How to Harvest Saffron Crocus Indoors

Place your bulbs in a room with a temperature between 60 and 65 degrees F. Saffron crocus foliage prefers this temperature after flowering.

Provide a light source and keep lights on between 12 and 14 hours per day. The developing corms need this period of light daily to photosynthesize correctly.

Look out for the emerging flower buds, which develop within a few weeks after planting. The crocus flowers will open after three to five days, at which time you will be able to harvest the saffron strands.

Snip or pluck the flowers as they bloom.

You will find two to three red-colored stigmas and three golden-colored anthers within the flower. Discard the golden anthers, which are both wider and shorter than the red stigmas, as you cannot use them to produce the spice.

Pull back the petals from the flower and remove them. Use a pair of scissors to cut the red stigma strands as close to their base as possible.

Carefully place the strands on pieces of white paper. These strands are particularly delicate, so handle them very carefully. Place each piece of white paper on a clean work surface in a room. Do not open any windows, as a breeze will blow the strands away.

Examine the saffron strands weekly. These strands are very light and will typically dry out completely within a week. Saffron will go moldy if not dried correctly, so allow for a longer drying period if you live in an area with high humidity.

Place a pouch of silicon desiccant into an air-tight glass jar and place the saffron strands into the jar. Ensure that the jar is sealed tightly.