Cyclamen is a perennial herbaceous plant from the myrsin subfamily. The plant got its name thanks to its round tubers, since from Latin cyclamen is translated exactly as "round". In total, this genus includes about twenty species of plants. You can find cyclamen in the natural habitat in North-East Africa and Iran, as well as in the Mediterranean. Now some species are grown at home. It is about this cyclamen that will be discussed further.
General information
As already mentioned, the cyclamen root is a round tuber, which in diameter can reach fifteen centimeters. Each tuber has only one growth point. If this point is damaged, then all of it dies. Cyclamen has basal leaves in the shape of a heart; they grow on petioles, which reach thirty centimeters in length. They have a dark green color with a silver pattern. Flowers in their shape resemble butterflies. Their petals are bent backward and slightly pointed towards the end. As for the color palette, it is very diverse: from white to purple. Flowering lasts for three months.
Growing requirements
Some believe that indoor cyclamen is a moody plant. However, this opinion is erroneous. There are only a few requirements that are not at all difficult to fulfill. Their list includes the following:
- Cyclamen tubers should not be stored in the refrigerator, because in this case they will not wake up in the spring.
- Cyclamen does not like heat, but in cool places he feels great. An ideal temperature is considered to be from +6 to +12 degrees.
- It is better not to place cyclamen in places where direct sunlight will fall on it. There is a risk that the sun will leave burns on the leaves.
- When planting, do not bury the whole tuber in the ground. One third must remain on the surface.
- Fertilize the plant carefully. A flower does not like when there are too many mineral salts in the ground.
- Do not plant cyclamen in a large pot; he does not like this. The distance between the tuber and the pot wall should not exceed three centimeters.
Observing such simple rules, you can easily grow cyclamen at home.
How to organize care
Cyclamen is a plant that will feel good at low air temperatures (no more than +12 degrees), and also it does not like the sun too much. Sunlight should be diffused but bright. The room in which you placed the plant should be regularly ventilated, but cyclamen should not be allowed to stand in the draft. He doesn’t like that.
As for moisture, an important point is not only watering cyclamen at home, but also spraying it. This procedure is like this flower, in addition, in this way you will be able to increase the humidity in the room. And it is especially useful to spray the plant in the summer, because after this the air temperature in the room decreases by several degrees.
Do not forget about fertilizing, which absolutely all plants need. For this, it is recommended to use complex fertilizers for flowering plants. Pay particular attention to consistency. Cyclamen is better to give less fertilizer than overdo it.
How to properly water cyclamen
Particular attention should be paid to watering during a period of active growth. Watering cyclamen should be carried out regularly, but without fanaticism. Do not fill the plant once, then forget about watering for a week or two. It is better to do this more often, but in small quantities.
If you do not know how to water a cyclamen flower, then it is better to use the lower watering. So you definitely do not overshoot the plant. It is enough to pour water into the pan, and the plant itself will determine how much moisture it needs today. You can also just move the pot into a container of water and wait for the moment when the topsoil becomes wet. Then you can safely return the plant to its original place. This method of watering cyclamen is also good because in this way the water does not get on the tuber and on the growth point, and this will significantly reduce the risk of decay of the root system.
Flowering cyclamen
Flowering is a special period for each plant. At this time, they need special care and attention. An exception will not be cyclamen. Typically, the flowering of this plant begins in summer or winter. Its duration will depend on how much proper care you can arrange.
In order for cyclamen to please you with its flowering for a long time, you must provide it with a maximum of bright light, but direct sunlight should not fall on leaves or flowers. The air temperature in the room should not fall below +10 degrees and rise above the mark of +20 degrees.
Also, many are probably interested in how to water cyclamen during flowering. Everything is very simple here. It is recommended to pour water into a pan or put the pot in a container of water. So moisture will definitely not get on the tubers, the growth point and the flowers themselves. And this means that you can avoid the appearance of various diseases both above the ground and below it.
Watering should be plentiful, but do not forget to control the level of soil moisture: it should not dry out or be too wet. If you irrigate cyclamen during flowering in a pan, then 2-3 hours after that, all excess water from the pan should be drained.
When the flowering process stops, the frequency of soil moistening is reduced, and when the leaves are dry, watering will need even less, because cyclamen will have a dormant period.
And also do not forget to remove all wilted flowers so that new ones can form in their place.
Water for cyclamen
To properly organize care, watering cyclamen is the first thing you should pay attention to. Water should be taken soft, after allowing it to settle for a day. The water temperature should be several degrees lower than the temperature in the room.
Rest period
The cyclamen dormancy period begins when its leaves begin to dry and fall off. At this time, as already mentioned, watering is reduced, and later they can be completely stopped. The room where the cyclamen is standing should be ventilated as often as possible, but it is better, if possible, to take the flower to the balcony or to another cool and dark place so that it does not get light. There is another way to store the flower. When all the leaves fall off it, the pot should be turned 90 degrees and left in this position until autumn.
Around August, cyclamen again brought to light and gradually begin to increase the frequency of watering.
Cyclamen seeds
Cyclamen reproduces well by seed. They should be sown in late August. Pre-planting material should be poured with a 5 percent sugar solution. All emerged seeds must be discarded because they are not suitable for planting. But the sunken can be safely planted in the ground. But soaking in a sugar solution is not the only one. After this procedure, they are soaked in a zirconium solution, and only then they are planted.
For planting, it is recommended to take soil, which will consist of one part of peat and one part of sand or peat and vermiculite in the same proportions. Seeds must be laid out on the surface of the soil, and then sprinkled with a thin layer of earth of the same composition (layer not more than one centimeter).
The optimum temperature for seed germination is 18-20 degrees. The container where the seeds were planted should be covered with glass or a thick film. Do not forget about the mandatory ventilation and watering of cyclamen. When you see the first shoots, lower the air temperature to 17 degrees. You can also remove the film (glass) at this stage. Move the container with seedlings to a lighter place, but remember that direct sunlight should not be allowed.
After a while, you will see that tubers began to form at the cyclamen, and 2-3 real leaflets will appear above the ground. This means that it is time to dive seedlings into new pots. The composition of the soil will change. Now the substrate will include 4 parts of leaf soil, one part of sand and two parts of peat. Small nodules should be completely sprinkled with earth, which can not be done with adult tubers. A week after the transplant, it is recommended to feed. To do this, use a special flower fertilizer, which must be diluted with water twice. At the end of spring, another transplant will be necessary, the last one. In these pots, cyclamen will bloom for the first time. And this will happen no earlier than 15 months after the landing.
Conclusion
As you can see, all the myths about the difficulties of growing cyclamen are fiction. This is a very unpretentious plant, care for which even a beginner grower can organize. If you know how to water cyclamen at home, and also were able to choose the right place for it, then you are guaranteed success. Also, do not forget that this plant does not tolerate heat. Not so complicated rules to grow this wonderful flower at home. Its flowering will delight you and your loved ones for several months. In addition, cyclamen reproduces easily, which means that you can share the seeds with everyone.