In cultivated form, it is a compact, graceful plant. The leaves are dark green in color, basal, leathery, contain a grayish pattern, develop on long petioles. The leaves, like the flowers of the plant, are highly decorative. The root system is presented in the form of a corm with a diameter of about fifteen centimeters with one growth point. Flowers with bent and pointed petals resemble butterflies in appearance. Depending on the variety, they come in a wide variety of colors - yellow, red, pink, snow-white, purple and burgundy. The duration of cyclamen flowering at home with good care is about three months.

The most common varieties of cyclamen, which are popular both in home floriculture and landscape design, are presented below.

European cyclamen

Perennial plant with decorative flowers of pale pink color and medium-sized leaves. European cyclamen is an unpretentious plant in care, on the basis of which new hybrid varieties with white and lilac flowers have been developed.

This plant has a weak dormant period. The cyclamen tuber is overgrown with daughter bulbs, which can later be used for reproduction. European cyclamen is characterized by a long flowering period, which begins in late spring and lasts until the end of autumn. In the summer, this plant is taken out into the street. European cyclamen in bloom can become a real decoration of a summer garden. All he needs in the summer is protection from sunlight, rain and drafts.

European cyclamen is one of the most decorative varieties. Due to long flowering and unpretentious care, this flower is revered by many flower growers. New varieties of European cyclamen are represented by mini forms with small graceful flowers located on long peduncles.

Persian cyclamen

This is the most valuable species among all existing ones. Its large graceful flowers, which have a yellow, pink, lilac, white, dark purple color, have a special decorative effect. The life cycle of one flower is ten days. For the entire flowering period, Persian cyclamen produces about a hundred flower buds.

Persian cyclamen has large and decorative leaves. Large varieties have been replaced by compact mini forms. These are miniature plants that develop more easily indoors than tall species. Cyclamen Persian blooms for a long time - from November to March. After the plant fades, it has a dormant period. This is an unpretentious plant in care, which does not require special conditions of detention, for which it is valued by many flower growers.
Currently, Persian cyclamen has many hybrid forms bred by Dutch and French breeders. These are varieties with two-color or single-color flowers.

In addition to these two species, other varieties are also popular in home floriculture - African cyclamen, Cilician cyclamen, small-flowered cyclamen, etc.

Cyclamen Care

Caring for cyclamen at home is simple and within the power of every grower. Observing all the rules of agricultural technology, taking into account the characteristics of growth and development, this flower can be provided with optimal growing conditions at home:

• Temperature regime. Before you get this exotic, you should choose the right place for him to keep. Despite the fact that cyclamen is an unpretentious plant, it needs coolness at home, frequent ventilation, but without drafts. The optimum temperature of the content is twelve to fifteen degrees Celsius. Under such conditions, cyclamen can achieve the longest flowering. Temperatures of twenty degrees and above are detrimental to this exotic.
• System watering. To grow a beautiful and lush flowering plant at home, he needs to ensure regular watering. This flower is watered through a pallet. With this method, the risk of plant overflow and tuber rotting is eliminated. For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled water at room temperature.
• Cyclamen is picky about air humidity, so frequent spraying will only benefit him. It is not recommended to spray the flower during the flowering period, as this can lead to rotting of the flowers. In addition to this, the plant is placed in a wide and shallow container with wet pebbles or expanded clay.
• For intensive growth and flowering, cyclamen requires good lighting. Bright diffused light with protection from the scorching sun is just what this exotic needs.
• Cyclamen responds very well to top dressing, only in moderate dosage and concentration. This flower is fertilized at the stage of budding and during the flowering period with a frequency of once a month. Liquid mineral fertilizers are used as dressings, for example, Floretta. Each plant nutrition is carried out only after watering. Purchased flowers begin to fertilize from the third week after purchase. Feeding young plants after they have been planted is carried out at the stage of the appearance of the first sprouts. After transplantation, young flowers are fertilized no earlier than six months later. During the dormant period, cyclamen is not fertilized.

When should you transplant?

Transplanting cyclamen at home is carried out for several reasons:

• if the corm has become cramped in the old container;
• if it is necessary to replace the old soil with a new one;
• if the plant is sick.

Autumn is the best time for this procedure. By this time, the cyclamen will end its dormant period. You can not transplant this flower more than three times a year. When transplanting, the roots of the plant should be close to the surface. It is forbidden to transplant cyclamen during flowering. In order for the plant to better adapt in the new soil and pot, transplantation is carried out by transshipment of an earthen coma.

Planting a flower is carried out using a new planting capacity, which is not much larger than the previous one. Cyclamen develops poorly and blooms in voluminous pots. The choice of flowerpot is carried out taking into account the size of the root system. For example, a corm with a diameter of five centimeters will require a planting container two centimeters larger in diameter.

A good layer of drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, then a nutrient substrate. After planting, the soil should be well compacted and watered.

Transplantation of newly acquired specimens is carried out only after they have faded and their dormant period ends.

Planting cyclamen at home is carried out according to the same principle as transplanting. This plant loves loose, air- and moisture-permeable soils. The soil can be bought at any flower shop, or you can make it at home. To do this, mix leafy soil with turf, add peat and vermiculite in equal parts.

This flower requires special care during and after flowering. This plant can bloom in summer and winter. The duration of this process directly depends on how competently and timely care is provided to him.

To get a beautiful, luxuriantly flowering plant, he needs to create a stable temperature of maintenance - within twelve to fifteen degrees Celsius, good lighting and regular removal of withered and shrunken flower buds.

After the plant blooms, it begins a dormant period. Due to inexperience, many flower growers simply throw away the flower after it stops blooming.

A faded plant must be properly prepared for rest. It is necessary to cut off all flower buds and yellowed leaves. Reduce watering to a minimum. As soon as spring comes, the flower is completely stopped watering and moved to a cool place until summer. In July, it is transplanted into a new nutrient substrate and watering is resumed.

Reproduction methods

In the process of growing at home, cyclamen is propagated. This plant can be propagated in two ways - seed and division of the rhizome.

Each variety has its own way of reproduction. For example, Persian cyclamen can only be propagated by seeds. For European cyclamen, planting in both ways is possible. Regardless of the chosen propagation method, planting will be successful if all the rules of agricultural technology are observed and only after the cyclamens have faded.

Growing problems

Home cyclamen, like many indoor flowers, can get sick. Most often, this plant affects anthracnose, fusarium, wet rot and soot fungus.

• Fusarium is a fungal disease, its pathogens live in the soil. Therefore, the defeat of cyclamen by this disease begins with the root system. If the leaves turn yellow on one side, and the plant blooms poorly, this is a sure sign that the flower is affected by Fusarium. Treatment of Fusarium wilt is carried out with the help of a one percent concentration of foundationol. The solution is shed on the root system of the plant. In combination with such measures, the aerial part of the flower is sprayed with Topsin-M of the same concentration.
• When affected by wet rot, cyclamen leaves become lethargic, and the tuber emits an unpleasant smell of rot. After a while, the tubers begin to rot, and the bacteria spread to the leaves, stems, and flowers. Flowers suffering from wet rot, unfortunately, cannot be cured, so they must be destroyed.
• Anthracnose is a disease that develops during the flowering of cyclamen. Ideal conditions for the development of the disease are elevated room temperature and high humidity. First, the disease affects the flower stalks, which dry out in a short time, then it passes to the leaves, which turn yellow, curl and dry. Cyclamens suffering from anthracnose are repeatedly treated with a fungicide solution. All affected parts on the plant are removed.
• As a rule, sooty fungus appears on flowers where aphids previously lived. Sick flowers develop poorly, weaken. Leaves turn yellow and dry out. Methods of treatment: plaque is removed with a damp cloth. Soap solution is used to treat the aerial part of the flower.

While growing cyclamen at home, many flower growers face problems such as lack of flowering and yellowing of foliage.

Cyclamen's leaves turn yellow for several reasons - dry air in the room, elevated temperature, irregular watering. Very often the leaves of flowers that are in direct sunlight turn yellow. This is the result of sunburn.

What to do if cyclamen does not bloom?

To achieve lush and bright flowering in cyclamens in winter, they should provide the correct dormant period in the warm season. It should also be remembered that this plant blooms only in cool with high humidity. You should not overfeed cyclamen, he does not like this and may even die. In case of poor lighting in winter, the flower needs to be provided with additional lighting. If cyclamen does not bloom, it is necessary to ensure the optimal level of humidity in the room, as well as systematize watering. Do not wait for flowering from cyclamen, which is located in a hot room.

Subject to all the above rules, it will not be difficult for anyone to grow a healthy and brightly flowering cyclamen at home.

If cyclamen leaves turn yellow in summer, then it goes to rest. What to do? How to store it? Oddly enough, but at the moment when most plants grow and develop intensively, cyclamen begins a dormant period that lasts 2-3 months. So, cyclamen is going to rest: what to do with a plant at rest, how long does the rest time last? What to do with cyclamen after dormancy?

As practice shows, cyclamen does not have a clear time frame for the dormant period. The plant can delight in flowering all spring and begin to shed its leaves closer to autumn. That is why cyclamen cannot be sent to rest by force, that is, buds and leaves can not be twisted from the tuber. Nature itself will put everything in its place, and the grower is required to take normal care of the flower.

Cyclamen goes to rest. Why? What to do?

The homeland of cyclamen is the Mediterranean and North Africa, where the summer is very hot, and in winter there is relative coolness and the level of soil and air humidity rises. Developing in such conditions, cyclamen developed a survival strategy. When relative coolness sets in in the natural environment and rains come (winter), it begins to develop intensively, accumulate nutrients in its tuber. With the advent of hot, summer days, cyclamen retires to survive. It sheds all leaves. Life in the plant is supported by nutrients and moisture, which it has accumulated over the winter in the tuber. That is why, it would seem, under favorable conditions in temperate latitudes, like all plants, cyclamen should also please with its green hat, but it falls asleep, remembering its harsh homeland.

It is impossible to forcefully send cyclamen to rest. It is also impossible to twist the still green leaves and buds. This is especially true for purchased flowers, in which the life cycle may go astray.

When does cyclamen retire? This is the period from April to September immediately after the flowering of the plant. However, purchased cyclamens, which are grown in greenhouse conditions and under artificial lighting, can arrange peace for themselves at any time, as their life rhythm is knocked down. Sure signs that cyclamen is "going to bed" are sluggish, yellowed leaves. At the same time, the tuber of the flower should remain elastic and not stained. If the cyclamen tuber is soft, spotted, exudes an unpleasant odor, this indicates a disease of the flower. If the leaves of cyclamen intensively turn yellow and wither, this also indicates flower diseases.

Read more about cyclamen diseases and why do cyclamen leaves turn yellow, wither and curl. This will help you grow a healthy and beautiful plant.

In cyclamen, the dormant state begins when the average daily temperature is +20 degrees and above. The plant no longer pushes out new leaves and stops its flowering. Over time, its leaves begin to wither. They are removed when they are completely dry. Watering at this time is reduced, top dressing, spraying are not needed. Cyclamen is transferred to a dark place.

Cyclamen went to rest, its tuber completely shed its leaves. In some cases, the plant leaves several leaves. In no case should they be removed artificially.

How to store cyclamen when he retires? Experienced flower growers recommend keeping cyclamen in a dark, cool place during the entire dormant period. The plant is not removed from the ground, but put the pot on its side. The ambient temperature should not rise above +12 degrees. Watering in this case cannot be completely stopped. Otherwise, the tuber will dry out and cyclamen after a dormant period or even, or with difficulty, will return to life. Watering is carried out 1 time in 2 weeks with a small amount of water. However, you need to monitor the soil moisture in the pot. Wet soil during the dormant period will lead to rotting of the tuber.

The second option for storing cyclamen at rest: the plant is removed from the ground, the tuber is placed in a plastic bag, having previously sprinkled the plant with water, and transferred to the refrigerator. You need to store cyclamen in the lower part, where vegetables are usually stored. This option is suitable if, under normal, room conditions, it is not possible to organize a storage temperature for the plant within +15 ... +20 degrees.

The optimal storage conditions for cyclamen when it goes to rest is a temperature of +15 ... +20 degrees, very rare watering, partial shade or a dark place.

If the content of cyclamen is incorrect during the dormant period, it often leads to either complete drying of the tuber (high temperature of maintenance and lack of watering), or rotting of the tuber (soil is too wet and low temperature of maintenance).

End of dormant period. In cyclamen, after dormancy, new leaves appear. At this time, the plant is taken out into the light, but not under direct sunlight, watering is increased. Spraying is not necessary. It is also recommended to perform a cyclamen transplant. For this, a pot is taken that is commensurate with the root system of the flower (the roots should freely enter the pot, but at the same time, the distance between the roots of the flower and the walls of the pot should not exceed 1-1.5 cm). Soil for transplanting can be taken universal for flowering houseplants (pH = 5.0-6.0), or you can make up the soil mixture yourself. For this, leaf soil, humus, peat, sand are taken in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 1. It is necessary to plant cyclamen to the ground so that 1/3 of its tuber rises above the ground.

If your florist's cyclamen hasn't woken up after a dormant period, you can grow yourself a new plant yourself. To do this, it is enough to plant cyclamen seeds. Read more,.

Several features of cyclamen care during and after rest. A newly purchased plant may lose its vital rhythm. This is explained simply: in flower shops, the plant is fed with chemistry so that it begins to bloom by the time of sale and thus has an attractive appearance. In such a cyclamen, the dormant period can begin at any time. The main thing at this time is to provide him with normal care. Over time, the life rhythm of the flower will return to normal.

It is impossible to artificially send cyclamen to rest by twisting its leaves. The plant will not only lose vitality. Microcracks form on its tuber, which will quickly colonize bacteria and diseases. Cyclamen may die.

Cyclamen after rest, it is desirable to transplant into a new soil. The plant is gradually accustomed to bright light.

The genus includes more than 20 species.

Homeland: Central Europe, Asia Minor, Iran, Mediterranean.

- perennial, herbaceous, tuberous, flowering plant.

Flowers: pink, bright red, white, or shades in between.

Flowering: November to spring.

The leaves are heart-shaped or rounded, attached to the tuber with long petioles. The leaf can be: dark green, with a marbled pattern, with a serrated edge.

Lighting

From late autumn to early spring, cyclamen needs as much light as possible. Optimal lighting - bright diffused light. Direct sunlight during the daytime (April/May, September/October) can cause leaf scorch. Lack of lighting leads to the formation of large, weak leaves, delayed flowering.

Temperature

The temperature regime depends on the phase of plant development:

1) seed germination temperature: 18°C;

2) temperature for crops:

• during the period when the seedlings were exposed from the dark to the light (for 2 weeks): 18-20°C;

• maintenance of seedlings: in the afternoon: 20-22°С; at night: 16°C.

3) Optimum temperature for keeping an adult plant: during the day: 14-18°C; at night: 12-15°С.

At a temperature of more than 35 ° C, cyclamen goes into a dormant state. Minimum allowable temperature: 10°C. At temperatures below 10 ° C, the leaves of cyclamen darken, development stops, and the risk of fungal diseases increases.

The soil

The composition of the soil mixture for growing cyclamen: 1 part of leafy soil + 1 part of humus + 1 part of peat + 1 part of sand.

The soil must have good drainage properties. Optimal substrate acidity: pH 5.0-6.3. Above pH 6.3, iron deficiency will occur (manifested as leaf chlorosis).

Planting / Transplanting cyclamen

Transplantation is carried out when the plant is at rest - preferably at the end of the period.

The corm from which the leaves will grow should be planted so that its entire upper part protrudes above the soil mixture (about 1/3). When landing, do not confuse where the bottom is, and where the top is: the bottom is the convex part, the top is the concave part, growth buds should be visible on it. The soil used for planting cyclamen must be pre-sterilized.

After planting the tuber, we do not water. The first watering is carried out after the young leaves begin to grow. For growing cyclamen, it is better to use bowls.

Fertilizer

Fertilize cyclamen with complex water-soluble fertilizers, at a concentration of 50% of the recommended for indoor plants. The beginning of top dressing is a month after the start of growth. The frequency of top dressing is once every three weeks. Too much fertilizer in the pot will cause foliage to develop at the expense of flowering.

Sep 14 2018

Cyclamen (Alpine violet) - home care

Among indoor plants that delight us with their flowers on cloudy autumn and winter days, cyclamen occupies a special place. Although many consider it difficult to grow, it is actually enough to properly organize watering and temperature conditions. In this article we will talk about the intricacies of caring for alpine violets at home.

In the wild, cyclamen grows in the warm and humid climate of the Mediterranean. It can be found in the shady forests of southwestern Asia, southern Europe, on the wooded mountain slopes of Greece, the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Crimea. the plant has several folk names: dryakva, "pork bread", alpine violet. The name "pork bread" comes from the fact that wild boars love to feast on the tubers of the flower, tearing them out of the ground.

Cyclamen belongs to the primrose family, its genus consists of 20 species. It belongs to the ephemeroids that bloom for a short time. And in the rest of the year, the leaves of the plant dry up, and the flower begins a dormant period. Alpine violet is a perennial tuberous plant, the flowering period in nature begins in autumn and ends in spring. Indoor specimens mainly bloom in the cold season. Although hybrid varieties have appeared that begin flowering in the spring.

In early autumn, new leaves appear from the tuber. Cyclamen leaves have a rounded shape with a silvery pattern on a dark green surface. The leaves are arranged horizontally, form a dense basal rosette. Above it, flowers resembling moths appear on long pedicels. The petals are bent back and raised up. During the flowering period, fifty to seventy buds appear on cyclamen. And although one flower "lives" for about ten days, due to the large number of buds, the flowering period lasts several months.

Flowers are rich in colors and shades. Cyclamen has a rich palette of shades of pink and red. Also popular is "alpine violet" in white. Modern hybrid varieties can "boast" of unusual shades: burgundy, purple.

Popular types

All types of cyclamen are divided by height into three groups:

• undersized, in which the height is 15 cm;
• medium height - about 20 cm;
• standard - height reaches 30 cm.

In nature, the following types of cyclamen are common, differing in size, color and place of growth:

Persian

The Persian species is one of the most common varieties both in nature and in indoor floriculture. Tubers grow up to fifteen centimeters in diameter, have a flat-round shape. The leaves are dark green in color with a silvery pattern and heart-shaped. The height of the peduncles is from fifteen to twenty centimeters, and the total height of the flower reaches thirty centimeters. Flowers white, pink or red have oblong petals about five centimeters long, laid back from the corolla. The Persian species blooms from autumn to spring, and sheds leaves in the summer. Based on the Persian cyclamen, many hybrid varieties for indoor floriculture have been bred.

European

European cyclamen among indoor flowers is much less common. It has some differences from the Persian species. The size of the leaves is three to four centimeters. In addition, the underside of the leaves has a purple tint. Its flowers are smaller, and the size of the petals does not exceed two centimeters. Flowers are white, red or pink. The main difference between European cyclamen is the flowering period. It blooms from May to September, and it does not have a pronounced dormant period with drying of the leaves. Of course, in summer it is desirable to keep it at a temperature not higher than 25 degrees and in diffused sunlight.

Cretan

Cretan cyclamen is found naturally on the island of Crete. Differs in the small sizes. Flowers are white and pink.

Kossky (photo by Andrey Pomidorov)

Kos cyclamen is found in the Caucasus. A low plant reaches only ten centimeters in height, it can winter under the snow. White or pink-red flowers have dark spots at the base of the petals.

Ivy (Neapolitan)

Ivy cyclamen has a second name - Neapolitan. It differs from other species in that flowers appear first, and then leaves.

Care rules

Lighting

Cyclamen does not like direct sunlight, so it is better to place it on the northern, western and eastern windows. In winter, when the amount of light decreases, it can be moved to the southwest or southeast windows.

During the dormant period, the pot with the tuber is placed in a shaded, cool room. It can be a shaded place on the balcony, terrace. Some people put a pot of tubers under the bathroom for the summer. But at the same time, one should not forget to water the earth once or twice a month with a small amount of settled water.

Temperature

Maintaining the optimum temperature for cyclamen is the main difficulty in keeping it in an apartment. The most suitable temperature for alpine violets is the range from 14 to 16 degrees Celsius. This is especially important during the flowering period, which falls on the heating season. The flower pot must be protected from the dry and hot air of the radiators. In extreme cases, temperatures up to 25 degrees are allowed, but it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air. This will allow the plant to adjust to room temperatures.

At high room temperatures, cyclamen shortens the flowering period.

How to water cyclamen

When the room temperature is above 17-18 degrees, it is necessary to increase the humidity. It is not recommended to spray cyclamen. You can spray water into the air around the plant, making sure that the droplets do not fall on the plant. But the best way is to place the cyclamen pot on wet pebbles or expanded clay. In this case, the pot should not stand in the water, otherwise it will lead to rotting of the tubers.

The watering regimen of cyclamen is determined by the period of flower development. During the period of the appearance of leaves and flowering, watering is done more often to prevent the earthen coma from drying out. Watering is carried out with settled water with a temperature a couple of degrees below room temperature. With the onset of wilting of the leaves, the amount and frequency of watering is reduced. During the dormant period, a rare watering with a small amount of water is carried out. Water along the edge of the pot to prevent moisture from getting on the tuber. Watering a flowering plant is carried out through the pan, pouring out the remaining water after an hour. You can lower the pot into a container of water for fifteen minutes so that the water does not reach the edge of the pot. This method is suitable for a clay pot, the pores of which allow water to pass through. A plant in a plastic pot is watered through the pan.

top dressing

From the moment the leaves appear until the end of the flowering period, cyclamen must be fed. Use complex fertilizers for flowering plants. Perform two top dressings during the month. In summer, during the dormant period, cyclamen is not fertilized.

The soil

Cyclamen prefers light and loose soil, neutral or slightly acidic. If you prepare the mixture yourself, then you need to take sheet and sod land, peat and sand in the same amount. Also suitable for growing cyclamen is another mixture:

• leaf ground (3 hours);
• peat (1 hour);
• sand (1 hour).

You can purchase ready-made earthen mix for tulips or universal soil. It is recommended to add sand or vermiculite to the finished mixture to make it loose.

Transfer

The plant is transplanted after the end of the dormant period, when young leaves begin to break through. First you need to choose a pot according to the size of the tuber.

Important! The basic rule for choosing a pot is that the diameter should be larger than the size of the tuber, so that two to three centimeters remain between the tuber and the edge of the container.

The bottom of the pot should have holes for water to drain. First, a layer of expanded clay is poured. Then an earthen mixture is poured, which must be heated in the oven for half an hour before planting to kill bacteria. After all, cyclamen tubers are easily susceptible to disease.

The exceptions are diseased plants and recently acquired ones. The tubers are inspected for the presence of rot, the rotten parts are cut out, and the cut is sprinkled with crushed activated carbon. Purchased plants are planted in soil with plenty of peat to accelerate growth. Therefore, you need to transplant cyclamen into more suitable soil.

Young flowers up to five years old are transplanted annually. Adult plants are transferred to a new pot, first once every two years, and then after three years.

Attention! When planting, the tuber should not be sprinkled with earth. At least a third of the tuber must protrude above ground level, otherwise the plant will die. The exception is the European cyclamen, in which roots form over the entire surface of the tuber. Therefore, it is allowed to sprinkle it with earth, but it cannot be buried deep.

Preparing for a dormant period

Let's pay attention to one subtlety when caring for cyclamen. When the flowers fade, the leaves dry up, they must be removed. Removing faded flowers lengthens the flowering period, encouraging new buds to appear. But be sure to follow this procedure correctly. You can not pick, cut off old flower stalks and leaves. They must be unscrewed near the tuber itself, carefully so as not to damage it. If a “wound” is formed, then it is sprinkled with powdered charcoal (activated) charcoal.

reproduction

For propagation of cyclamen, seeds or the tuber division method are used. Each method has its pros and cons.

Reproduction by seeds

Growing cyclamen from seeds is a long and laborious process. Seeds can be purchased at a flower shop or obtained independently. To get seeds from home cyclamen, it is necessary to carry out artificial pollination. To do this, pollen is transferred with a soft brush from one flower to the pistil of another. If there are several alpine violets in the house, then cross-pollination is carried out - pollen is transferred from one flower to another.

The ovary is best formed if pollination is carried out on a sunny morning. In this case, the transfer of pollen is carried out several times, which increases the likelihood of the formation of an ovary. Before pollination, it is recommended to feed the flowers with the following composition: dissolve 1 gram of superphosphate and 0.5 grams of potassium sulfide in one liter of water.

Sow seeds in August, before the start of the growing season. Pre-seeds are poured with a five percent sugar solution. Floating seeds are discarded. Then the remaining seeds are soaked in a solution of zirconium for a day to improve germination.

An earthen mixture is poured into the planting container, consisting of equal parts of peat and leafy soil, or a mixture of peat and vermiculite. The soil is moistened, and seeds are sown on the surface, sprinkling with a thin layer of earth. The container is covered with a film and placed in a shaded place with a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees. Periodically moisten the soil with a spray bottle and ventilate. Shoots appear in a month and a half.

After the appearance of the leaves, the film is removed, the seedlings are rearranged to a lighted place without exposure to sunlight. In this case, the temperature should be lower - 15-17 degrees. In December, the seedlings have two or three leaves and a small nodule is formed. They can be transplanted with a pick into a new mixture, which is made up of two parts of leafy soil, one part of peat and sand in a half dose. When transplanting, the tubers are sprinkled with earth. Dive seedlings are fertilized with complex fertilizers in a half dose a week after transplantation. Before the onset of the dormant period (second half of spring), the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots, already leaving a third of the tubers protruding from the ground.

From the moment of sowing to flowering, 13-15 months pass. Plants grown from own seeds acclimatize better than seedlings from purchased seeds.

Reproduction by tubers

Most flower growers at home propagate cyclamen by dividing tubers. During the dormant period, the tuber is removed from the pot, divided into several parts. There will be as many parts as there are growth points on the mother tuber. The sections are dried a little, sprinkled with activated carbon powder or Kornevin. Then the parts are planted in separate containers in the usual mixture for cyclamen. Its composition has been given above.

With the seeming simplicity of this method of reproduction, the death of both the new plant and the mother tuber is often observed. Cut tubers are susceptible to rot.

Diseases and pests

With good care, cyclamen pleases owners with its flowers for many years. But violations in care, non-compliance with watering and temperature conditions lead to various diseases. The table shows the main problems in growing cyclamen.

Main features	Cause	Remedy
Brown spots appeared on the leaves.	Dry air, bright light.	Rearrange the pot or shade, increase the humidity.
The flower sheds buds.	Sudden change in ambient temperature, for example, moving to a warmer room.	If necessary, the transfer of the plant should gradually get used to the change in temperature.
Cyclamen leaves turn yellow and wither.	Excessive watering, which led to the decay of the tuber.	Remove the tuber from the ground, cut out the rotten parts, sprinkle with Kornevin or coal and plant in a new sterilized mixture. If the leaves turn yellow and wither after flowering, this is normal.

For cyclamen, fungal diseases are of great danger, which often lead to the death of the flower. The infection most often enters through contaminated soil.

Major fungal diseases

Disease	Main features	Cause	Remedy
Fusarium wilt or dry rot.	Leaves turn yellow. Yellowing starts at the top, and often affects one side of the plant.	The fungus enters the vascular system of the plant through the roots, clogs it, which disrupts the nutrition of the leaves.	It is watered under the root with Fundazol, and the leaves are treated with Topsin-M. Both drugs are taken at a concentration of 0.1%.
wet rot	Leaves and peduncles wither, wilt, which is accompanied by a putrid odor.	The spores of the fungus enter along with contaminated water or soil through cracks in the tuber or the place where the flower stalks come off. Heat and moisture contribute to the development of the disease.	It is impossible to cure a diseased plant. It is destroyed along with the earth. The pot must be disinfected.
Gray rot	A gray mold appears on the leaves, which rises into the air when air moves. Leaves and flower stalks turn yellow, darken and die.	It develops in cold conditions with high humidity.	Remove the affected parts, reduce watering and spraying, ventilate the places of detention, but without a draft. Treat with fungicide according to instructions.
root rot	The leaves turn pale, dark areas are visible on the tubers.	The fungus gets along with unsterilized soil.	The earth is treated with a fungicide. But a young plant may not survive. In an adult cyclamen, the tuber is removed from the ground, the damage is removed and treated with a fungicide. Then planted in new sterilized soil.
Anthracnose	Peduncles are affected, which stop growing, their upper part dries up. Then the leaves are affected, which curl, dry out.	The fungus gets along with the ground, develops at high humidity and temperature.	Reduce air humidity, remove damaged parts of cyclamen. Treat with fungicide.
sooty fungus	A black coating appears on the leaves and shoots.	It appears in aphid habitats. It clogs the pores of the plant, and growth slows down at first, and then the leaves dry up.	You can wash the leaves with a two percent solution of green soap, then with a copper-soap solution. Then washed with clean water. Or they are treated with a fungicide.

Among the pests of cyclamen, the main enemies are aphids, mites and thrips. To combat them, insecticides are used, which are widely available on the market.

Conclusion

Alpine violet, blooming in the cold season, gives a good mood, the joy of contemplating beautiful flowers with a delicate aroma. Do not be afraid of difficulties in growing cyclamen, and it will decorate your window sills in winter.

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A perennial herbaceous plant, whose flowers in beauty resemble a flock of bright butterflies, is cyclamen. Another name for cyclamen is alpine violet. It comes from the Mediterranean, is also distributed in northeast Africa, Spain.

Cyclamen has original flowers and a very wide range of colors. There are white, purple cyclamens, the whole range of pink shades, red and burgundy. And what is especially pleasant, flowering lasts up to 3.5 months.

Alpine violet blooms from the second half of October to the end of March. Cyclamen is not a very fastidious plant, but some people get the opposite impression. In fact, if you follow certain recommendations, there will be no difficulties with the flower.

How to choose the right cyclamen in the store

Seeing a scattering of colorful beautiful flowers in a flower shop, it's hard to resist buying. According to the rules, the choice of a flowerpot depends not only on the color of the inflorescences, it is worth paying attention to other parameters of the plant. The selection procedure includes an examination of the condition of the roots, which are visible in the drainage hole of the pot. It is important that the roots are in good condition and free of rot.

The flowerpot should not have yellow leaves and it is good when there are a lot of unblown buds on it. The larger the tuber, the better. The leaves of the plant should be elastic, there should be no rotten flower stalks or their remains on the flowerpot.

Caring for cyclamen during flowering

Caring for cyclamen at home involves being careful in choosing a place for a flowerpot, organizing the temperature regime, proper watering, timely feeding and maintaining the necessary air humidity for the plant.

Choice of location and lighting

Cyclamen loves light. It should be placed on the windowsills of windows that do not receive direct sunlight, but at the same time there is a lot of daylight. Usually the best place for cyclamen is a window on the north side of the house.

Temperature and humidity

Cyclamen during the flowering period should be cool. He will be comfortable temperature + 12-15 ° C. It is bad if the temperature drops below 10 degrees or rises above 20 degrees.

For better growth and well-being of the flower, the air around it must be moistened. A regular sprayer will help with this. But at the same time, care must be taken that the sprayed moisture does not fall directly on the plant itself.

Watering and fertilizing the soil

In order for the plant to be comfortable during the flowering period, it must be watered regularly. When watering, water should not fall on the germ zone of the corm, on the leaves and flowers of the plant. Good watering methods are close to the edge of the pot, or pour water into the pan. At any time during the life of the plant, it is important not to overmoisten the soil.

Top dressing of cyclamen during the flowering period is done once every 2 weeks. For this, mineral fertilizers are used. For top dressing, you can prepare a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer: take 1 g of superphosphate and 0.5 g of potassium sulfate for 1 liter of water.

Caring for cyclamen during dormancy

Many plants actively grow and develop in the summer, give flowers and fruits. But as for cyclamen, this plant blooms in the cold season. Caring for cyclamen in the summer is no less important than caring for the flowering period. How the flower will bloom in its active period depends on the correct care during the dormant period.

Important! There is an opinion that if during the calendar dormant period the plant continues to actively bloom, then it must be artificially sent to rest - that is, unscrew the buds and leaves. But such an experience does not lead to anything good, such flowerpots get sick and often die.

In preparation for the dormant period, cyclamen may continue to form new leaves, while the old ones turn yellow and die off. Dead leaves must be removed. At the same time, the tuber stores nutrients that will be consumed during the next flowering.

It is important to follow the rules on how to water cyclamen at home during rest. It is a misconception that cyclamen does not need to be watered during this period. If you allow the soil to dry out, and then water the plant abundantly, cracks may appear on the tuber. These cracks are not dangerous, but only if they do not get water. If they are covered with crushed coal, the cracks will become covered with a dense crust in a few days.

During the dormant period, moderate watering is required to prevent tuber rot. Fertilizers for cyclamen are not applied during this period. To prevent rot, a few drops of phytosporin can be added to the water during irrigation.

In terms of lighting in summer, the plant should be protected from bright direct sunlight. Coolness is not necessary, but if it is possible to place a flower in a cool shade, then he will be comfortable there.

The rest period lasts 2-3 months, after which new leaves and buds begin to appear.

Proper cyclamen transplant

When buying, you need to be prepared for the fact that a cyclamen transplant is required. Dutch plants are usually supplied in a peat substrate, which is designed to carry flowers but is not suitable for long-term plant growth.

Transplantation can be done once a year, until the flowerpot blooms. The most suitable time is the end of August and September, when the lower air temperature has a beneficial effect on growth.

For transplanting, you will need ordinary purchased soil. It can be prepared from the following components: peat, humus, sand and leafy soil. There should be more leafy ground in the mixture than the rest of the ingredients. The plant must be removed from the pot and carefully clean the roots of excess peat remaining on them. If rotten cuttings appear in the process, they must be removed.

Before transplanting, you need to determine which pot is needed for cyclamen. The size of the pot depends on the age of the flower. For cyclamen aged 1-1.5 years, a pot with a diameter of up to 8 cm is selected. For a three-year-old cyclamen, a pot with a diameter of up to 15 cm is suitable.

There should be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot, if they are not there initially, you can do them yourself. After that, drainage is laid on the bottom - expanded clay or pebbles. With the help of drainage, waterlogging of the plant can be avoided.

Before planting cyclamen in new soil, it is recommended to bake it in the oven for one hour. Or you can do it in a pan or treat the soil with potassium permanganate. Such measures are necessary in order to protect the plant from possible infection with fungal diseases.

In the process of transplanting itself, the earthen mixture in the pot does not need to be rammed. A few old leaves should be removed from the plant, which helps to strengthen the health of the plant.

Important! You need to remove old leaves by twisting, and not just tearing them off.

The flower itself must be carefully placed in the middle of the new pot, holding it in weight so as not to damage the root system. The roots must be straightened and carefully covered with earth. The tuber itself does not need to be completely covered with earth, it should peek out a little on the surface.

After transplanting, the soil is watered and the water is allowed to soak. Then watering is repeated, and earth is added to the pot. But even after this stage, the tuber should partially remain above the ground.

Important! After transplantation, cyclamen should not be fertilized for two to three weeks.

Two ways to reproduce cyclamen

There are two most common ways to propagate cyclamen:

• seeds;
• tuber division.

When propagated by seeds, it will take longer to bloom than when propagated by a tuber. The best time for sowing seeds is August.

Before sowing, the seeds are poured with a 5% sugar solution. Only the seeds that have sunk to the bottom are taken, the ones that have surfaced are not suitable. For another day, the seeds are soaked in a solution of zircon.

Seeds are sown in a mixture of earth and peat - they are laid out on the surface and lightly sprinkled on top with a thin layer of earth. The optimum temperature for germination should be 20°C. From above, the sowing area is covered with a transparent film, which is sometimes removed for watering and airing the soil. Seedlings should germinate in 30-40 days.

After emergence, the shading is removed, young plants are placed in an environment without direct sunlight and at a temperature of 15-17°C. After the appearance of two or three leaves and the formation of a small tuber, the plants dive. This happens around December. After picking, the plants can be fed a diluted dose of flower fertilizer in a week.

In individual pots, cyclamen from seeds are planted in April - May. They bloom 13-15 months after sowing.

In addition to propagation by seeds, cyclamen can be propagated by dividing the tuber. Such reproduction can only be carried out during the dormant period of the plant. The bulb is taken out of the ground, dried a little. After that, it is cut into several parts. Each part must have strong living roots and buds. All parts of the root are processed with crushed coal and dried again. On about the third day, parts of the tuber can be planted in the ground, each in its own pot.

Reproduction by division of the tuber is not always successful, there is a risk of losing the plant irretrievably.

The healing properties of cyclamen

Cyclamen contains substances with medicinal properties. Among them are cyclamine, saponin, bitter substances.

Did you know? Cyclamine has specific toxicity. But in a humid environment, it undergoes hydrolysis and turns into cyclamiretin, which has a healing effect.

Cyclamen juice has the following effects:

• destroys viruses;
• eliminates inflammatory processes;
• antiseptic action;
• inhibits the pathogenic flora that causes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• relieves pain in rheumatism, gout, diseases of the joints and bones.

Fresh cyclamen juice cleans the maxillary sinuses. It is prepared from a fresh tuber, which is crushed to a mushy state. 10 parts of water are added to the cyclamen gruel and everything survives through cheesecloth. The resulting medicine can be instilled into the nose for 1-2 drops. The same mixture in the form of douching is used for gynecological diseases.