The cyclamen flower, the photo and description of which you can see later in our article, is a very beautiful indoor plant with original and bright colors. It blooms mainly in winter, and in spring leaves fall (it is characteristic of its Persian variety).
Cyclamen is on a par with the most popular indoor flowers in our country, because it is beautiful and at the same time unpretentious in care, does not require much attention.
There are two varieties of the named plant: Persian cyclamen and European. You can find out the differences and similarities of these species by looking at their main characteristics.
European cyclamen
Tubers of this cyclamen with a diameter of about 10 cm, spherical or irregular shape: elongated, flattened, elongated. On their surface are roots, stolons and daughter nodules. From tubers shoots with leaves grow, which subsequently form a rosette.
The leaves of European cyclamen are dark green in color, have a rounded heart shape. On top they are covered with a silver pattern, and below the plate is dark red.
The flowers are pink, have a pleasant smell. This species blooms in the spring and summer. Reproduction of cyclamen by leaf in this species is possible, albeit with difficulty.
Persian cyclamen
It is also a herbaceous plant. His tuber is spherical, with a diameter of about 15 cm. The roots here are located mainly at the bottom of the tuber.
The leaves of the Persian cyclamen are large (up to 14 cm in diameter), green below and a silver pattern on top. The flowers of this species have a very pleasant aroma, and the color, unlike the European one, is different: all shades are from light pink to white, as well as pale lilac and light violet.
The flowering time of the Persian cyclamen is also different: it blooms mainly in the winter, and in summer it rests. In the spring, leaves fall off and the roots dry. In the fall, the flower is transplanted, and it comes to life again.
Unlike the European one, reproduction of cyclamen by leaf is not possible in this species.
Tuber cyclamen propagation
When reproducing the described flowers, the main thing is to take good care of the planting material. You can transplant them with tubers only after flowering ends. The transplant itself takes place in several stages:
- First, the bulb is pulled out of the soil and the tuber is dried.
- The onion is cut with a sharp knife, leaving at least one kidney and several roots in each part.
- After that, it must be left in a dark place to dry the cut.
- Next, the section is sprinkled with charcoal (crushed activated or wood). This prevents the entry of infections and pathogens.
- In the pot for planting, you must definitely make a drain. For this, for example, expanded clay.
- The soil must be special. You can buy it or prepare it yourself. To do this, peat, humus, turf and leafy soil are taken in equal proportions. Everything needs to be mixed and watered.
After planting the tuber, the pot needs to be removed from direct sunlight - the light should be scattered. The most optimal temperature is considered to be 14-16 ° C.
Watering should be regular, but not excessive. It is good if there are holes at the bottom of the pot to drain excess water - this will protect the roots of the flower from decay.
Propagation of cyclamen by seeds
Very often, the flower is propagated at home by seeds. To achieve the best result, it is important to choose the right planting material:
- pay attention to the variety;
- check seed integrity;
- when buying seeds in a store, you need to check their expiration date and packaging integrity.
You can collect seeds from an adult flower - they are usually orange.
For sowing seeds, a shallow, wide tank with special soil is needed. Shallow grooves are made in it, after which the earth is slightly moistened with water. The distance between the seeds during sowing should be approximately 3 cm. Top them must be sprinkled with soil.
After this, the sown cyclamen in a pot should be put in a dark place and regularly watered, preventing the soil from drying out. The first sprouts appear after about 30-50 days. After their appearance, seedlings can be fed with mineral fertilizers. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 18 degrees.
When 2-3 real leaflets appear in plants, seedlings can be dived. The tubers are completely covered with earth. And after six months, young plants can be planted in small pots. Here tubers do not need to be completely covered with earth (by about 2/3). Cyclamen will bloom only after six months.
Multiplication of cyclamen by sockets
This method of reproduction is considered the most effective.
Outlets (horns) are called shoots on tubers. In old cyclamens, they grow quite long. This horn must be torn from the tuber and planted in moist soil. After that, the flower must be placed in a plastic bag, or under a transparent glass jar. After 2-3 weeks, the roots already appear at the outlet. The temperature should be at least 20-22 ° C. Further care for cyclamen will be the same as for an adult flower.
It is important to remember that all horns must not be torn off. Only one can be taken at a time, otherwise the plant may die.
This method of reproduction is relevant for European cyclamen. Persian rosettes take root very rarely. Of the dozen shoots, not one can survive.
Cyclamen propagation by leaf
Some gardeners are trying to propagate cyclamen with cut leaves. They are placed in water or planted in moist soil, so that they let the roots. As mentioned above, for the European cyclamen this method is possible, but the leaves take root very rarely. Usually leaves rot or turn yellow and dry. To increase the chances of leaf sprouting, you need to cut it with scissors or a knife or tear off together with a small piece of onion.
After this, the leaflet needs to be put into the water, where it will have small roots. A leaf with roots is already planted in moist soil and covered with a jar. After 2-3 weeks, if the plant takes root, the roots grow and a new shoot appears.
But this method rarely brings results - the leaves usually do not take root. And the Persian cyclamen does not get divorced from the sheet at all - the described method is not suitable for it.
Difficulties in breeding cyclamen
Now we’ll show you how to cyclamen flower, the photo and description of which we presented in the article, was healthy.
- The leaves turn yellow. This occurs at high air temperature in the room and in dry air. You need to put the flower in a cooler place and spray the flower 1-2 times a week.
- Leaf petioles rot. This happens because of too damp soil. You need to put the pot on a tray with pebbles or expanded clay. Then pebbles should be moistened, and watering from above should be temporarily stopped.
- Leaf deformation. This is a sign that a cyclamen tick has wound up on the flower. This pest is very small and can be confused with dust on leaflets. Because of it, the flower stops growing and the leaves curl. In this case, the infected leaves must be removed, and the plant itself treated with insecticides.
Cyclamen flower: photo
Thus, we can conclude that cyclamen reproduces in various ways. The most popular are reproduction by tubers, seeds and rosettes. Propagation of cyclamen by leaf is much less common due to poor survival of leaflets. If you consider all the recommendations for breeding this flower, then cyclamen can be grown without problems, and it will bloom profusely and beautifully.