Cyclamen

 
цикламен персидский

Myrsin family. Homeland Iran and the Eastern Mediterranean. There are about 20 species in nature.

Previously, cyclamen belonged to the primrose family, which, in turn, belonged to the primrose order Primulales. Now there is no such order of primrose, the revised taxonomic classification is as follows: Cyclamen Cyclamen belongs to the Mirsinov family (based on genetic analysis "Generic realignment in primuloid families of the Ericales s.l.: a phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences from three chloroplast genes and morphology" Mari Källersjö, Gullevi Bergqvist and Arne A. Anderberg). In turn, the myrsin family belongs to the order Heather Ericales.

Of the existing species on sale, you can find Persian cyclamen, less often European cyclamen, scythe, Neapolitan and some others.

Cyclamen is a perennial tuberous plant. The tuber is rounded flattened, about 10 cm in diameter. During the growth period, a lush rosette of leaves and peduncles up to 20 cm long with single flowers is formed on the tuber. The height of the bush averages about 30 cm. But among the hybrids of Persian cyclamen there are also stunted varieties, no higher than 15 cm in height. The leaves of cyclamen are round-heart-shaped, on long reddish petioles, the size of the leaves is from 10 to 15 cm in diameter, the surface of the leaf is green or dark green with a silver-marble pattern.

Breeders continue to work on breeding more and more colorful varieties of cyclamen and, among other things, on changing the color of the leaves. There are varieties whose leaves are almost completely silver-gray with a dark green middle ('Picasso'). Cyclamen flowers are bisexual, radial, five-petalled. Petals are usually large 5-6 cm, folded so that they are very similar to a butterfly, some varieties have lace petal edges ('Friller', 'Red Partisan', 'Kyle', 'Lilu', 'Masha'), there are simple flowers ('Kiss', 'Violet Cattleya', 'Fleur en Vogue') and terry; one-color ('Halios Frange', 'Gabi') and two-color ('Carousel' Fantasia, Victoria), completely unlike anyone's variety 'Bellissima' - with lace wavy petals, but not in the shape of a butterfly, but in the form of bells.

ЦикламенTerry cyclamen flowers
ЦикламенCyclamen Persian variety 'Kiss'
ЦикламенCyclamen Persian variety 'Picasso'

Difference between species cyclamens and Persian

Cyclamen care

Temperature

One of the prerequisites for the well-being of cyclamen is a cool temperature - about 12-15 ° C, but not lower than 10 ° C and not higher than 20 ° C.

Lighting

The location for the cyclamen should be very light, preferably bright scattered light. Avoid a bright direct sun, i.e. provide a plant shading. But the plant takes a certain amount of sunlight in the morning or in the evening gratefully.

Watering

During vegetation, regular watering is necessary, preferably by immersion, when watering from above, it is necessary to ensure that water does not fall on the tuber and leaves, and water is poured to the edge of the pot.

Air humidity

Since cyclamen loves moist air, the pot is placed on a tray with pebbles or wet peat. It is impossible to spray cyclamen, you can only moisten the air around the plant from a very small sprayer.

How to care for cyclamen after flowering

After the cyclamen fades, the flowers are cut to the tuber itself, watering is reduced and feeding is stopped. Yellowed leaves are not cut, but twisted, together with petioles. By spring, all remaining leaves will dry completely - the plant goes into a state of rest. Watering is stopped altogether. The pot is placed on its side and placed in a cool place and not watered until mid-summer.

From mid-summer, the pot is placed in a shaded place in the fresh air, the ground is periodically moistened so that it is moderately wet. The appearance of the first leaves is a sign that it is time to replant the plant. For other species, it is enough just to twist the dried leaves and stop feeding.

Cyclamen for the New Year

How to transplant cyclamen

During transplantation, the old soil is completely replaced. The soil for Persian cyclamen should consist of the 1 part of leaf, the 1 part of humus, the 1 part of turf and the 1 part of sand. When transplanting, the root system is checked, it is necessary to remove all sick or decayed roots. The cyclamen pot should not be very large, the best size is 12-14 cm in diameter. In a pot that is too small, cyclamen will flower prematurely, and flowering will be weak.

For other species, it is desirable to add ash or dolomite to the soil for a neutral reaction, while the soil for Neapolitan and European cyclamens should be nutritious, for Kossky poor. During transplantation, tubers of Persian cyclamens are not buried, leaving about a third of the tuber on top, the rest can be buried, and the Neapolitan must be buried.

After transplantation, cyclamen is placed in a bright place, shaded by direct sunlight, watering the first two weeks after transplantation should be moderate until the plant gets stronger and new leaves sprout.

Cyclamen propagation

Цикламен персидский

Cyclamen is propagated by dividing the tuber and seeds. Seeds of Persian, European, Neapolitan cyclamens are sown in late summer (optimal time: August - September), in loose soil (we recommend a mixture of universal soil and coconut substrate in equal shares or a mixture of peat, sand and vermiculite). Seeds are embedded to the depth of 5 mm. The soil is evenly moistened, periodically sprayed, preventing drying. One of the methods of germination is that the seeds are not buried in the soil, but laid out on the surface of the earth, covered from above with a thin layer of sphagnum moss, which is moistened from a sprayer. The moss is very hygroscopic and the seeds do not dry out. But if you cover the area with crops with a bag and rarely ventilate, they can moldy and die!

Contain crops at a temperature of 15-18 ° C, shoots appear differently - from 3 weeks to 2 months after sowing. The most important thing is to maintain the temperature, if it is too hot, the seedlings will die. Transplantation into pots is carried out in the phase of 2 leaves. Most varieties of Persian cyclamen bloom after 15-18 months, miniature forms after 6-8 months.

Seeds of Kossky cyclamen are sown in winter, in January-February. European cyclamen can be propagated by dividing the tuber in February.

Growing cyclamen from seeds is easier if you have a indoor greenhouse (it can be purchased at any gardening center or flower shop). By the way, cyclamens grown from seeds are more adapted to room conditions than specimens grown in Dutch greenhouses.

Growing problems

Very often you can hear about cyclamen that it is a very capricious flower, that it is susceptible to terrible diseases. In fact, cyclamen can be called just a demanding plant, of the special pests, only cyclamen mite and thrips can be noted, but with appropriate care, these beautiful plants will delight you with their flowers throughout autumn and winter.

Growing problems

In flower shops on sale most often, Persian cyclamen hybrids are sold. When buying, choose the plant that has no more buds (there are up to 30 buds per plant). Check that the plant you choose has leaves without damage, juicy, rich in color and low-lying. The tuber should be deepened into the ground only by half, because it depends on how the plant will develop further.

Growing problems

Decay of petioles, flower and leaf, most often turns out to be the result of careless watering and too high temperature indoors.

Yellowing leaves, while the flowers are strong and healthy - too warm and dry air, insufficient watering or exposure to direct sunlight.

A short flowering period - at too high a temperature, incorrect watering, dry air, transplantation into poor soil. Do not forget about feeding during plant growth and flowering.

Flowers form as if under leaves - when cyclamen is kept in very damp conditions, in a cold room, or as a result of not regular watering.

Cyclamens are very often susceptible to fungal diseases - this is gray rot, root rot, etc., usually as a result of improper maintenance - high air humidity with cool content and/or in a poorly ventilated room.

Important

Not all cyclamens survive the dormant period, completely losing their leaves. It happens that the leaves partially remain, but the plant does not grow, in this case its content is somewhat different. In particular, they are rarely watered, so that the soil just does not dry out completely and is slightly moist. And the lighting should be sufficient, i.e. the plant does not need to be removed to a dark place. With the appearance of new leaves and the beginning of growth, watering is increased, and the plant can be rearranged in a lighter place .

Pests of Cyclamen

Cyclamen mite - refers to microscopic arthropods, it is very difficult to detect it on a plant, very often only by indirect signs: in the affected plant, mainly young leaves suffer - their edges curl up, new leaves open and grow deformed, the buds are curved, not blooming, wilt.

Control measures. Cut off all affected parts from the plant, apply spraying with acaricide (Apollo, Vermitek, Sanmait, Actellic, etc.)

Trips - a flying small insect with a fusiform dark body, often falls on domestic flowers from bouquets, garden cut. Thrips are found when light dots appear on the upper side of the leaf, gradually merging into large discolored heels. The upperside of the leaf becomes grayish brown with a silvery sheen.

Control measures. Remove badly damaged leaves. A more convenient way to combat thrips is watering with acrate systemic insecticide (again after 7-10 days).

(See pests for details)

Important

Цикламен

When growing cyclamen from seeds, it is important that when transplanting the tuber is not too buried in the ground, otherwise it can rot from dampness.