Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 5/19/2004

Question
I have some crocuses in my garden which are finished for this year and I have cut back the leaves.  I have several almost translucent stems that appears to have something on the ends resembling a bud in size and also, is fairly translucent white.  Some stems are four inches long, others are only one or two.
Could this be corms forming?  I am sure it is not a flower.  Is this something beneficial? What do I do with it?
Thanks for your time.
Sandy B.

Answer
First of all, do not cut foliage back on spring flowering bulbs. crocus corms should be allowed to conduct photosynthesis (e.g. recharge the corms for next year's bloom). To do this, the corms need the green leaves. In future, let the green leaves stay until they turn brown on their own. at this time they can be sheared back.

The translucent stems with corms at the end are rhizomes. they spread and create new corms. This is how they multiply. just ignore them. they will be flowering size in a few years. this is how you start with 10 and end up with 50 after a few years.