand with lights????

obliqua said: Food may be the problem. Thanks for the ideas.
?

You might want to give them bulb blooming fertilizer -- if the balance of nutrients isn't right, you will just get a healthy plant but no flowers...

I'm just trying things out here myself -- I have my lights in my room where I can keep up with the plants, and they stay warm with me. Since you didn't have luck putting them in a cooler basement, I'll stick with this arrangement at least for this winter, and then see. I was thinking I had put mine in too large a pot if being pot-bound encourages them to bloom, but I think again I'll stick with the pot for this winter and let the bulbs settle in before I try to move them.

I've been growing this crinum in the same pot for years, it had 3 rounds of bloom this past summer. I fertilize haphazardly during the summer (~2, 3 times) w/ Miracle Grow. It is presently sitting in the garage but will be moved to the basement within a week or so. In the basement (avg winter temp appx. 60°F) it is stored dry over the winter.

That is good to know. Since mine is just starting a new growth cycle, though, I don't think it's a good idea to dry it out for this winter. I'll let it grow through and then next fall decide what to do. We have a really short growing season due to being high up in the Catskills -- with some of my plants that have the ability to do well without a dormant season, I've learned to bring them in before they can get too cold and let them think they've moved to the tropics...

Judy I just want to wish you good luck with your crinum and thanks for trying them. I'm nowhere near your zone so can't vouch for potting. I know they dont like to be moved(when in they are in the ground)they adore water. I consider them giant rain lilies, they will bloom, bloom rebloom with adequate water. And like Anne said they do pup prolificly, and they do take up some real estate. Still love them!

I think I have hopes of a bloom one of these years. Jmorth, is probably close to my zone. If you can get a bloom I am sure I can to. I will increase the food and water that I give them. Thanks again.

Judy

I am zone 5 and have a huge bulb I bought at the Flower Lawn and Garden Show, the gentleman selling them swore they were our zone, I knew better but I bought it anyway. This time of year I put it in our solar room and it will bloom later this winter. I can never get it to bloom in the summer. It is HUGE in a huge pot. I just keep it cause it is unique. Like a lot of folks it might not be worth the real estate it takes up. But while I have room to spare I will keep it.

I've had a crinum in the same pot for 5 or 6 years now. It will need to be repotted next spring because its roots have completely filled it's pot. I was planning to repot it this spring but gave up because I couldn't budge it. It bloomed 3 times this spring and summer. It spends the summer outdoors then is stored dry indoors for the winter. It usually puts out a bloom stock over the winter as well. I get a lot of compliments on it as its an unknown bulb for most gardeners here.

Has your crinum bloomed? If so, I would love to know how you treat the plant once it is in the house?

I have had mine many years, and just gave a bunch of them to someone that lives in the Carolinas, where they can grow in a garden. I have one large pot with 4 bulbs planted in it, that I have saved.

OMG!!! How did I never hear of these??!?! They are so pretty, and looking at everyone's zones, I may even stand a chance of getting them to overwinter. Thanks for the new obsession!!

Holy Cow! I just looked at some prices online - after looking at daffodils and tulips I figured you guys were talking about maybe $5-$10 dollars a bulb. Sheesh!!! So much for THAT idea!

(I removed my post because I posted the wrong information.)