Cyclamen: growing from seeds at home. Features of growing cyclamen from seeds

Propagation of cyclamens by seeds is the easiest and most cheap way, making it easy to get a lot of young plants. Having flowering specimens of cyclamen, it is very easy to collect seeds. This method of reproduction is very effective and is most common in indoor floriculture.

In the article, you will learn in detail how to grow cyclamen from seeds at home, as well as how to plant seeds correctly.

planting material

Seeds can be collected from the plant some time after its flowering has ended. Usually at this time there are many seed pods on the flower.

Under room conditions, cyclamen seeds ripen for 2-4 months. Also planting material sold in flower shops.

Fresh seeds are the best for sowing.. It is impractical to store them, since when they dry, they significantly lose their germination capacity.

Having flowering cyclamen, you can get seeds through cross-pollination. When the box is opened, you can collect the seeds and prepare them for planting.

What cyclamen seeds look like can be seen in the picture above.

Only high-quality material is chosen for sowing. Seeds are soaked in a solution of zircon, all pop-ups are removed.

Germination conditions

The soil in the seed box must always be kept moist. This is done with a water sprayer. But in too wet soil, the seeds rot and do not germinate, so you should not fill the container.

Every day you need to open the container with sprouts for ventilation, and then close it again. Airing will protect cyclamen seeds from rotting. The container is kept under the film until germination.

The temperature for seed germination should be at least 20ºС. Under these conditions, the first seeds germinate after 1.5 months.

Temperature is one of the most important conditions for successful seed germination. When too high rates thermometer, seeds can simply fall into "hibernation", and it will take a very, very long time to wait for seedlings. At the same time, at temperatures below 16 degrees, the likelihood of seed rotting greatly increases. In view of this optimal temperature for germination will be 18-20 degrees.

Germination of cyclamen seeds is a long process. Even under ideal conditions for them, the first shoots appear no earlier than a month and a half later. And sprouts of some varieties have to wait up to 6 months!

Choosing a pot and soil for planting cyclamen

The soil for planting cyclamen should be light and loose. A slightly acidic substrate, with a pH of 5.0, is suitable. You can buy ready-made soil mixture with neutral acidity in the store. Also suitable substrate for growing tulips. It is recommended to add a little vermiculite or sand to the purchased land, which will increase water and air permeability.

If you want to prepare an earthen mixture yourself, then you can choose from several options:

Sowing seeds can be carried out both in individual pots and in boxes. In the first case, young specimens do not need to be transplanted until they grow well and the pot becomes too small for them. In the second case, seedlings are picked into separate containers when they have 3-4 leaves.

A pot for cyclamen should be chosen depending on the size of the tuber. There should be no more than 3-4 cm between it and the edge of the pot. So, for young plant the diameter of the pot should not exceed 8 cm. Adult specimens, the tuber of which has grown to 13-15 cm, need a pot with a diameter of 16-17 cm.

If the pot is too small, cyclamen will bloom very quickly without gaining enough foliage. If, on the contrary, the pot is too big, the buds will have to wait a very long time.

Sowing cyclamen seeds

For sowing, a container or box with light and nutritious soil is suitable. It is necessary to make drainage in it so that the seeds, and then the young seedlings, do not rot. Peat and vermiculite can be used as soil in equal amounts.

How to plant cyclamen from seeds? Seeds are placed on the surface of the soil and sprinkled on top thin layer land. After that, the entire container is covered with an opaque film.

This contributes to rapid germination, since in nature the seeds of a flower fall under its leaves and germinate in the dark.

If the seeds fall into the soil when the plant has no leaves and is at rest, the seeds remain in the light and do not germinate until summer is over and the adult cyclamen grows leaves.

After planting cyclamen with seeds at home, proper care is necessary.

This article is often read:

Caring for cyclamen seedlings

As soon as the seeds have germinated, the dark film is removed, and the container is moved to a lighted place without direct sun.

Seedlings grow best at around 16ºC. But they can be grown under normal room temperature. A flower grown in such conditions will be fully adapted to the high temperatures of room content.

When the seedlings have 2 leaves, you can dive them into a common container with soil for cyclamen.

When transplanting in small cyclamen tubers, the upper growth point must be freed from the ground.

If the seeds were sown at the end of September, then the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots after 5-6 months. And young plants bloom 14-15 months after sowing.

Cyclamen shoots are pink-purple small sprouts. A tiny tuber with a root appears from the loop, which first of all takes root in the ground. And only after that the loop unfolds, and the leaves appear.

Interestingly, cyclamen sprouts, like adult plants, are not afraid of temperature changes and drafts.

Sometimes, due to insufficient moisture, the leaf is not freed from the peel. You can help him with this. Spray the sprout with a spray bottle for 30-40 minutes to soften the peel, and then slowly remove it with tweezers.

Cyclamen shoots grow very slowly. This is due to the fact that young specimens grow tubers, and only after that, after 3-4 months, they will delight with the appearance of new leaves.

Growing cyclamen from seeds is a long task that requires patience and attention.

Description of plants and species for indoor content

Cyclamen is a perennial herbaceous plant with a tuberous root system belonging to the Primrose family. AT vivo grows in Asia Minor and Central Europe, in the Mediterranean and Iran.

The root system of the plant is a corm that has one growth point and reaches a diameter of 15 cm. The leaves of the plant have a dark green color and long petioles. They are leathery, very decorative, because they have an original grayish or silvery pattern.

Single flowers on long pedicels have five recurved and pointed petals. They are shaped like butterflies. They can be up to 8 cm in diameter.

Their color varies depending on the species: it can be red, white, pink, yellow, burgundy, purple, lilac. Flowering in room conditions lasts about 3 months.

More than 20 species of cyclamen are known. However, only 2 of them are suitable for indoor maintenance:

• - the most popular type. It has very decorative leaves and flowers. Depending on the variety, it reaches a height of 15 to 30 cm. The leaves are large, velvety, heart-shaped, about 15 cm in diameter. They often have an interesting marbled pattern. The flowers have 5 curved petals that can be dyed in a variety of colors. Drops leaves during dormancy.
• European cyclamen - similar to Persian cyclamen, but smaller in size. The rounded heart-shaped leaves are painted dark green above with a silvery pattern, and purple below. Their diameter does not exceed 5 cm. The flowers are small, up to 2 cm, white, red or pink. It has a mild dormant period.

Adult plant care

Cyclamen is quite demanding in care, so it will take a little effort to grow a beautiful flowering plant.

The flower is photophilous, but does not tolerate scorching sunlight. Therefore, the eastern or western window sills will be the best place for it. On the south you will need shading, and on the north - artificial illumination.

An important condition and at the same time common problem when growing cyclamen is to maintain a favorable temperature for it. In summer, it should not go beyond 18-23 degrees, and in winter - 10-14 degrees. If this mode is not observed, the plant will gradually cease to bloom, begin to wither and may even die.

Cyclamen should be watered sparingly. It is impossible for water to fall on the tuber and shoots, so watering should be done either along the edge of the pot or through the pan. So that the roots do not rot, one hour after watering, the water should be drained from the pan.

It is recommended to use settled water, which is 3-4 degrees below room temperature. It is important to consider that cyclamen is very sensitive to waterlogging of the soil, so it is important not to overdo it with watering. In summer, during the dormant period, when the foliage dries up, watering is reduced to a minimum.

Cyclamen does not tolerate dry air and heat very well.. Therefore, in summer it is important to humidify the air around it with a fine-grained spray bottle several times a day. In this case, drops of water should not fall on the tuber.

Spraying should also be stopped during flowering. Another way to raise the humidity environment- put the pot in a tray with wet sphagnum moss, expanded clay or pebbles.

Top dressing can only be applied during the growing season. Their regularity is 1 time in 3-4 weeks. Can be used liquid fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. The concentration should be made 2 times weaker than indicated on the package.

Other ways to breed cyclamen

Cyclamen does not propagate by cuttings or leaves. In addition to the seed method, reproduction by "children" and tuber division is also used. Such manipulations are carried out after flowering, when the plant is at rest.

Children are carefully separated from the mother tuber. Each specimen is planted in an individual pot, half deepened into the soil. After that, moderate watering is performed. Feeding should begin when young cyclamens have new leaves.

The advantage of propagation by dividing the tuber is that new plants can bloom in the same year. However, this is a rather dangerous method, since it is possible not only not to grow young specimens, but also to destroy the mother tuber. The reason is that the cut tuber does not heal well and can easily rot.

The tuber can be cut if it is strong and healthy, and also has several buds or "eyes". The tuber is taken out of the ground and dried a little.

Then, with a sharp disinfected knife, it is cut into several parts so that roots and at least one kidney remain on each of them. Delenki should be dried for several hours and sprinkled with crushed charcoal or ash. Then they are planted in light soil.

The main thing in caring for cyclamens obtained as a result of tuber division is watering.. It should be sufficient for the parts of the tuber to heal and begin to grow, and at the same time moderate so that they do not begin to rot.

Cyclamen transplant

The best time for transplanting cyclamen is the end of summer - the beginning of autumn, when the plant begins to grow young leaves after a dormant period. Young specimens, as a rule, are transplanted every year, adults - 1 time in 2-3 years.

In addition to the planned procedure, transplantation can be carried out if:

• The flower is sick;
• He felt very cramped in the old pot;
• There was a need to replace the old soil with a new one.

Do not transplant cyclamen during flowering.

Transplantation is best done by transshipment. So the plant quickly adapts to the new pot and substrate, and begins to grow.

When transplanting, it is also important to know one more feature of cyclamen. The tuber of an adult plant cannot be completely immersed in the ground. Above the surface, 1/3 of its part should be left, otherwise the flower will die.

A pot for transplanting is needed 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the size of the tuber. It is important to lay at the bottom good layer drainage. Then - a light, nutritious substrate. After transplanting, cyclamen should be moderately watered and placed in a place protected from direct sunlight.

Now you know everything about growing cyclamen from seeds at home.

Cyclamen refers to perennials. The flower blooms in late autumn and winter, throwing out up to 15 buds various shades: from salmon and soft pink to rich lilac and purple. At home, it is recommended to grow European and Persian varieties, as well as their hybrids with terry and corrugated petals. To get healthy and beautiful plants, you should select high-quality seeds and carefully care for them.

Good and bad seeds

Buying at flower shop bags with future cyclamens, you should check the expiration date of the seed. Fresh specimens have almost one hundred percent germination, and expired options turn into sprouts only in rare cases. More often than not, they rot and die.

Purchased seeds must be sorted, separating the viable blank from the empty shells. Checking the planting material is simple:

1. Dissolve in a glass of water 20–30 g table salt or white sugar.
2. Dip the cyclamen seeds into the liquid and stir for 5 minutes.
3. Wait until one part of the seed floats to the surface, and the second settles to the bottom.
4. Drain the solution together with empty shells. They will be at the top.
5. Wash the seeds that have settled to the bottom clean water and soak so that they swell and increase in size.

Zircon should be added to the container with future cyclamens. The tool helps the seeds to adapt to the substrate, stimulates the growth of the flower and increases its resistance to diseases. You can do without an additive by simply soaking the seed in warm water for 1-2 days.

Swollen seeds, without drying, are immediately planted in wooden box filled with a special mixture. Cyclamens will need 30-40 days to hatch and grow stronger. During this period, it is important to protect the seeds from sudden temperature changes and not flood them with water, otherwise even the strongest and most hardened planting material will begin to rot and die.

nutrient substrate

Cyclamens are not too picky and can take root in almost any soil. The main thing is that the land meets three criteria:

• did not turn into a dense lump when dried;
• allowed the root system to breathe;
• led excess moisture in the pan, and not detained inside the pot.

Some gardeners recommend peat. Yes, the material is nutritious and contains many minerals that will accelerate the growth of cyclamens, but there is one drawback: such soil will absorb too much moisture. You will have to constantly monitor that the middle and lower layers of peat have time to dry before the next watering, otherwise the root system of the plant will be attacked by a fungus and the flower will die.

Many nutrients are found in leafy soil. Choose varieties with undecayed remains of bark and fallen leaves. Soddy soil will also work. The soil brought from the forest or garden must be calcined, doused with boiling water or disinfected in a double boiler. High temperatures will destroy insect eggs and weed spores, as well as fungus and disease.

Peat or earth is mixed with coarse sand or fine perlite to loosen the substrate. Cyclamens grow best in slightly acidic or neutral soil, so when high level pH, it is advisable to add 10–20 g of dolomite flour to the substrate.

You will need a shallow wide box made of wood or plastic. Seeds should not be planted in separate pots until they have germinated. Weak root system is not able to occupy all the space, so the soil begins to sour and mold. As a result, young shoots get sick and die.

Planting cyclamen seeds is easy:

1. Line the bottom of the box with expanded clay, small pebbles or grated foam. The material performs the function of drainage.
2. Half fill with substrate, which is tightly tamped. Make shallow holes or grooves for the seeds with a toothpick.
3. Place wet planting material on the substrate. Cover with a thin layer of sand, which will provide the sprouts with air and will not allow moisture to stagnate.
4. Add 0.5–1 cm of peat or nutrient soil on top.
5. Humidify with a spray bottle.
6. cover with glass or cling film. Get a kind of greenhouse.

At the first stage, cyclamens do not need light or abundant watering. Seeds should be protected from drafts and sudden changes in temperature. Sprouted sprouts are ventilated daily by raising the glass or slightly opening the film. Keep the box away from open windows and cracks so that a draft does not cause the death of cyclamens.

The lid is removed after the formation of the first full leaf. The seedlings are given a few days to adapt, and then transplanted into new separate containers.

Pick rules

pots choose medium depth with small diameter. The flower will live in them for a year, a maximum of two, and then the plant will have to be transplanted into a more spacious flowerpot. One large hole is made in the bottom, into which a gauze tourniquet or a short thick rope is threaded. Cyclamens should not be watered like regular houseplants. Water is detrimental to the root collar and leaf rosette, so it must come from below, not from above. Thanks to the rope, the plant receives required amount liquids.

The picking of cyclamens occurs in several stages:

1. Fill the pot with any drainage material.
2. Half fill the flowerpot with a substrate with the addition of sand and perlite.
3. Plentifully water the soil in a box in which cyclamens grow. This makes it easier to remove the sprouts and not damage the root system.
4. Transfer seedlings with lumps of soil to a pot. Add the substrate and tamp tightly, leaving root collar on the surface.
5. Do not water for several days, let the flowers absorb the liquid from the clod of earth, with which they were transferred to a new pot.
6. A week later, fertilize the seedlings with a solution of ammonium sulfate. The mineral supplement will accelerate the adaptation of cyclamens and protect fragile flowers from diseases.
7. 7 days after the first fertilization, the result should be fixed with a solution of potassium nitrate.

Important: Picking cyclamens is carried out 3-4 months after germination. The sprouts will have time to get stronger, and the transplant will not become too much stress for them.

Pots with young flowers are placed on a special tray filled with small or medium pebbles. The drainage layer is necessary so that the substrate always remains slightly damp, but not wet.

Light day, watering and temperature conditions

Boxes with seeds are kept in cool rooms where the temperature does not fall below +16–14 and does not rise above +18–19. In heat, the plant hibernates, and its development slows down. In order for the flower to grow faster and more actively, the box can be placed in the basement or taken out to the balcony if it is early spring outside the window. But cold can also kill seedlings, so cyclamens protect against frost and low temperatures. If the thermometer shows +5–10, the seedlings should be brought into the house. Adult flowers feel comfortable at +20 and below. The heat weakens the exotic plant, it becomes more vulnerable and can get sick.

Sprouts that did not have time to hatch do not need light. But when the first purple threads appear, the container with flowers is moved to the western or eastern window, or a phytolamp is installed next to them. Direct ultraviolet is dangerous for cyclamen. The sun burns and injures the leaves, dries out the soil. In summer, flowers shade and hide in the far corners of the house, where it is cool and subdued light. Tulle, lace translucent curtains or blinds should be hung on the windows so that they scatter and soften the sun's rays.

Water cyclamen with settled filtered water. You can collect from the tap or collect rainwater. The liquid does not have to be heated, but ice water does not the best choice. Let it be at room temperature or slightly warmer.

Pour water not into a pot, but into a pan. Leave for 30-50 minutes so that the plant has time to “get drunk”. Drain the rest carefully. You can not breed a swamp in which fungus or mold will start.

In summer, it is useful to moisten the air around cyclamen with a spray bottle to protect the plant from the heat. Gently spray liquid from a spray bottle at a distance of 30-40 cm from the top of the flower. It is impossible for droplets of moisture to fall on the stems and root neck, as well as buds and blossoming inflorescences.

Tip: You can periodically wipe the leaves of cyclamen with a damp sponge or cotton wool to remove dust and prevent the appearance of spider mites.

Helpful information

1. For the first 3-4 months after picking, exotic flowers practically do not grow up, because they grow tubers and root system. As soon as the lower part of the plant fills the pot, the top will become thicker, and buds will appear after 7-8 months.
2. It is recommended to plant cyclamen seeds in March or April, when it is cool and not too sunny.
3. Fertilize exotic flowers should be 1-2 times a month, making weak solutions. When the cyclamen sheds its leaves and enters the hibernation stage, you should stop adding supplements and reduce watering. With an excess of mineral salts in the soil, the plant weakens and fades.
4. When the flower "wakes up" and the first leaves appear, it should be transplanted into a new, more spacious pot.

Even amateur gardeners who are just learning this subtle science can grow cyclamen from seeds. You need to hide an exotic plant from the sun, keep it in a cool room and periodically moisten the soil. If you follow simple rules, just a year after planting the seeds, exotic flowers will get stronger and throw out their first buds.

Video: how to grow cyclamen from seeds

Shop cyclamens react painfully to changing growing conditions, which is why they are characterized by low survival. That is why many flower growers advise those wishing to acquire this flower to grow it on their own from seeds. Despite the difficulties that you will have to patiently overcome for six months, in the future you will receive an unpretentious plant adapted to your home environment.

Brief description of cyclamen

Cyclamens, or alpine violets, deserve attention due to their bright and long flowering, cold resistance and unpretentiousness. These herbaceous perennials represent the Primrose family.

They are characterized by:

• a flattened bulbous root up to 15 cm in diameter with a single growth point (damaging it means destroying the plant);
• basal dark green heart-shaped leaves with a mother-of-pearl pattern and a leathery structure, about 25–30 cm high;
• original flowers, the bent petals of which resemble fantastic butterflies with pointed ovals of wings.

In the wild, the plant is found in the Mediterranean latitudes and in northern Africa. But at the same time, it does not tolerate dampness and high temperatures. The ideal environment for it is year-round coolness and moderate humidity. Today, taking into account the contribution of breeders, you can see terry and large-flowered varieties of cyclamen in soft pink, burgundy, white, lilac, beige, deep purple colors.

For indoor cultivation cyclamens are most suitable:

• European - characterized fragrant flowers medium size with bright pink petals and dark emerald leaves;
• Persian - very popular in floriculture, represented by many varieties that differ in shade, doubleness and size of flowers.

Terms and optimal conditions for planting a plant

Seed propagation of domestic cyclamen can be done regardless of the time of year. However, the best results are given by February and March crops. A cool window sill on the west or east side and stable moderate watering during active growth are the main requirements for cyclamens in home care.

Important! Cyclamen differs from other indoor flowers in that it is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature.

Avoid fatal mistakes seed cultivation plants will help the following recommendations:

1. Make sure that the room temperature is +10…+16ºC. Under such conditions, the seeds will germinate in 1-2 months. Please note that this mode is relevant only until the first pair of leaves appears, when it is time to dive. In the future, for a flower, the optimal temperature indicators are + 6 ... + 12ºC. If the thermometer rises above + 20 ° C, cyclamen can stop the bud laying and die. That is why many flower growers, in order to prolong flowering, place the flowerpot in a cool and bright room.
2. At all stages of growth, protect the plant from direct sunlight, drafts and excessive moisture.- in the sun, young leaves can burn, dampness provokes the development of fungal infections, and a through wind will slow down the development of seedlings. However, this does not mean at all that the pot should be in the shade, and the room does not need to be ventilated. Against, Fresh air stimulates biomass growth. This is also facilitated by bright diffused light.

How to plant cyclamen at home: a step by step guide

According to experienced flower growers, growing cyclamen at home from seeds is not difficult at all. Although this process will require pre-training and knowledge of some subtleties. More on this later.

Planting container selection

It is recommended to sow alpine violet seeds in separate containers. If you prefer individual pots, then the seedlings do not need to be transplanted until their root system fills the entire container. It is better to use containers with a diameter of 8 cm for sowing. In the case of planting seeds in boxes, after the appearance of 3-4 leaves on seedlings, young cyclamens will need to be picked. At the same time, choose small containers so that a layer of soil 2–3 cm thick separates the bulb from the walls. Cyclamens practically do not bloom in large containers.

Did you know? Pigs eat cyclamen tubers with pleasure, which is why these flowers have received an alternative name "pork bread".

tillage

The soil for seed propagation of cyclamen should be nutritious, loose, well pass moisture and air. For this purpose, purchased soil mixtures for flowering crops are usually used, or they independently prepare the substrate from equal parts. river sand, peat, hardwood and garden soil. Regardless of origin, 14 days before the upcoming sowing, the soil should be disinfected, eliminating the risk of infection of the planting material.
The following methods are suitable for this:

• watering the earthen mixture with a solution of potassium permanganate (the liquid is diluted in a proportion of 0.5 g per 3 liters of water at room temperature);
• scalding (boiling water is generously poured over the prepared substrate, after which it is allowed to dry);
• roasting (the soil is spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet and placed in an oven preheated to + 180 ° C for 5 minutes, then allowed to cool).

Selection and preparation of seeds for sowing

For seed propagation, it is better to harvest planting material yourself. Do this after the seeds have completely dried by shaking them. However, in order to obtain seeds, pollination of the buds should be carried out during the flowering of cyclamen. For this you need to morning time use a brush to transfer pollen from one flower to another. The procedure is suitable for plants different varieties. In order to consolidate the result, it is advisable to repeat it several times, accompanied by subsequent top dressing with potassium sulfate.

Did you know? The ancient Romans believed in the ability of cyclamens to protect against the evil eye.

If there are no cyclamens in the house, then their seeds are bought at specialized garden centers. At the same time, it is important to choose products from well-established manufacturers. Do not buy seeds from unfamiliar and little-known suppliers. You can check the quality of planting material at home with a saline solution. To prepare it, you need to dissolve a tablespoon of table salt in a glass of water. It is necessary to throw the seed material into the resulting solution, while the seeds that float to the surface are considered unsuitable for planting and must be removed.
Before sowing, planting material is soaked for 24 hours in a growth-stimulating aqueous solution. It is prepared using the preparations "Emistim", "Kornevin", "Ecosil", "Zircon" or "Epin-Extra" in the proportion of 4 drops per 100 ml of water. Alternatively, you can dissolve baker's yeast or liquid honey. It is important that the planting material swells, only then will it reach its pre-planting readiness. However, during the soaking process, it is necessary to monitor the quality of the liquid, eliminating the risks of the formation of a putrefactive environment.

Seeding technology

When the planting container, soil and seeds are ready, you can start sowing.

This process is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. Fill the bottom of the container with a layer of drainage 2 cm thick, then pour the disinfected substrate to the top. Its thickness should not be less than 7 cm.
2. Moisten the ground and make furrows 1.5–2 cm deep in it. Carefully place the prepared seeds in them, keeping a distance of 3 cm. Sprinkle fresh, moist soil on top.
3. Cover the container with polyethylene and place it in a shady, cool place, and when purple loops appear on the surface of the soil, remove the cover and move the container to an area with diffused light. Usually cyclamen shoots appear in the form of a small leaf, covered with a skin from a seed. Over time, it disappears on its own. If you see that this process is delayed, and the seed coat interferes with the development of the sprout, remove it with tweezers. In this case, it is important to exercise special care, because with the slightest damage, the seedling will die. For seedlings, ventilate the room and monitor the soil moisture, but do not overfill it.

Video: growing cyclamen from seeds

What needs to be done after germination

The timing of the appearance of the first shoots depends on the variety of the selected cyclamen and can range from 1 month to six months. In the future, seedlings of any variety are characterized by slow growth, which is associated with the growth of tubers. This process may take up to 3 months. It is important during the period of active growth of seedlings to regularly spray the earth in a pot and ventilate the planting.

Weak petal loops should form a sprout with a pair of leaves. When it gets stronger, fully opened, it's time for a pick. A young culture needs moisture and coolness, so do not forget about frequent watering and ventilations. In six months, feeding the seedling with any fertilizer for flowering crops will become relevant.

Did you know? Bioenergetics believe that cyclamens feed on negative energy, and in return they give a positive charge. That's why they are advised to grow in every home.

Growing and caring for an adult plant

With seed propagation of cyclamen, care during the first 6 months is considered the most difficult. After this period, the seedling will get stronger and enter the stage of maturity. For comfortable development, coolness, diffused light and moderate humidity are important for him.

picking

It is possible to transplant cyclamen seedlings from a common box into separate pots when the seedlings form 2–4 leaves. This usually happens six months after sowing the seeds. Dive flower seedling carried out in a container with a diameter of 6–8 cm. From a richly moist planting, a sprout is removed along with an earthen clod and carefully planted in a prepared pot with drainage and soil. The tuber is sprinkled on top with a fresh substrate, controlling the openness of the growth point.
After that, the flower is not watered for several days, giving it the opportunity to absorb useful material from the ground. After 7 days, it is advisable to fertilize the seedlings with ammonium sulfate to speed up the period of adaptation to new conditions and to prevent diseases. A week later, the result is fixed by re-feeding, represented by a weak solution of potassium nitrate.

Watering and fertilizing

Moisten the substrate in a pot with alpine violet should be extremely careful. To do this, it is better to use a watering can with a long spout and pour water from it onto the edges of the container. It is important to ensure that the jet does not fall on the tuber and foliage. For irrigation, the method of immersing the container in a container is also acceptable. bigger size. But at the same time, water should not overflow over the edges of the pot. When moisture through the drainage holes reaches the top of the soil, the pot will need to be placed on a pallet and returned to its original place.

Important! Before carrying out any top dressing, it is imperative to moisten the soil, otherwise the roots of the plant may get burned.

Cyclamens thrive well in a moist but not damp environment, so it is advisable to periodically humidify the air in the room. Please note that spraying is contraindicated for cyclamen. Getting on the foliage and petals, water drops spoil the decorative effect of the plant and provoke the appearance of spotting. Alternatively, you can place a container of water or an aquarium near the cyclamen. The frequency of watering the plant depends on the conditions of its cultivation, but on average, watering is carried out 2 times a week.
The first top dressing for flowers grown from seeds will be needed no earlier than six months later. Complex mineral fertilizers are well suited for this. For growing season and flowering top dressing is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks. Experts recommend diluting mineral complexes for flowering crops (Kemira Lux, Ferovit, Cytovit) at a dosage half that indicated in the instructions.

Seasonal features of care

The budding period of alpine violets begins a year after sowing, in winter. Most varieties of this crop bloom in the cold season (late autumn-early winter), and then enter a dormant period. It is important at this time to stop any feeding and limit watering. In this case, the flowerpot with the plant should be placed in a shaded place. Under these conditions, when the time is right, the plant will bloom again.

Pest and disease control

Alpine violets, like others houseplants susceptible to diseases and pests. They may be threatened by:

Other ways to breed cyclamen

After your seedling has turned into mature plant, it can be replicated if desired. For this, it is not necessary to resort to the seed method.

You can get a new alpine violet bulb with:

• dividing the bush (involves cutting the tuber);
• child rosettes (the method is relevant when the tuber independently develops processes).

Seed propagation of cyclamens is the most popular among other types of reproduction. Subject to all agrotechnical subtleties, you can grow a beautiful and unpretentious flower at home.

Cyclamen, a bright colorful flower, leaves no one indifferent. The plant is native to the Mediterranean and North Africa. This is a primrose belonging to the Myrsin group. There are about 70 of its varieties, differing in plant size, color and flower size. Almost 20 species are cultivated and perfectly exist in room conditions. The spectacular luxurious view of blooming cyclamen attracts beginner flower growers. Many people think about where to buy, how to plant cyclamen, how difficult it is to care for it. Let's consider all the questions in more detail.

Description and features of the plant

Cyclamen is a herbaceous perennial. The most famous plant species are Persian and European. In European cyclamen, roots grow over the entire surface of the tuber, in contrast to the Persian, in which the roots are located in the lower part.

The characteristic of cyclamen is abundant flowering(up to 60 buds at the same time) with a long flowering period that lasts more than three months.

Its height ranges from 15 cm to 35 cm. The root of the flower is in the form of a tuber, similar to a flat flattened bulb covered with small buds. Its size is usually 4 - 7 cm, but sometimes it grows up to 15 cm in diameter. The inflorescences resemble butterflies fluttering over a bush. The leaves attract with their decorative effect: on light or dark green leaf plates, stains and specks of silvery shades stand out with lacy patterns. The underside of the leaf is red-violet tones. Many flowers open on long strong peduncles. The flowers are small, slightly inclined downwards, with petals bent upwards.

Buying seeds or collecting seed

Buying seeds from a store is the easiest way to get seed. The offer of varieties in stores is quite diverse and will satisfy the most demanding customers. This option is suitable for beginner gardeners and those who want to replenish the collection with new varieties.

In the presence of an adult plant, seed material can be collected from it.

To obtain viable seeds, it is necessary to carry out pollination by hand. During flowering (December-March), the flowers are lightly tapped for a week, as a result of which the ripened pollen falls on neighboring flowers, pollinating them. You can use a soft brush to transfer the pollen to the pistils of the flowers. Successful fertilization will be indicated by the shedding of petals and the appearance of a seed pod. The seeds will ripen in late spring: the box will acquire yellow, dry out and crack. It is necessary to break the box before cracking, so as not to lose the seeds. The resulting seed in a paper bag with the date of collection is stored in the refrigerator until autumn.

Seedling growing method

Persian cyclamens are grown from seeds. This method brings good results. You can sow seeds in any season. It is better to do this in early spring, when daylight hours increase - this will provide the seedlings with sufficient lighting and prevent them from stretching.

Preparation of the substrate and containers

For sowing seeds, it is necessary to prepare a suitable substrate. It includes:

• leaf land;
• peat;
• sand.

Earth brought from garden plot, from a forest or square, requires disinfection. It is calcined in the oven or doused with boiling water. In addition to preparing the substrate for cyclamen, it is necessary to prepare containers. Suitable containers for seedlings. Holes are made at the bottom of the boxes to allow excess water to drain. A drainage layer of expanded clay or small pieces of foam plastic is laid with a layer of 2 - 2.5 cm. The prepared substrate is poured.

Pre-sowing preparation of seeds

Seed material must be sorted, separating empty boxes from viable seeds.

Some flower growers advise adding 1 teaspoon of sugar to a glass of water, stir and pour seeds into a container. After 5 minutes, empty shells will float, and germinating seeds will remain at the bottom of the glass.

For disinfection before sowing, cyclamen seeds are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate color pink. To increase germination, they use a solution of a growth biostimulator (4 drops of Zircon per 0.5 l of water), soaking the seeds in it for 8 hours. This procedure allows you to accelerate the development of cyclamen, leads to improved immunity and rapid adaptation of the germ to the environment.

Sowing

On the surface of the substrate in the seedling container, make shallow holes at a distance of 2-3 cm, and then lightly water them. The swollen wet seeds are laid out in the wells. 0.5 - 1 cm of soil is poured on top. Moisturize with a spray bottle. The container is covered with a film or glass to create greenhouse conditions: maintaining a constant temperature and humidity.

Care of crops and seedlings

The little boy is transferred to a cool dark place. Carry out regular ventilation by opening the glass on a short time. If necessary, moisten the soil, making sure that it does not dry out. Usually, after 40-45 days, pink-purple sprouts begin to appear, this is the future tuber with a root. Leaves appear later. Sometimes a seed coat remains at the top of the sprout, it is easy to remove it by wrapping it with a damp piece of cotton wool for a while. Some varieties sprout after 5 months.

Lighting, watering, temperature

Until the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is maintained at + 18 ° C, at a higher temperature, seed germination is delayed. After the emergence of shoots, the container is placed in a well-lit place, the glass is removed, and further cultivation takes place at room temperature. It is necessary that the soil is constantly wet, but waterlogging should not be allowed. The temperature is maintained at the same level.

Pick rules

After the formation of 2-4 leaves and small tubers, the plants begin to dive into separate cups. For these purposes, plastic cups with a capacity of 100 ml are suitable. This capacity is enough for planting 2-3 sprouts. Holes are made in the bottom of the cup for drainage, the soil is filled in half the volume, the composition is the same as in the container. Carefully lay the sprouts, sprinkle with soil, lightly crush. Abundantly watered. The growth of seedlings continues up to six months. At this time, the root system grows intensively, the height of the sprout increases slightly.

top dressing

As a top dressing use a complex mineral fertilizer, while the concentration of the solution is made two times less than the norm. The first top dressing is carried out to plants at the age of six months.

Planting by dividing the tuber

Reproduction by dividing the rhizome is used only for adult plants with a large overgrown tuber. The cyclamen tuber is very vulnerable. To avoid decay of the separated parts and death mother plant, the division operation must be carried out very carefully.

Terms and division rules

You can plant cyclamen from a tuber during the dormant period of the plant. The sequence of actions is as follows:

• the day before the division operation, the soil is watered so that the tuber can be easily removed;
• dig a tuber, wash it with water at room temperature, removing the soil;
• take a sharp disinfected knife with a thin blade;
• in order to avoid severe injuries, it is advisable to divide the tuber into 2 parts (the maximum allowable division is 4 parts);
• the incision is made so that in each lobe there is at least one point of growth and one place of origin of the roots;
• the separated parts of the tuber are dried for 2-4 hours;
• slices are sprinkled with powdered wood ash, having previously processed greenery;
• dry the material for 18 hours.

Landing features

Start with soil preparation. The soil for planting should include:

• leaf ground;
• peat;
• humus;
• sand.

Ready-made store soil is suitable. The soil is disinfected by steaming over boiling water or calcining in the oven. Drainage material is also disinfected by calcination. The pot is chosen with a size of 7-8 cm with holes at the bottom. Step-by-step instruction landings:

• pour a drainage layer 1.5 cm thick at the bottom of the pot;
• from above, fill almost the entire volume with prepared soil;
• place the "delenka" in the center of the pot;
• add a layer of soil so that the tuber is deepened by 2/3 (for Persian cyclamen);
• watering should be carried out through the pan to avoid rotting.

It is easier to get a new copy using the "baby" - a tuber that forms on the mother.

How to care for young plants

The rules for caring for a young cyclamen are common. For irrigation use settled water at room temperature. Water the plant carefully to avoid tuber rot. Through time, top and bottom watering is carried out. In the first case, water is carefully poured along the edge of the pot. Lower watering is carried out by immersing the pot in a container of water or filling the pan with moisture, and draining excess water.

The plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, it needs a diffuse sunlight. Cyclamen loves cool fresh air, 14-17 ° C are comfortable for him. Dry air adversely affects the condition and development of the flower, direct spraying is also not suitable for him. The best option will be the installation of water containers next to the flowerpot or humidification of the surrounding air with a spray gun. Top dressing with fertilizers begins from six months during the period of activity. Use liquid fertilizers for indoor flowers.

Before fertilizing, the soil is watered until the water is completely absorbed. When pouring the solution, it is necessary to ensure that there are no drops on the plant itself. Fertilizers are applied no more than once every 15 days.

Excess dressing harms the plant: the size of the flowers decreases, the peduncles become shorter, the colors of the inflorescences turn pale.

Care and transplant of an adult flower

The rules for caring for an adult plant apply to cyclamen from six months:

• the optimum temperature for keeping a flower in summer is 18-20 ° C, in winter it is not higher than + 16 ° C, at a higher temperature the flowering period is shortened;
• watering carefully, preferably through a pan or along the edge of the pot, avoiding water on the leaves and stem;
• water - settled, room temperature;
• after the end of flowering (at rest), they maintain a slight soil moisture;
• creating a high degree of humidity in the room, with a lack of it - spraying water near the plant;
• the location of the flower - without direct sunlight, sufficient diffused light.

Subject to the rules of care, cyclamen will delight bright bloom in a year.

At the end of flowering, the leaves begin to turn yellow and wither. Watering is reduced. The leaves are removed by twisting them without the use of scissors. The plant goes into a dormant state. The flowerpot is transferred to a darkened cool place. Watering at this time is rare, only so that the tuber does not completely dry out.

The period of "hibernation" lasts up to 3 months, at the end of which the flowerpot is returned to its former illuminated place and watering begins. One of mandatory procedures cyclamen care is a transplant. In what cases is it necessary, how to carry out the procedure correctly and in what land to plant? A flower bought in a transport pot with peat needs to be transplanted, especially imported (due to the poor quality of the soil).

Cyclamen before three years of age needs to be repotted every year. It is advisable to transplant adult specimens every 2-3 years, replacing the depleted soil and pot with a larger container. For transplantation, choose the time before the appearance of buds or after flowering. The appearance of leaves on the tuber after the end of the dormant state (usually August-September) is a signal for a transplant. If the plant "does not fall asleep", transplantation is done in the interval between flowering. If the tuber is affected by rot, an urgent transplant is required. It is washed, the infected parts are cut off, the sections are processed activated carbon. For any transplant, it is necessary to prepare a suitable substrate. It includes:

• leaf land;
• peat;
• sand or perlite (soil baking powder);
• vermiculite (material containing a large number of trace elements: magnesium, potassium, iron, aluminum, silicon).

Land brought from a garden plot, from a forest or square, requires disinfection. It is calcined in the oven or doused with boiling water. The cooled soil from the fungus is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. A purchased ready-made substrate for cyclamen or a soil mixture for saintpaulias, which are also disinfected, is also suitable. In addition to preparing the substrate for cyclamen, the volume of its pot plays an important role in the development of the plant and its flowering.

The capacity should be chosen according to the size of the tuber. The best option is when the height is equal to its diameter. But it shouldn't be too big. The optimal value will be at which the distance from the walls of the pot to the tuber itself does not exceed 3 cm.

Make holes in the bottom of the pot for water to drain out.

Only growing in such conditions, cyclamen will give quick lush flowering.

1. A drainage layer (expanded clay, small pieces of foam plastic) up to 2.5 cm thick is poured onto the bottom of the prepared pots, it will protect the roots from rotting.
2. A prepared substrate is laid on the drainage with a layer of 6-7 cm. Water is plentifully watered until the excess begins to flow out through the holes.
3. They take out the tuber from the old pot along with the earthy clod. Remove dry and rotten roots.
4. Straightening the roots, place the tuber in a new pot. Fall asleep, without compacting, the prepared mixture.
5. Watering, topping up the soil.

The tuber of Persian varieties is covered by 2/3, European - completely. All operations are carried out very carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots. Removing some of the leaves (twisting) before planting will speed up the adaptation of the flower to new conditions. The presented material convinces that planting cyclamen with seeds at home or growing a flower with a tuber is possible even for novice flower growers.

It is necessary to strictly follow the rules for care and adhere to the relevant requirements for transplantation.

A riot of colors of beautiful cyclamen inflorescences will be a well-deserved gift.

The cyclamen flower is a perennial plant. It begins to bloom in late autumn or winter. The process of growing a flower from seeds is the most common, although not the only one. Grow cyclamens seed way It is not difficult and even inexperienced gardeners can do it, but it takes a very long time. It takes about a year from the moment the seeds are planted to the beginning of flowering. All this time, young plants need to be carefully looked after.

plant description

Cyclamen is a perennial herbaceous plants from the primrose family. Habitat habitats of cyclamens - Asia Minor and central Europe. This flower has a tuberous root system with a single growth point. Corms in diameter can reach 15 cm. Dark green leaves on long petioles are particularly decorative due to the original grayish pattern on their surface. Single flowers on long pedicels resemble butterflies in their shape. They have 5 pointed recurved petals. The color scheme can be very diverse: from white to purple. At home, flowering lasts up to 3 months.

In total, more than 20 species of this plant are known, but only 2 are used to grow a flower at home.

Persian cyclamen

Persian cyclamen is the most commonly grown. This type of cyclamen differs especially beautiful leaves and flowers. The height of this plant can be from 15 to 30 cm. Large velvety heart-shaped leaves in diameter reach 15 cm. Flowers of 5 curved petals can have a different color. In the dormant period, this cyclamen sheds foliage.

European cyclamen

European cyclamen is similar to the previous species, but is smaller. The rounded leaves are dark green on top and purple on the underside. Leaf diameter does not exceed 5 cm. Small flowers can be white, pink and red.

How to plant cyclamen seeds?

Seeds purchased at a flower shop or self-collected from home cyclamens must be prepared before planting. This will improve germination and reduce seed germination. Preparation is carried out in three ways:

• The seeds are soaked in cool water with dishwashing detergent. Take 2 drops of dishwashing liquid for 1 glass of water. In this solution, the seeds are soaked for 3 days, changing the liquid daily.
• For soaking use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Soaking time 14 hours.
• The seeds are soaked in a solution of "Epin" or "Zircon", adding 3 drops of the product to 300 ml of water. Soaking time is 16 hours.

Cyclamen seeds

It is necessary to sow prepared cyclamen seeds in the fall, at the end of September. For germination use light nutrient soil. It can be purchased at a flower shop ready-made or mixed independently from equal parts of peat and leafy humus. The container for sowing seeds must have drainage holes. The step-by-step landing process looks like this:

1. 1. A drainage layer of expanded clay, foam plastic or any other suitable material is laid on the bottom. Prepared soil is laid on top and moistened.
2. 2. Prepared seeds are planted in shallow furrows or simply laid out on the surface of the soil, observing an interval of 3–4 cm.
3. 3. Then the crops are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil and moistened.
4. 4. The container is closed with glass or film and placed in a darkened cool room for germination.

Instead of light soil for planting seeds, you can use special peat tablets for seedlings. They are placed in a container and poured warm water. When the tablets swell, you need to plant seeds in the center of each, cover the container with glass and put it in a dark, cool place. Periodically, the film is removed to ventilate and moisten the soil.

How to care for seedlings?

After seed germination, the shelter is removed and boxes with seedlings are placed in a lighted place, but so that direct rays do not fall on young plants. It is noticed that cyclamen seedlings grow better at a temperature of +16 degrees. But if this is not possible, the seedlings will grow at normal room temperature, if they are provided with the necessary care.

Shoots of cyclamens look like small loops of pink-purple color. First, a small tuber with a root appears and rooting occurs, only then the loop unfolds and the leaf begins to develop. In some cases, it cannot completely get rid of the peel due to lack of moisture. In this case, the seedling must be sprayed with water and after half an hour carefully remove the peel.

Seedlings of cyclamen

Newly emerging seedlings must be watered very carefully with a pipette. The soil should be kept moist at all times, but not too wet.

Seedlings grow very slowly, as tubers grow first and only after 3 months does leaf development begin.

When young plants have 2 leaves, they dive into separate small containers filled with special soil for cyclamen. This procedure is carried out 5–6 months after planting the seeds, that is, in March. The picking order is:

1. 1. For picking, small containers are selected with one hole at the bottom, into which a thick rope or gauze is inserted for water to enter.
2. 2. A drainage layer is laid on the bottom of the pot, and then half filled with soil for cyclamen.
3. 3. The soil in the seedling container is watered abundantly and the sprouts are carefully removed, being careful not to damage the tubers. The seedlings are transferred to a new container, topped up with soil and compacted tightly, without deepening the root collar.
4. 4. Seedlings are not watered for several days so that the plants absorb moisture from the earthen clod, with which they moved.
5. 5. A week after picking, the plants are fed with ammonium sulfate. A week later, a solution of potassium nitrate is added.