The crocus is a member of the iris family and it is a popular plant because of the colourful flowers that it produces. A perennial that normally blooms in the spring, although there are some varieties that bloom in autumn, the crocus is a hardy plant that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. With proper care it will continue to bloom for years, giving you fresh flowers every spring. The best time to plant crocuses outdoors is in the fall in an area where they will be undisturbed over the winter. They are usually best planted in flower beds in an area that gets lots of sunlight. They tend to grow fairly well in poor soil but they do need good drainage and it never hurts to add mulch. The should be placed in shallow holes and covered with about half an inch of soil. If you live in an area that doesn’t get a lot of snow you will want to water the bulbs over the winter. Planting crocuses indoors should normally be done in a small pot with gravel on the bottom. You will want to place the bulbs about an inch apart and make sure that the pointed in end is facing up. Water the plants and allow them to drain thoroughly and then put them in a dark cold place for about six weeks. Once you start to see roots appearing it is time to move them to a sunny location. It should then take about three weeks for the flowers to start to bloom.