Cyclamen (in Latin - Cyclamen) is a plant of the genus of herbaceous perennials of the Mirsinovy family, but some experts refer it to the Primrose family. The flower got its name from the word, which in Latin means "round", since its bulbs have the shape of a circle. The genus has an average of 20 species.
In the wild, the plant grows in Northeast Africa and Iran, but is more common in Turkey. Several types of this flower have been successfully used as a home plant. Next, we will consider what kind of plant it is - cyclamen, growing and caring for it at home.
Features of growing cyclamen
The tuber of this flower resembles a flattened round bulb about 15 cm in size. If the tuber is damaged, the plant will die. The leaves grow from the root, similar in shape to the heart, the length on the petioles can reach 30 centimeters, a green shade with a grayish pattern. Unusual in appearance, cyclamen (we will consider further cultivation and care) resembles a butterfly - the sharp tips and slightly twisted petals can be similar to fringe, the color gamut is varied: white and different shades of red. The flowering period lasts more than three months.
Some people think cyclamen is a wayward plant. But this is not so. It is quite unpretentious, only there are a few rules, they need to be taken into account when caring for a flower. So:
- do not store the tubers of the flower in the refrigerator - the plant will die;
- cyclamen does not tolerate hot air, a room with cool air is ideal - about 6-12 degrees;
- direct sunlight is completely undesirable - the leaves will get burned;
- the bulb of the plant should be deepened into the ground only by 2/3 of the part;
- do not overdo it with fertilizer replenishment - cyclamen will poorly perceive an excess of minerals in the soil;
- it is better to choose a small pot so that from the bulb to the edge of the container there is a distance of no more than 3 cm.
Cyclamens: growing and caring at home
Persian cyclamen is sometimes propagated by planting seeds - it is better to choose February or March for planting a month. Indoor cyclamen is sown year-round.
- Before sowing, the seeds must be put in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 12 hours or in another special tool intended for use before planting.
- Next, the seeds are planted in a mixture of soil: two parts of the soil to be steamed, one part of special soil for flowers and half part of sand for looseness.
- In the ground, make a deep groove of one centimeter, pour plenty of water and put seeds with a distance of three centimeters.
- Sprinkle on top with earth and cover with foil. Seeds will germinate from about 30 to 60 days, at the required temperature of about 20 degrees. But there are seeds that may take much longer - up to six months.
How to plant cyclamen
When the shoots sprout, you need to remove the film and move it to a bright place, but not in sunlight. When the leaves break through, the shoots are transplanted in three pieces in a separate container, the bulbs are completely planted in the soil. The earth needs porous, similar to the one where the seeds were planted. After about six months, the plants are planted in a separate pot, but then the bulb is deepened into two-thirds. If you provide cyclamen care, then after a year and a half you can observe flowering.
How to care for indoor cyclamen
It is important to ensure proper care of the cyclamen flower.
- The plant prefers a lean microclimate and scattered rays of light.
- It is necessary to arrange airing more often, but try to do without a draft.
- More often, to irrigate the plant with water, the flower likes moist air, this will even allow to lower the room temperature a little.
- Do not forget about fertilizers, but you need to be careful so as not to overfeed the flower.
How to water
In the stage of rapid growth, one should not forget about constant watering, but most importantly, do not overdo it. In order to make sure that the plant has enough water, you can use this method of watering: put the container with the plant in the water until the soil becomes wet on top, then remove the flower from the water and allow excess moisture to drain. This method will not allow the flower to rot.
Breeding methods
Cyclamens, the care of which we will consider later, are propagated by the method of seed germination, this method was described above, as well as by the vegetative method. For this, tubers are divided that have several growth points, but this is quite rare. Unfortunately, this method is considered difficult, and often it is not possible to transplant successfully, which is why the only option is propagation by the method of planting seeds.
Cyclamen: care after purchase at home
Due to the abrupt change of scenery, flowers and leaves may fall. This is not scary - this is how the flower reacts to the move. The plant must get used to, and you need to create comfortable conditions for it. It is better to choose a place where there is enough light and cool air. If the soil has dried up, the plant needs to be watered, pouring water into the pan - then cyclamen (we consider the care after buying at home in the article) will take the amount of water it needs. You can spray the flower from above. There is no need to fertilize it for a couple of months, because in the store the plants are already sufficiently fed.
Flowering and transplanting
Cyclamen blooms in the summer or winter season. The duration of flowering depends on how cyclamen care was.
The plant is transplanted into renewed soil every two years. Do this when the rest period ends. It is important to know: a flower needs a cramped pot when the distance to its edge is not more than three centimeters. By the way, for a bulb that is one and a half years old, a pot with a diameter of eight centimeters is ideal, and for a three-year bulb - fifteen centimeters.
In a new container, it is necessary to lay the drainage, then a layer of fresh soil, then the onion together with the soil on the roots, pour the necessary amount of soil so that the onion is deepened by 2/3 parts, tamp the soil with your hand. You can fertilize after one month.
Pests and cyclamen diseases
If you provide proper care for cyclamen at home, then no pest and disease will threaten the plant. And if you do not take care of the rules, then the bulb can rot - in case of constant excessive watering, or pests will appear during poor watering.
Cyclamen is a rather delicate flower, therefore it needs good care and attention to the appearance of various pests and diseases.
The main problems are as follows:
- Aphid. One of the most annoying pests is considered to be aphids. She eats the leaves of cyclamen, because of which they mutate, become curved and ugly. If a plaque appears on the leaves, like dandruff, then the plant is affected by aphids. To rid the flower of parasites, you need to treat the leaves with an insecticidal agent.
- Thrips. Another type of parasite is thrips. They are easy to find on the flower, they are quite noticeable. The appearance of thrips is considered the appearance of gray stains. The parasite very quickly harms the flower. Cyclamen begins to hurt: spots appear, the flower does not grow, its leaves mutate. To get rid of thrips, special adhesive tapes are used. Then it is necessary to treat with an insecticidal agent.
- Cyclamen tick. A tick on cyclamen is difficult to detect, its length is only 300 microns. The parasite eats the inside of the leaves and looks like dust from the side, this is the area affected by the tick. If you do not take action, the flower will begin to die. To get rid of the tick, you need to trim the affected flowers and leaves. Further process with a chemical agent.
- Cyclamen turns yellow. If the plant was watered according to the rules, and the cyclamen turned yellow, most likely, it had excessively warm air. It is often necessary to irrigate water from above and transfer to a room where the air is not so hot. A variant of the norm - the leaves of the plant have turned yellow after flowering, which means the flower goes into the dormant stage.
- Cyclamen does not bloom. If the flower is poorly watered, do not monitor the level of humidity and temperature in the room, then cyclamen probably will not bloom. But sometimes, the plant after some time gets used to the warm microclimate and blooms.
Cyclamen after flowering
When the flowering stage ends, the yellowed leaves must be removed by twisting, until they themselves separate. Watering should be less frequent, and it is advisable to rearrange the flower in a less lit place until the plant begins to grow actively again.
Types of cyclamen
There are 2 types of this plant for indoor cultivation: European and Persian.
- European cyclamen. The plant has small leaves, pink or lilac flowers, sometimes other shades are also found. European cyclamen (simple flower care) is the most unpretentious and quietly withstands room temperature, but also prefers a room with cool air. In this type of plant, additional bulbs can grow, with which the flower can be propagated. The flowering stage falls at the end of spring and lasts until winter, in the summer, the plant can be transferred to the garden or balcony, but protected from the sun.
- Cyclamen Persian. The most common species, characterized by incredibly beautiful flowers and unusual flowering: the petals seem to twist and hang until the cyclamen drops them. The hue of the flowers is pink, lilac, white. The leaves of the Persian cyclamen are large and beautiful, in contrast to the European.
Recently, dwarf Persian cyclamen has become widespread (home care is no different from other species). It is much easier to tolerate indoor microclimate. The flowering period falls at the end of autumn until the beginning of spring, and then the plant leaves for nine months at the dormant stage.
In addition to these two types of indoor plants, several more species of wild cyclamen are found in nature: African, Kos, Greek, Cypriot, Cilician, and many others.