Even at the 'reduced' price that's extortionate! It grows so easily from cuttings that they don't even have to make an effort.
Not picking on you at all, and sorry for the diversion, but as a former nurseryman I do pick up on some general comments on the forums commenting on the price of plants.
To be honest, I don't get why Crocus charge the prices they do and so I'm not going to defend them. But in general a tenner for a decent 2 litre plant isn't extortionate, regardless of how easy it is to propagate. Nurseries like everyone else have seen their overheads sky rocket, and as was said earlier in the thread, the pricing also reflects that nurseries have to cover costs (and turn some sort of profit) that include the costs of propagating, looking after, marketing and selling a wide range of plants - and we all as gardeners appreciate the range they offer. And to offer that range they need facilities, land, staff, vehicles, professional propagation materials to reduce failture rates. etc. All stuff you don't need when you propagate a few in your back garden at no commercial risk.
And this is to say nothing of the fact that some people are time poor and cash rich, or don't find it as easy as others to propagate etc. etc.
Not meaning to preach, just I've noted the odd comment along these lines now and wanted to urge a little more thought before judging the prices nurseries are charging for plants as if nurseries were engaged in the same sort of activity as a backyard gardener - they're not, and prices reflect that. I might be biased but personally I'd gladly pay the prices knowing it's also contributing to keeping independent nurseries running, or else they'll be nothing left but garden centres selling the same generic stuff from Holland.
Do slugs eat the purple ones? I had some in a previous garden without problem, but bought a yellow one last year and the molluscs have murdered it despite my efforts. I know it seems daft, but I'm sure I read something about different strains of a plant being susceptible.
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To be honest, I don't get why Crocus charge the prices they do and so I'm not going to defend them. But in general a tenner for a decent 2 litre plant isn't extortionate, regardless of how easy it is to propagate. Nurseries like everyone else have seen their overheads sky rocket, and as was said earlier in the thread, the pricing also reflects that nurseries have to cover costs (and turn some sort of profit) that include the costs of propagating, looking after, marketing and selling a wide range of plants - and we all as gardeners appreciate the range they offer. And to offer that range they need facilities, land, staff, vehicles, professional propagation materials to reduce failture rates. etc. All stuff you don't need when you propagate a few in your back garden at no commercial risk.
And this is to say nothing of the fact that some people are time poor and cash rich, or don't find it as easy as others to propagate etc. etc.
Not meaning to preach, just I've noted the odd comment along these lines now and wanted to urge a little more thought before judging the prices nurseries are charging for plants as if nurseries were engaged in the same sort of activity as a backyard gardener - they're not, and prices reflect that. I might be biased but personally I'd gladly pay the prices knowing it's also contributing to keeping independent nurseries running, or else they'll be nothing left but garden centres selling the same generic stuff from Holland.