Cyclamen growing rules

There is no more harmonious and attractive interior decoration than fresh flowers. They make the environment more colorful and light. True, they must be properly looked after so that they continue to delight the eye with their beauty. Today we will talk about how to properly grow cyclamen. This widespread plant has an interesting appearance that is difficult to confuse with other indoor green "pets".

Let's analyze several of the most popular types of cyclamen (aka alpine violet).

• European (or purple). One of the most beautiful and spectacular plants in the Alpine meadows. Has leathery leaves. It reaches a height of 10-15 cm. Flowers have a color from purple to bright pink. A pleasant, unobtrusive aroma is characteristic.
• Fatransky. In many ways it is similar to the European species. It differs only in leaves, on the surface of which there is no white print.
• Koskiy. A flower with dark brown tubers. The tubers are velvety. The foliage is shown in the autumn season, and in the winter it "hides" under the snow layer. The flowers are usually pale pink in color.
• Neapolitan. Differs in very pretty leaves, similar to ivy foliage. They are decorated with a silvery pattern. The flowers grow pink. In nature, this plant is shown in the fall.
• Persian. One of the largest cyclamens - it can reach a height of 25 cm. It has oval foliage. The color of the flowers is highly variable.

Cyclamen belongs to the genus of herbaceous perennial plants of the Marcin family. True, some scientists believe that he comes from the genus Primroses. Outwardly, this flower is a flat tuberous bulb, the diameter of which is only 15 cm. There is only one growth point.

It is believed that cyclamen is a rather demanding and capricious flower that needs to be provided with perfect and timely care. In fact, this is not the case. It cannot be said about this plant that it takes a lot of effort, time and money from its owners. Although, of course, the cyclamen still needs some care.

Cyclamen is a plant that "loves" very much when it is surrounded by bright light. However, it is better not to allow direct UV rays to hit it. This factor must be taken into account when choosing a suitable place for a flower pot.

The best place for cyclamen is the western and eastern windows. If you are going to put a flower on the south side, then it will need to be properly protected from sunlight. If this rule is neglected, the plant can be seriously damaged.

The correct temperature regime is extremely important for cyclamen. This plant differs in that it takes root better in light coolness. Ideal temperature values ​​for these green beauties are 14-16 degrees.

In the summer seasons, it is not so easy to keep the room where the cyclamen is kept cool. In such circumstances, care must be taken to ensure that the temperature in the room does not at least exceed 25 degrees.

As for the cold seasons - during them, the cyclamen must be removed as far as possible from batteries and other heating devicessuch as heaters.Any heat sources should be located away from this flower. It is necessary to take into account the fact that cyclamens "do not like" drafts very much. Try to provide this plant with such conditions in which it will be in a ventilated environment, but under no circumstances should it show through.

Even if the room keeps an unfavorable and uncomfortable temperature of 6-12 degrees for a person, the cyclamen will feel very good in such conditions. The main thing is that there is no heat and stuffiness around.

It is equally important to pay due attention to the level of humidity in the space where the flower pot is located. Cyclamen feels comfortable in high humidity conditions. However, during the period when this green pet enters the flowering period, it will not need to be disturbed and sprayed with water.

According to experienced florists, if water gets on tubers, flowers and cyclamen shoots, it may lose its attractive appearance... Moreover, such manipulations can completely destroy the plant. If the room where the cyclamen is kept is too stuffy and hot, then you will need to moisten the space around the flower using a spray bottle filled with water. In this way, you will effectively help the "green friend" to withstand the effects of high temperatures, which are bad for him.

Immediately after the purchase, it is advisable to put the pot with cyclamen on wet pebbles or expanded clay. If you carry out such a simple manipulation, the flower adapts much easier and faster in dry air conditions, which is usually kept in ordinary city apartments.

After the purchase, the cyclamen will need to be transplanted correctly. To do this, you will need to find the perfect pot. If you choose too small a container for further growing this flower, then the cyclamen rhizome system will grow too quickly in it. The next transplant will have to be done after a short period of time, and this is a serious stress for the plant. That is why it is recommended to select larger pots for the flower, where there will be enough room for the roots.

If you brought home a cyclamen that is about 3 years old, you can use a pot with a diameter of 14 to 16 cm for it. For younger flowers between 1 and 2 years old, a pot with a diameter of about 8 cm is ideal. Make sure that there is a small gap of 2-3 cm between the roots and the walls of the container.

If for the first transplant of cyclamen you decide to use a used pot, then you will definitely need to disinfect it first. Keep in mind that there must be drainage holes at the bottom of the pots.

Before transplanting a cyclamen that has just been brought home, you need to figure out which soil is best for it. The flower will take root very well in a slightly alkaline soil. Experienced growers who are well acquainted with this plant argue that slightly acidic and neutral types of soils are good for cyclamen.

The composition of the soil mixture for cyclamens can be almost any, but one important condition must be observed - after drying, it should not dry out unnecessarily, but the irrigation liquid should not stagnate in it either.

Growing cyclamen at home will require some knowledge from the owners in caring for it. For example, you will need to figure out how to properly fertilize this charming flower.

Top dressing is necessary for this plant so that it develops correctly and quickly. Usually, special fertilizers of complex action are used for this.The main thing is to take into account the fact that in the summer season, when the plant is at rest, there is no need to feed it.

The ideal frequency of feeding cyclamen is once a month. Most often it is fed with a special preparation called "Floretta". Previously, this tool (half a cap is enough) is diluted in a couple of liters of settled water.

Experienced florists claim that In no case should you feed cyclamen with fertilizers that contain chlorine. Since this home flower does not tolerate contact with salts very well, mineral dressings must be applied very carefully and in strictly limited quantities. Otherwise, you risk seriously harming your green pet.

Consider several options for fertilizing cyclamen at home.

• Seedlings. They are usually fed with a low dose of fertilizer based on an EC of 0.7-1.0. After a month, this value is increased to 1.5.
• When the plant takes root, you will need to add other top dressing - with a higher content of the required phosphorus. If at first the concentration of such fertilizers will be 0.2 g / l, then a little later it will be 0.9 g / l. Following this scheme of actions is required for the flower to take root even better.
• When the flower is well formed, nitrogen fertilizers can no longer be used. Otherwise, the cyclamen root system can seriously suffer from them - it will rot and noticeably weaken.
• After 6 weeks, you can already combine a couple of dressings - NPK 12: 12: 36 and NPK 15: 5: 30, 0.5 g each per 1 liter of water. They should be used only for a week, until the concentration is increased to 1.5 g per liter. Try not to skip this top dressing, otherwise the flowering of cyclamen will be problematic. You should also add the necessary trace elements to the compositions.

Calcium nitrate is another common fertilizer that, in the case of cyclamen, will need to be applied every 10 days while the flower grows. This top dressing will need to be diluted at a concentration of 1.3 g per liter of water.

In some cases, growers do not adhere to a standard fertilization scheme. Instead, they try to balance the flower's diet based on season, soil type and immediate developmental stage. In addition, flower growers in such cases try to protect the plant from unnecessary stressful situations to the maximum. If you are following the same plan, there are some important considerations to consider.

• If nitrogen is not enough, then the leaves of the cyclamen will be small. If there is too much nitrogen, then the cyclamen will actively gain vegetative mass, but the kidneys in such circumstances will not develop properly.
• If there is not enough potassium, the foliage of the plant will not have the usual healthy color.
• If there is an imbalance of nutrients, noticeable blotches may appear on the cyclamen.
• Uneven growth of leaves occurs due to irregular feeding and watering of the flower.
• The foliage of the cyclamen will turn yellow if it lacks boron.

When the flowering period is stopped and you see that the foliage of the cyclamen has begun to gradually acquire a yellow color, this will indicate that the plant is preparing for temporary dormancy. At this time, it can be transplanted, relying on the method of transshipment into a new pot of a larger diameter with sod land and peat substrate. At the same time, it is very important to pay attention to where the flower tubers are located - they must be located at the same level with the substrate or protrude very slightly above it.

If we are talking about transplanting a newly purchased flower, then you will have to wait until it goes into a state of rest. If you have purchased a healthy flowering plant, then you will need to wait until it fades and rests a little. Only after that it will be possible to proceed to its transplant.

With a planned transplant, first it will be necessary to lay a drainage layer of expanded clay into the pot, followed by a layer of fresh substrate in such quantities that the tuber is immersed in it by about 2/3. The soil will need to be tamped down a little. The transplanted cyclamen can be fertilized only after a month, but not earlier.

This flower will need to be transplanted into a fresh substrate about once every couple of years if the pot in which it is located has become too small. The best period for carrying out these procedures is the beginning of an active growing season.

As for the reproduction of cyclamen, it occurs by seeds or tubers. The second method has good reviews from experienced florists. However, it must be borne in mind that replanting cyclamen with tubers can be risky. Cutting the tuber can cause the flower to contract a serious infection and die. Unfortunately, such situations happen quite often.

In a city apartment, cyclamen cultivation can last for 7 years. When this period expires, this flower will no longer be suitable for reproduction. That is why it is recommended to acquire new plants, and not those that are several years old. It should be borne in mind that the reproduction of cyclamen is a very troublesome task.

Depending on the specific cultivar to which the flower belongs, the length of the sowing period until flowering can vary markedly. In most cases, this takes 7 to 11 months. It is recommended to sow seeds in the last days of March. Due to this, during the period of growth, the cyclamen will be able to perfectly “live” without auxiliary lighting and will begin to bloom in the early days of the autumn season.

In order for the seeds to germinate well, they need to provide all the conditions necessary for this. The air temperature should be about 18 degrees Celsius. High humidity should ideally be present. Light in the described case will not be needed at all. To keep the crops in the dark, they should be covered with black foil for 3 weeks - this is the most convenient solution. If the temperature values ​​are below the indicated ones, then the cyclamens will germinate a little later. If the temperature is more than 20 degrees, then germination will not be the fastest. You will need to start picking seedlings after the formation of the first 3-4 leaves. During such work, the young tuber will need to be completely covered with soil.

Usually, cyclamen blooms in summer or winter. Moreover, the duration of this process is in direct proportion to how you took care of the flower. It is worth recalling that the ideal conditions for this plant will be as follows:

• a lot of bright light, but without direct sunlight;
• the ideal temperature is not lower than 10 degrees and not higher than 20;
• watering - bottom or in a pan so that water does not get into either the growth point or the foliage with flowers.

There are situations when the cyclamen "does not want" to bloom at home. Many flower growers, especially beginners, are interested in what to do in such circumstances and how to make the plant bloom. Let's figure it out.

• The first thing that is required of you is to understand what is the main reason for the lack of flowers. This is often due to the fact that the plant is too hot in the conditions in which it is kept. Try moving the cyclamen pot to a new, more suitable location.Perhaps after that the flowering situation will change.
• Take a close look at the leaves of the plant, as well as the soil in which it is located. If you have not noticed any changes (for example, traces of mold), then this will mean that the flower is most likely healthy. Then you will need to wait a while and watch the cyclamen.
• If the situation does not change either after your manipulations, or after the waiting time, then the problem lies in the wrong planting of the flower. The reason may be a pot of the wrong size, wrong planting depth of roots. In such situations, the only way out is to transplant a plant.

Almost any type of cyclamen can be kept at home. It can be a beautiful double-flowered look, small-flowered or mini-cyclamen, or maybe you prefer a mix or a Fatran flower. Regardless of the specific type of this plant, he will need to provide proper care in case it gets sick or picks up any infection. None of the existing types of cyclamen are immune from such problems.

• Often, flower growers are faced with the fact that the flower begins to wilt and shed its foliage. Often this phenomenon makes itself felt if the microclimate in the room changes sharply or the plant is watered too much. This can also happen due to the drying out of the soil. It is only necessary to remember that such phenomena will be normal when it comes to the dormant period of the flower.
• A serious problem is the appearance of rot. Usually, this ailment happens if too much dressing was applied or excessive watering was performed. If you see gray bloom or brown spots on the leaves, then the affected areas will need to be removed immediately. Next, you need to transplant the flower into a new pot and process it with a special agent - a fungicide.
• Late blight rot does not allow the lower leaves to develop and the peduncles to grow. If it takes place, then it will be possible to notice that the leaves are drying. Or you will see that the tuber itself is almost dry. To revive and revive the plant in such a situation, it is necessary to use agents from the fungicidal group - "Ridomir" or "Previkur".
• The plant can wilt due to fusarium. This is a very unpleasant phenomenon that provokes yellowing and drying of the leaves, since the roots are affected. A flower can catch this disease if the condition of the soil in which it grows is drastically changed - after abundant watering, prolonged drying out.
• Anthracnose is a serious fungal disease of plants, which is especially active during the flowering of cyclamen. It is manifested by the defeat of foliage and peduncles. To get rid of this ailment, you will have to use steamed soil. The humidity level must be kept low. All damaged areas will have to be removed. Treatment with fungicides will be required at least 2-3 times.

In most cases, the plant can be reanimated if it becomes ill with something. The main thing is that resuscitation is carried out on time. Never waste time if you notice that the cyclamen is sick - take the necessary action immediately.

However, diseases are not always the cause of poor growth and the state of this flower. The case may also lie in dangerous parasites that can cause serious damage to cyclamen.

• Mite. This parasite will be very similar to a layer of settled dust. Usually, a mite settles on the back of the leaves, because of which they first undergo noticeable deformation, and then completely die.
• Thrips. These parasites can be seen with the naked eye. Visible white dots will appear on the leaves, as well as dry edges of the leaf blades. It is not so easy to overcome this parasite, because very often thrips go down. Here it will be necessary to resort to treating the flower with insecticides. Quarantining the flower will also be a necessary measure.

If this plant in your house is sick, but you do not know how to treat it or are afraid to make mistakes when treating it yourself, then it is better to turn to experienced flower growers who will tell you how to act correctly to help the flower.

It is not necessary to buy too small a pot for cyclamen, but it should not be too large either. In an overly spacious container, the soil may begin to acidify, which will entail the appearance of root rot. In such conditions, the flower will not grow well.

When placing the soil in a pot, it does not need to be tamped too hard, as it should be slightly loose and allow oxygen to pass through. When replanting this flower, one must not forget about the drainage layer in the pot. It can be made from gravel, pebbles or expanded clay.

Cyclamen is a plant that is very susceptible to all sorts of diseases and attacks of harmful parasites. That is why experienced florists strongly recommend that you always sterilize the soil for such flowers. Water for irrigation is also advised to use sterilized water.

When this plant is in a calm state and does not bloom, there is no need to water it a lot. Water less often. Always keep an eye on the condition of the soil next to the flower's roots. It is necessary to water the cyclamen with a liquid that will be slightly colder than the ambient temperature.

Please note that cyclamen seeds are considered to be of the highest quality, which have retained their integral structure. The slightest violations can lead to the fact that the seed simply will not germinate.

For division during reproduction of cyclamen, it is permissible to use only those tubers that have whole buds. They shouldn't be damaged. Preventive measures that will protect the flower from the return of many past diseases are to reduce watering and feeding.

Cyclamen transplantation should be carried out as carefully and carefully as possible. Do everything so as not to accidentally damage the thin roots of this plant. You should not rush to transplant a flower.

To make sure your plant is getting enough water, you can use bottom watering. It assumes the following actions: you need to put the pot with cyclamen in a bowl of water and keep it there until the top layer of soil gets wet. Next, the vessel with the flower will need to be taken out of the liquid and allowed to merge with its remnants. This method is very popular because it does not allow moisture to penetrate to the top of the tuber, where the growing point is located. Thus, the risk of plant rotting will be minimized.

Do not always be afraid of yellowed cyclamen leaves. If this happened after the flower has bloomed, it will be a signal that it is preparing for a calm period.

How to grow cyclamen from seeds, see the video below.