This post is part of my “Growing saffron hydroponically” series. Check out my other posts in !hydroponics@slrpnk.net [/c/hydroponics@slrpnk.net] for more context. — There haven’t been any new flowers since the last update a few months ago. — The saffron crocus seems to be an outside-only plant. The growth is heavily influenced by temperature and light level. There are basically three pots, where the bulbs are in hydro: - West facing window, around 21°C, low light during winter: Very tall and long leaves, slightly burnt tips (usually, the leaves are positioned to face light, and I don’t fertilize heavily) [https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/2a0663be-a433-44b1-bb58-00f89fd35312.jpeg] - One corner with low light, where my calatheas live: already dead - South facing window, around 19-20°C, bright, even during winter, higher humidity: [https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/848ca4c0-452a-48f5-9811-f19e0027c9a2.jpeg] - Outside (very cold, sometimes freezing): [https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/59a2e1aa-06b8-4b22-ba1e-bd5ceb179e32.jpeg] # What did I learn? I would say saffron crocus isn’t a great indoor plant. It seems to need quite a lot of light, and due to its anticyclic growth, where most of the vegetative phase is in winter, the high temperature and suboptimal lighting indoors is just a death sentence. I really hope that the already existing plants survive. Also, hydro is just suboptimal for that plant. First do we have the problem of unsprouted rotting bulbs. And also, it mostly exists passively, and when I grow it outdoors in the future, soil just seems the better choice for that kind of crop. It’s just unpractical to grow it hydroponically, and when it’s outside anyway, dirt is the lower maintenance option for me.