Many beginners start cyclamen at home, because it is unpretentious in its care. It is abundantly watered, fed, groomed and cherished. And it fades over time anyway. In fact, it is true that caring for a plant is not difficult, the main thing is to observe some features. One of these features is watering cyclamen.
The most common mistake beginners make is that they try to water the flower as often and as much as possible. It is not right. Excess moisture leads to rotting of the tuber. Cyclamen should be watered moderately. It is important to pay attention to the pot. For a flower, it is better to choose a container with a drainage system. So that all excess moisture drains and does not injure the roots.
How to water cyclamen
There are at least two optimal irrigation options.
- With the help of a watering can.
- By placing the flower pot in water.
The first way is that the flower is carefully watered from a watering can, while not touching the plant itself. That is, it is necessary to pour water closer to the edges of the pot. This should be done infrequently, when the soil of the cyclamen has already dried up.
For the second method, it is necessary to collect a large amount of water in a basin, bucket or any other volumetric container. Then this liquid should be allowed to stand for at least 10 hours. After that, a pot of cyclamen is placed in this container, leaving the edges on the surface. They keep the plant in this form for a very short time, as soon as the top of the earth begins to shine with moisture, then it's time to get it. It remains only to allow excess water to drain through the drainage holes.
Among these two options, it is difficult to choose the best one. Both cases have been tested many times. And both cases are equally well suited for cyclamen. Therefore, you can choose any method convenient for you. The main thing is settled and soft water.
FOR MEMORY
This is the peculiarity of care - watering cyclamen should be moderate and not too frequent. During flowering, the watering procedure is carried out as the soil dries. It is important to know that cyclamen is better underfilled than overfilled. After all, we have already found out that excessive moisture injures the tuber.
Video "Cyclamen - the subtleties of growing"
Optimal watering frequency
With the process of watering cyclamen itself, it is already clear, but the question remains - how often to water the plant? In order to answer this, it is important to understand one more feature of cyclamen. The period of flowering and dormancy is not typical for ordinary plants. The fact is that in the summer, at a time when most types of flowers bloom, cyclamen, on the contrary, retires. But in winter, he begins to delight his owners with bright colors and a pleasant aroma.
So, back to watering. The plant needs to be given water moderately, not very often, as the soil is dry. If the flower begins gradually, one at a time, the leaves should turn yellow, they must be removed. First, because it's ugly. Secondly, they do not bring any benefit. Leaves begin to fall as the plant prepares for dormancy. At this time, watering should be reduced.
But if you notice that many of the leaves and flowers of the plant wither and dry at once, then you should reconsider the watering regimen. You are probably giving the plant too much water. And this is very dangerous - leads to death. Ideally, cyclamen should be watered in equal portions at regular intervals.
In the summer, when the rest mode begins, watering must be changed, greatly reducing it. However, you can not leave it completely without water! It is also not recommended to abruptly start abundant watering - the tuber will crack. The best option for watering is 1 time in 2 weeks.
After the cyclamen flower begins to give the first shoots after "hibernation", watering should be increased. At this time, a few drops of "Fitosporin" can be added to the water so that the roots of the plant do not begin to rot.
That is, homemade cyclamen requires different care at different times of the year. In the summer, when the flower regains strength after flowering, it does not require much water, as well as light. Therefore, it should be put in a dark, dry place for several months, periodically, once every 2 weeks, taken out for watering.
During flowering, cyclamen is watered as the soil dries. The flower itself is placed in a place where there is a lot of diffused light. The main thing is that direct sunlight does not fall on the flower, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate. The more light and heat in the room in which the flower is located, the more moisture it will need.
And also watering depends on the age of the plant. Young need constant light watering. Adults are the opposite. Rare, but more abundant.
Proper feeding
Any grower wants to grow lush and bright flowers. Therefore, the question often arises - how to water cyclamens so that they bloom? The most important thing is clean and settled water. And you can also add a few drops of "Fitosporin" so that the roots do not rot. And to get beautiful and lush flowers, solutions of mineral fertilizers are added to the soil. For example, such as "Peace", "Ideal" and so on.
Do not overdo it with fertilizers, they are added little by little, otherwise, instead of flowers, the plant will grow a lush head of green leaves. Top dressing of cyclamen is carried out before flowering, in autumn, closer to winter. But after the cyclamen has faded, it is not necessary to add mineral fertilizers. In general, the size of a flower and its flowering does not depend on the amount of fertilizer poured into it, but on the size of the bulb. The larger the tuber, the larger the plants will grow.
Cyclamen in a pot is a great option for the home. In winter, this flower pleases its owners with beautiful bright flowering and a pleasant aroma. Once you figure it out, it's not hard to take care of it. The main thing is to take into account all its features. Proper watering is the most important part in all plant care. Because excess moisture will quickly destroy the plant, and also when watering, water should not be allowed to fall on the plant itself and on its tuber.
Pay attention to the yellow falling leaves. They can warn of improper care or signal the beginning of the dormant stage of cyclamen. Reduce watering during dormancy. And as soon as the flower "wakes up" it is renewed. Fertilizers will be useful. With the help of them, cyclamen gains energy for brighter and more lush flowering.
Cyclamen, the second name is alpine violet, very moody conditions. Although there are about fifteen species of this plant, only two are more common for the home: European and Persian.
Having colorful and bright flowers, cyclamen will allow the introverted person who is in the room to be filled with the energy of happiness and positive. How to properly water and care for Cyclamen will tell the article.
It is most important to water the plant correctly, because if you make a mistake, you can lose the flower, or spend a lot of time on its restoration.
Summer, unlike many other flowers, is a dormant period for cyclamen. All winter you can enjoy bright flowering, and in the warm period it is time to recover and gain strength for the subsequent release of buds.
Cyclamen flowering (photo)
Some flower growers make the mistake of forcibly sending the plant to “sleep”, twisting its buds.
This is an interference with the natural process, cyclamen can get sick and die. He must independently build for himself the rhythm of periods of rest-flowering.
Before the hot season, cyclamen, at first with less intensity, and soon completely ceases to form buds. Releasing new leaves, he discards the old ones. Alpine violet will try to accumulate useful substances in the tuber, as a result of which it can become covered with cracks, which in no case should water get into. It can also crack due to a prolonged lack of moisture, and then abundant watering of the plant.
- Do not leave the plant without water. Some sources may incorrectly suggest that watering should be completely stopped for two to three months. This can lead to the death of cyclamen. Humidification should be moderate in order to avoid rotting of the tuber.
- In order to prevent decay in water for irrigation, it is advisable to add a couple of drops of Fitosporin.
- After a few months of rest, when new leaves with buds begin to appear, watering should be increased gradually. If you immediately saturate the plant with a large amount of liquid, you can start the process of decay.
Cyclamen can be fed with weak fertilizer solutions:
- Kemira-lux
- Tsvetovit
- Ferovit
- Ideal
- Pocon
It is impossible to use top dressing for the plant too often, because the foliage is to the detriment of flowering. clean, settled, and most importantly, soft.
Watering cyclamen during flowering
Cyclamen begins to bloom in late autumn, and ends in April-May. During this period, yellowing flowers, as well as leaves, should be removed frequently. It is advisable to water the plant when the surface of the soil is dry.
Sometimes flowering lasts throughout the year. In this case, cyclamen should be watered at regular intervals and with the same amount of water.
Cyclamen tolerates drying out much more easily than excessive moisture. Restoring a dry tuber is easier than fighting rot. Abundant watering is best avoided.
During the flowering period, watering should be much more abundant than during dormancy. It must be done very carefully to avoid getting water on the leaves with petals.
It is best to use a watering can, which must be carefully poured near the edges of the pot, because the tuber can be damaged by excessive moisture. With such watering, the excess water that flows into the pan under the pot must be drained after an hour. During this time, cyclamen will take the liquid as much as he needs. Be sure to have drainage at the bottom of the pot so that a lot of moisture does not accumulate.
There is another, no worse than usual, way of watering alpine violets. You need to take a bowl or bucket and fill the container. This water must be defended for at least twelve hours, then, almost completely, a pot of cyclamen should be immersed in it.
You should wait until the earth begins to gleam with moisture. Then take out the container with the flower and wait until the excess water drains through the drainage holes.
Some houseplant lovers place their cyclamen flower pot on a flat, low-rimmed tray. There you can put pebbles, moss, peat, various decorative elements. In this version of moisturizing, you need to stretch the thread from the bottom of the dish with cyclamen to the top. Periodically pour water into the pan, and the plant, with the help of a thread, will take the required amount of moisture.
It is important to be very careful about watering cyclamen during the flowering period. The plant takes a lot of energy to please the eye with unusual flowers.
When buying a flower, you should pay attention to the freshness of the leaves and the smoothness of the root, which should be on the surface of the earth. If these conditions are met, there will be fewer problems in caring for cyclamen.
As a permanent habitat for cyclamen in an apartment, you need to choose window sills that face east or west. Thus, conditions are created that are closest to their natural habitat.
These flowers are very demanding on the climatic parameters of the environment. In the hot period, the air temperature should be about twenty-three degrees, and in winter - ten. It is possible to humidify by spraying with a sprayer only the air in the room, next to the cyclamen, avoiding drops on the leaves. In winter, this procedure is reduced to a minimum.
It must be remembered that if the pot is already on a pallet with peat or moss and pebbles, then spraying is not necessary.
The plant is fed with liquid diluted fertilizers no more than once a month.
When the flower is preparing for a new flowering period and fresh leaves appear, it is advisable to transplant it. A transplant pot cannot be chosen much larger than what it was. This can lead to rapid fading of flowers. The root must be examined and, if there are rotten areas, be sure to carefully, gently, with the help of your fingers, remove them.
The soil for growing alpine violets is taken mixed from equal parts:
- Sand
- Peat (or soddy soil)
- Humus
- sheet soil
When pests such as aphids, cyclamen mites and thrips attack the plant, it is necessary to treat it with an insecticide. Aphids can be removed with a cotton pad moistened with a prepared solution, and in the case of a tick, you also need to remove the affected leaves.
If it was not possible to cure cyclamen, it must be destroyed. Other nearby flowers can also become infected, because there are more dangerous diseases - botrytis, ramularia, wet rot.
Persian cyclamen tubers contain poisonous substances. Their use can cause gastrointestinal upset and convulsions.
At the same time, preparations are prepared from European cyclamen tubers that irritate the mucous membrane of the paranasal sinuses. This provokes the outflow of mucus. This is how sinusitis and sinusitis are treated.
If you have only southern windows at your disposal, then it is worth protecting the plant from direct sunlight. To do this, attach a not very thick sheet of paper to the window in front of the flower. Some gardeners make the mistake of covering the plant directly with, for example, a cloth. We strongly do not recommend doing this, it injures the leaves, even if it seems that the fabric weighs nothing and will interfere with the normal process of photosynthesis.
If the cyclamen has stopped blooming and the foliage has begun to fall off, the temperature regime is probably not suitable for it. Review it as recommended. If your house is warmer than the flower requires, then this is not a problem, but some effort will be required so that it does not die. Start accustoming the plant to the new temperature gradually. First find him a colder corner, ventilate frequently, and gradually raise the temperature. But, carefully monitor the condition of the pet, everything is permissible up to a certain limit.
In winter, it is not necessary to spray, but overdried air will also not work. Place cyclamen as far away from a battery or other heat source as possible. Or, if, apart from the window, there is no other suitable place, then you will have to cover the battery with a thick towel or other material. It's good to keep it a little damp. This plant is not sprayed even during the appearance of buds.
It can also be transplanted when the plant has begun preparing for a dormant period. We recommend using the transshipment method, but, of course, if you have not noticed signs of fungal infection on the flower. Tubers should be placed so that they are level with the ground, or slightly above it. A mixture for growing can be bought if it is not possible to pick up all the ingredients. The most important rule when preparing or buying soil for this plant is breathability.
While watching the video, you will learn about the care of cyclamen.
The popularity of cyclamen - this lovely flowering plant - has only increased recently. In room culture, two types are more common than others: Persian cyclamen and European cyclamen. Both conquer charming original flowers. Cyclamen Persian blooms in winter, when few plants delight with bright blooms. How to care for cyclamen at home - our article.
Cyclamen. © Thomas Kohler
Description of the cyclamen plant
Rod Cyclamen ( Cyclamen), or Dryakva, or Alpine violet from the Myrsinaceae family ( Myrsinaceae), sometimes referred to the Primrose family ( Primulaceae) and includes about 20 species.
Species of the genus Cyclamen are perennial herbaceous plants, common in the Mediterranean; from Spain in the west to Iran in the east, as well as in Northeast Africa, including Somalia.
Radical dark green leathery heart-shaped leaves of cyclamen are located on petioles up to 30 cm long and have a decorative grayish silver pattern.
Cyclamen flowers are very original: pointed, curved back, sometimes fringed petals give the impression that a flock of exotic butterflies is circling over the plant.
The color palette of cyclamens is very wide: hybrids with snow-white flowers, the whole range of pink shades to dark red, burgundy, purple are bred. Cyclamen flowering lasts quite a long time, up to 3.5 months. Depending on the variety and room conditions, flowering may begin in the second half of October and last until the end of March.
Very often, cyclamens are spoken of as capricious and difficult plants in culture. In fact, cyclamen is unpretentious, and the few requirements that it makes in culture can be very easily satisfied.
Cyclamen. © Ria Baeck Care for cyclamen at home
Lighting and temperature
Cyclamens are photophilous, but do not tolerate direct sunlight. It is better to keep them in partial shade. They grow well on the windowsills of the western and eastern windows. South windows will need shading from direct sunlight. Plants may not have enough light near northern exposure windows.
A necessary condition for the normal development of cyclamens and their abundant flowering is light and cool content in winter (about 10 ° C, not higher than 12-14 ° C). In summer, a temperature in the region of 18-25 ° C is preferable (the pot with the plant can be taken out to a shady place and buried).
Watering and spraying
During flowering, the plant is watered abundantly or moderately with soft settled water, avoiding both waterlogging and overdrying of the earthy coma. Cyclamen should be watered carefully, to the edge of the pot, trying not to soak the buds and tuber, and even better - from the pallet.
Water should not be allowed to enter the core of the plant either - tuber rot may occur. The water temperature should be 2-4°C below room temperature. After 1-2 hours, excess water is drained from the saucer so that the roots do not rot. After flowering, the watering of cyclamen is gradually reduced, and by the beginning of summer, when all the leaves turn yellow and dry, and the tubers remain bare, they are rarely watered.
Before the appearance of buds, the plants are sprayed from time to time. With the advent of buds, spraying of cyclamen should be stopped, otherwise they may rot. To increase humidity, the plant can be placed on a pallet with wet moss, expanded clay or pebbles. In this case, the bottom of the pot should not touch the water. Water is better to use rain, filtered or settled.
Cyclamen. © liz west top dressing
During the period of growth of the leaf mass before flowering, the plants are fed every 2 weeks with a complete mineral fertilizer. Cyclamens respond well to organic fertilizers. You can not give a lot of nitrogen fertilizers - tuberous roots can rot.
Caring for a flowerpot at rest
Cyclamen bloom lasts quite a long time. Depending on the variety and room conditions, it can begin in the second half of October and last until the end of March. In the spring, at the end of flowering, the plants go into a dormant state (they begin to lose leaves). In this regard, watering is gradually reduced, and by the beginning of summer, when all the leaves turn yellow and dry, and the tubers remain bare, watering is rarely done at all.
The room where the plants are located is regularly ventilated. It is even better to take pots with tubers for this time into the garden or onto the balcony in a place protected from the sun. After a dormant period (end of summer - beginning of autumn), cyclamen is placed in a bright, cool place and watering is gradually increased.
Another option for preserving the tuber until the new winter season is as follows. After the end of flowering, watering is significantly reduced. Then, after the leaves fall, the cyclamen pot is laid on its side and stored in this position until the next season.
Cyclamen grows for 10-15 years and can produce up to 70 flowers annually. Faded and withered flowers are removed along with the pedicel. As the flowers fade and the leaves turn yellow, they are pinched off (but not cut off) at the tuber itself. Places of rupture should be well sprinkled with charcoal powder.
Cut (pulled out) cyclamen flowers stand well in water (1-2 weeks). The water in the vase needs to be changed every 2-3 days. After the cut, the ends of the peduncles are cut lengthwise for 2-3 days. This lengthens the standing time in the cut to 2-3 weeks.
Transfer
At the end of summer and autumn, when small heart-shaped leaves begin to sprout from the cyclamen tuber, the plants are brought into the room and transplanted into a wide dish with a fresh loose mixture of leafy soil, humus, peat and sand (2-3: 1: 1: 1).
The substrate may consist of 2 parts of leaf, 1 part of well-decomposed humus soil and 0.5 part of sand. The acidity of the substrate (pH) should be around 5.5-6. At a higher pH (about 7), plants become susceptible to various fungal diseases.
In the process of transplanting cyclamen, care is taken not to damage the roots, and rotten roots are cut out. For 1 kg of substrate, you can add 0.4 g of ammonium nitrate, 1 g of superphosphate, 4 g of phosphate rock.
Please note that when transplanting, the tuber cannot be completely buried. One third or even half of the tuber should be above the soil surface, which will favorably affect the further flowering of the plant. The bottom of the pot provides good drainage.
Cyclamen. © Andrea_44 Reproduction of cyclamen
Propagating cyclamen at home is quite difficult. Fans usually resort to dividing the tuber. You can also grow it from seeds, but flowering will take longer.
To obtain good full-fledged cyclamen seeds at home, artificial (preferably cross) pollination is necessary. With a soft brush, take pollen from the flower of one plant and transfer it to the stigma of the pistil of another. If there is one plant, then pollen from one flower is transferred to the stigma of another. This procedure is repeated 2-3 times for greater reliability.
The best time for pollination of cyclamen is the morning hours of a clear sunny day, since in this case ovaries form faster. At this time, it would be good to feed the plants with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (1 g of superphosphate and 0.5 g of potassium sulfate per 1 liter of water). Seeds should not be dried after harvest, otherwise the germination rate will be greatly reduced.
Cyclamen seeds are often on sale, but they are much less reliable than their own. Their germination strongly depends not so much on the manufacturer, but on the batch of seeds.
The optimal time for sowing Persian cyclamen seeds is August, as it has a dormant period in summer.
Before sowing, cyclamen seeds can be poured with a 5% sugar solution and only those that have sunk to the bottom can be taken (those that have surfaced are not suitable). Also, the seeds are soaked for a day in a solution of zircon.
The substrate is light, for example, leaf soil and peat are mixed in a ratio of 1: 1, or peat and vermiculite (1: 1).
Cyclamen seeds are laid out on the surface of a moistened substrate and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth (0.5 - 1 cm). Seeds do not need light to germinate, so they can be covered with an opaque film. The optimum temperature for germination is +20°C, if it is higher, then germination is inhibited and the seeds may go into hibernation. It is also impossible to lower the temperature below + 18 ° C, since the seeds will simply rot at this temperature. It is necessary to monitor the moisture content of the soil and periodically ventilate the seed container.
Usually at a temperature of +20°C, shoots of cyclamen appear in 30-40 days. After the seedlings germinate, they remove the shading, place them in a well-lit place, without direct sunlight, and lower the temperature to + 15-17 ° C.
When cyclamen seedlings form small nodules with two or three leaves (approximately in December), they dive into a container with a mixture of leafy soil, peat and sand (2: 1: 0.5). When picking, the nodules are covered with earth, while in an adult cyclamen, the top of the tuber is usually not covered.
A week after picking, they can be fed with flower fertilizers in a half-diluted dose. You can feed with 0.2% (2 g / l) ammonium sulfate solution, and after another 10 days - 0.1% (1 g / l) potassium nitrate. In April-May, they are transplanted into individual pots.
Cyclamens grown from seeds bloom 13-15 months after sowing.
Cyclamen. © Lisa Cancade Hackett Diseases and pests of cyclamen
Fusarium wilt
Fusarium is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Fusarium; under its influence, the vascular system and tissues of the plant are affected. The disease has several names: "shrinkage", "core rot", "dry rot".
With Fusarium wilt, lesions and death of plants occur due to a sharp violation of vital functions due to blockage of vessels by the mycelium of the fungus and the release of toxic substances by it. Pathogens persist for a long time in the soil and on plant debris, enter plants through the root system and the lower part of the stem.
Symptoms: outwardly, the disease manifests itself in yellowing of the leaves, which begins with the tops. Often the yellowing and wilting of the leaves occurs on one side of the plant. The second side of cyclamen may continue to grow, but it is difficult to wait for good flowering from such a plant. The fungus enters the plant through young roots and spreads through the tuber. Affected tissues are destroyed; the general appearance of the plant deteriorates. On the section of the tuber, the affected vascular bundles are visible.
Control measures: watering plants under the root with foundationazole (0.1%), spraying the above-ground mass with topsin-M (0.1%).
wet rot
This is a very dangerous bacterial disease. Caused by the pathogen Erwinia.
Symptoms: the disease begins with the fact that the plant suddenly withers, the leaves and peduncles hang from the pot, an unpleasant putrefactive odor appears from the infected tuber. Cyclamen roots also begin to rot. The bacterium enters the plant through cracks and wounds on the tuber or vegetative organs. Often, cyclamen infection occurs in places where leaves or peduncles are torn off. The source of infection is contaminated water or a diseased plant. The appearance of the disease is facilitated by warm and humid weather in summer when cyclamens are kept in the garden, on the balcony, on the loggia.
Control measures: does not exist, cyclamen must be destroyed in order to prevent disease of other plants.
Gray rot
The fungus Botrytis cinerea infects plants that are weakened due to poor location, it is especially dangerous in damp and cold air. The spores of the fungus are spread by wind and water. Infection occurs at high humidity, high density of cyclamens and cold night content. Improper watering contributes to the development of this disease in a plant, water entering the “growth point” of leaves and buds.
Symptoms: gray mold appears on the leaves and stems of cyclamen, which takes off with strong air movement; the affected parts of the plant darken and die. Flower stalks are especially susceptible to this disease. Cyclamen leaves turn yellow and die.
Control measures: Carefully remove the affected parts of the plant. Ventilate the room, but avoid drafts. Spray cyclamen less often, water less (better - in the morning, so that the soil has time to dry out during the day). The diseased plant is treated with a systemic fungicide.
root rot
Root rots are caused by various fungi (Rhizoctonia solani, Ramularia cyclaminicola); pathogens live in the soil. The disease occurs when cyclamen is planted in ordinary garden soil that has not been steamed. The disease often attacks young cyclamens, slowing down their growth.
Symptoms: dark non-viable areas appear on the roots of young and adult cyclamen. Symptoms appear on the leaves as if they lack chlorophyll: the leaves turn pale, as they lack nutrition due to damaged roots.
Control measures: Use only sterilized soil for planting cyclamen. If cyclamen is sick, try shedding the ground with a systemic fungicide. But this measure is not always effective; most likely, it will not be possible to save a young cyclamen. You may have to separate from your pet. You can try to save an adult cyclamen. It must be removed from the pot, washed and the damaged roots removed, then treated with a fungicide and planted in a steamed earthen mixture.
Anthracnose
Caused by a fungus of the genus Gloeosporium. This is a soil fungus that harms cyclamens during flowering. The disease develops in warm and humid conditions.
Symptoms: the growth zone of leaves and peduncles is affected. The disease may go unnoticed for some time until cyclamen releases flower stalks. Affected peduncles stop developing, look distorted, the upper part of the peduncles seems to dry out. Flowering does not occur, as flower stalks do not develop. From contact with infected peduncles, infection of the leaves occurs. Young leaves dry up and curl around the edges, old leaves dry up and die.
Control measures: use steamed earth to prevent disease. When symptoms appear, try to keep the humidity levels relatively low. Remove damaged flower stalks and leaves. Treat the diseased plant with fungicides 2-3 times.
sooty fungus
Symptoms: black fungus appears on the sweetish secretions that the aphid leaves on the leaves. An ugly-looking fungus plaque in itself is not dangerous for the plant, but it clogs the stomata and closes the surface of the leaf from light, as a result of which growth slows down and the plant weakens. Affected leaves dry out over time if the necessary measures are not taken.
Control measures: soot deposits are washed off with a wet cloth moistened with a 2% solution of green soap, followed by treatment with a copper-soap solution, then the plant is washed with clean warm water. You can treat cyclamen with a fungicide.
Despite the fact that cyclamen is a lover of moist air, it is absolutely not necessary to fill it with water and grow it in a swamp. It is impossible to clearly say how often to water cyclamen, but a fairly reliable way to check this is to simply test the soil with your fingers, or rather stick your finger into the ground. If the soil has not yet dried out to the length of one finger, there is no need to water the flowerpot. If the finger is completely dry, then you can safely water. Specifically, there is no way to say how often to water cyclamen, or how many times to water cyclamen per week, you just need to observe the plant and check the condition of the soil.
How to water a cyclamen flower
It will not be superfluous to understand in general how to properly water cyclamen, as well as how to water a cyclamen flower without exposing it to the risk of disease. You should never water the plant itself, leaves, stems, tubers. In such cases, gray rot disease or other fungal diseases may develop, which most often cause the death of the plant.
How to water cyclamen in a pot
Considering that in most cases cyclamen grows in pots at home, it is advisable to tell you how to water cyclamen in a pot so as not to harm the plant and not cause unnecessary trouble to yourself. To do this, the pot must be placed in a large container of water for 15 minutes. After that, take it out, allow excess water to drain and put it back in the pots. So it is guaranteed that water will not get on the plant itself, and the earth will be saturated with moisture in sufficient quantities.
If watering is still carried out in the standard way, then it is worth pouring water under the walls of the pot.
How to water cyclamen during flowering
It is very important to carry out the correct watering of the plant during the period when it is covered with flowers, during the flowering period. So that it lasts as long as possible, and the flowers do not fall off, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the soil, do not let it dry out and do not remain too moist. In order to ensure that water does not fall on the leaves and flowers in any case, it is recommended to use a small funnel, the spout of which must be attached to the wall and simply run along the entire length of the pot wall, slowly pouring water. Drain excess water from the pan after an hour - that is how much time the plant and soil need to get enough water for themselves.
How to water Persian cyclamen
There are no special recommendations on how to water. It is also important to check the condition of the soil and water only when the top layer dries out. Excessive soil moisture can lead to rotting of leaves and tubers, and too dry soil increases the risk of plant infestation by mites. Water for irrigation should be chosen at room temperature.
How to water cyclamen in winter
Recommendations on how to water cyclamen in winter are the same as for watering it during the flowering period, because winter is the flowering period for it. It is important to pay attention to the temperature of the water - too cold and at not too high air temperature, it can lead to deformation of flowers and disease of the plant.
About how often to water cyclamen in winter, you just need to focus on the condition of the topsoil.
How often to water cyclamen in summer
Many people think that in summer cyclamen does not need to be watered in principle, since it is in a dormant period, does not grow and does not seem to require moisture. The statement is completely false. Watering is necessary, it is only important to know how often to water cyclamen in summer. So that the tubers do not crack and, moreover, do not die, you need to water the plant no more than 1 time every 2 weeks. Water for irrigation is chosen warm, may be enriched with phytohormones.
They react so badly to excess moisture because their tuber is prone to rotting. Waterlogged soil combined with low temperatures leads to the development of deformed flowers. It is best to water this plant 1-2 times a week, while water should be poured into the pot pan, and not on the roots. The root of cyclamen has the appearance of a tuber and is arranged in such a way that water easily accumulates in its center, where flowers and leaves emerge from the cavity. Water lingering there will provoke tuber rot and cyclamen diseases. When planting or buying a whole plant in a pot, you need to check - the tuber should rise about 1 cm above the ground. If the purchased flower does not meet these conditions, you need to urgently transplant it according to all the rules.
The first sign of a fungal disease that is caused by waterlogging is leaves that turn yellow out of season. They should be immediately removed in a special way - taking the base, unscrewing it from the tuber with little or no effort. In no case should the affected leaves be pulled out or cut off - the leaf will not be completely removed in this way, and the remaining fragments will serve as an even greater source of infection. After all the leaves are twisted, the plant must be transferred to a drier mode. Check the soil moisture of cyclamen and its need for watering in several ways. The easiest option is to press the soil with your finger so that the finger sinks about 1-1.5 cm. If at the same time the soil at this depth is moist enough and sticks to the finger, the plant does not need watering yet. The second way is to check the pot for weight after watering and in a dry state. After several weeks of training, by lifting the pot, you can immediately tell whether you should water the cyclamen now or postpone it for two days.
The need for cyclamen in water directly depends on the temperature of the room and on the lighting in the room. As a rule, the warmer and lighter, the more the plant needs water, as it develops more actively in favorable conditions. The age of cyclamen also plays an important role. Young plants do not have a highly developed root system, so they need frequent, regular, but not very plentiful watering. A plant that is 3 years old or more has a good root system and prefers rare but plentiful watering. If the roots of cyclamen have filled the entire pot, such a plant should be watered more abundantly than one that still has a lot of room for the growth of the root system. Plants in clay pots are twice as likely to be watered compared to plastic pots. Burnt clay absorbs a lot of moisture from the soil and evaporates it through the walls of the vessel. After watering, the water in the pan should not remain longer than half an hour. This time is enough for the entire substrate to be soaked, after which all the remaining water from the pan is poured out.
