Cyclamen is a plant that belongs to the Primulaceae family known since ancient times. The most famous variety is the Persian cyclamen, native to the Eastern Mediterranean. We can grow cyclamen in pots or in the garden.
Il cyclamen it is a plant that belongs to the Primulaceae family known since ancient times. The most famous variety is the cyclamen of Persia, originally from the Eastern Mediterranean. We can cultivate cyclamen in pots or in the garden.
Cyclamen are grown as ornamental plants because of the pleasant color of their flowers. The most common variety of cyclamen in gardening is Cyclamen persicum, native to Asia Minor.
It is easy to recognize cyclamen by their heart-shaped leaves with an intense green color and by the pinkish flowers. Cyclamen flowers are usually white, pink, red or purple. You can choose them according to your decorative preferences.
Read also: 10 PLANTS THAT BLOOM IN WINTER
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Grow cyclamen in pots or in the garden
You grow cyclamen both in pots and in the garden depending on the space you have at your disposal. There pot cultivation it is convenient because it allows you to have beautiful cyclamen sheltered at home even in winter when the climate is cold, but if you live in a mild area, the cultivation of cyclamen should not give you problems outdoors and in the garden. You can create a flower bed in the garden suitable for cyclamen or choose pots to grow them indoors or outdoors.
How and when to sow cyclamen
Sow cyclamen between July, August and September in a wooden box with humus-rich soil. Then you can transfer your plants in pots or in the garden. When the seedlings have at least two leaves, you can thin them out and transplant them gently to distribute them in the best place. For sowing you can choose a jar or a box to fill with earth and sand which you can then transfer into the garden or into a larger pot.
Germination times and conditions
The germination of cyclamen seeds preferably takes place in the dark in a place that is as cool as possible and sheltered from drafts. You can prepare a box with soil to sow the cyclamen and leave it sheltered during 15-20 days of germination and in the following weeks until the seedlings have strengthened.
Climate and exposure for cyclamen
Cyclamen is a predominantly winter flowering plant that does not like sun exposure and prefers shade. So with regards to garden cultivation, we advise you to plant cyclamen in the shade of the trees. Cyclamen grow very well under pine trees. For pot-grown cyclamen, remember to place them in the shady part of your balcony. The ideal climate for cyclamen is cold with temperatures between 6 and 18 ° C. They tolerate temperatures close to freezing better than heat. For this reason, you may have seen cyclamen spontaneously growing in mountain meadows and woods.
Type of soil for cyclamen
For cyclamen choose a acidic and humus-rich soil. Soil for acidophilic plants is found in nurseries. To improve the acidity of the soil, natural remedies such as fertilization with coffee grounds can be used. Furthermore, since cyclamen prefer a soil rich in humus, you can enrich it with homemade compost.
When to water cyclamen
Cyclamen water above all during flowering every two or three days. This indication applies to both pot-grown cyclamen and garden-grown cyclamen. When the plants are at rest, the waterings can be reduced. The soil of cyclamen must never be too wet otherwise the roots would rot. Always remember to empty the saucers.
Flowering of cyclamen
The flowering of cyclamen occurs during the coldest period of the year, from September to March and the plants go to rest in the hot months of summer. Cyclamen can bloom again for many seasons in a row and when planted in the garden, in the shade, they don't need much care.
When to prune cyclamen
Cyclamen flowers dry out at the end of flowering. You can gently remove the dry parts of your cyclamen before leaving the plants to rest in the summer. You will see that they will recover as best they can when autumn and winter approach. Or you can keep the tubers in the dark to replant the following season (between August and September).
Pests of cyclamen
The most common pests for cyclamen are fungi that can affect the leaves and roots. In the case of the appearance of white spots on the leaves of cyclamen we speak of 'bad white'. You can buy a specific product in nurseries and gardening shops or resort to natural remedies, always following the advice of an expert, who for example could suggest you to resort to the decoction or horsetail macerate, also useful for fighting aphids.
Cyclamen, meaning of flowers
The meaning of the cyclamen is a flower lucky charm, did you know? Giving a cyclamen as a gift is considered a good omen for those who receive it. It is considered a real amulet to give to those who are going through a difficult period or for the birth of a baby, as a sign of a life to be faced entirely positively.
Marta Albè
