Proper and timely care of cyclamen plays a decisive role for its continuous cultivation year after year. Flowers have rich colors and are popular everywhere. Many gardeners are wondering: how to care for cyclamen? It is worth considering the features of caring for this plant at home.
Cyclamen - what kind of flower is it, to which family belongs
Cyclamen (alpine violet) is one of the most beautiful varieties of home flowers. He rightfully earned a place of honor in the collections of more than one generation of amateur gardeners.
The appearance of cyclamen
The people note its medicinal properties - the root is an excellent tool for the treatment of sinusitis. Usually, cyclamen color refers to shades of pink and lilac colors.
Brief Description, Origin History
One of the most sought after winter indoor plants is cyclamen red, pink or white. Today, there are a lot of shades of the palette of this houseplant. After the New Year holidays, when the violet and the Christmas tree are in great demand, cyclamens are increasingly beginning to look for as a memorable gift in flower shops.
This perennial tuberous plant belongs to the family of Primrose. According to old beliefs, the meaning of cyclamen is this: it is believed that the flower brings happiness and love to the family, protects it from harm, helps to resolve conflicts.
Such hybrid varieties are mainly used:
- Cyclamen Persian. The root is spherical, with a diameter of 150 mm. Heart-shaped leaves, green with a marbled white and silver pattern. The hybrid has a white, red and purple color. It blooms from autumn to early spring.
- Caucasian look. An interesting feature is the appearance of leaves in the fall, their wintering under snow cover. Blooms in late autumn. Has small flowers of different shades. The presence of dark spots at the base of the stem is characteristic. Low grade - not higher than 100 mm.
- European look. The tuber of an indoor flower has an irregular shape. The leaves are heart-shaped, small, covered with a silver pattern. It blooms from spring to autumn.
Features of flowering cyclamen
The cyclamen color is characterized by tenderness, restraint, elegance. The flowers of this small houseplant harmoniously fit into any modern interior. You can recognize them instantly by the original structure of the flower.
When and how many times a year
At the end of winter, when most flowers are already resting, cyclamen continues to delight the eye. With good care, flowering lasts a long time - from September to March. The domestic plant is capricious, reacts sharply to the slightest changes in the conditions of detention.
The state of the plant at rest
Period of activity and rest
Maximum attention should be paid to the plant mainly in the first months of autumn when cyclamen blooms. He is especially loved because he pleases with his long flowering in winter. With the onset of spring, it ceases to grow. The flower is losing leaves. Many gardeners make the mistake of throwing away a plant after this, believing that it has dried up. In fact, the plant falls into a dormant phase.
Types and shape of flowers
Don't know what cyclamen looks like? The plant blooms with elegant flowers, which can be of various shades: from white, pink, red, purple to two-tone combinations. The edges of the petals, depending on the type, can be straight or curly. The plant is also decorated with specific heart-shaped leaves, and often they can be trimmed with silver or gold lace. This combination of leaves and buds is optimal, which makes the plant look neat and attractive.
Features of the disclosure of buds
The appearance of cyclamen is familiar to every experienced grower. It features a peculiar structure - the buds are tilted down, and the petals are turned to the top. All flowers have both pistils and stamens.
Blooming flower care
The optimum temperature for prolonged flowering is 10-16 ℃ above zero. It is necessary to regularly water the plant with small portions of water, that is, the soil should be kept slightly moist. The best method of watering is to immerse the pot in a large container with water, and after 10 minutes remove it.
Cyclamen flowering phase illustration
Additional Information! The easiest option for reproduction is to select a daughter tuber and root it yourself. All other methods of reproduction, for example, by seed, are not so effective.
What to do with cyclamen after flowering at home
After flowering, it goes into a dormant state. This gives the impression that the plant is dying, because the leaves turn yellow and fall off. But, in fact, cyclamen is sleeping. With proper care of cyclamen after flowering, it is necessary to competently help the plant survive with rest with the least losses. After a few months, the plant will again begin to please the eye.
Each cyclist knows what to do next at home. It is worth stopping watering the plant and let the leaves fall. You need to place the plant in a cool and slightly dark place. Independently remove dead foliage that the plant will dump. The resting phase lasts two months. Caring for cyclamen after flowering is simple. The most important thing is to ensure aeration of the root system and timely watering.
As soon as the first signs of a flower come to life, you should put the pots with cyclamens in the light and start watering again. Active leaf growth may occur (this is normal). Excess water from the pan after watering should be removed immediately. After a period of rest, it is important to check the rhizome if it has grown too much. If the indoor flower does not fit in the pot, it is worth choosing a more spacious one and replanting the plant. The number of transplants should be minimal.
It's important to know! As soon as the leaves begin to grow, you must immediately resume normal care for cyclamen.
Why cyclamen does not bloom, reasons and what to do
Caring for this plant begins with maintaining the correct temperature. In nature, cyclamen grows in cold and humid conditions. If the temperature in the room is higher than +20 ℃ during the day and +10 ℃ at night, the plant most likely will not bloom and even soon simply cease to exist. Too high air temperature will cause the flower to turn yellow, and the petals will fade. The flower will look unsightly.
What diseases and pests can interfere with flowering
Cyclamen is an elegant bulbous perennial. The flower is relatively small in size, with an interesting pattern on wide leaves and bright colors. But, in fact, cyclamen is susceptible to all kinds of diseases and pest attacks, including bacteria, viruses and other parasites. The main reason is that beginning flower growers do not properly care for a delicate and sensitive plant.
At home, care for cyclamens after flowering includes flower rehabilitation for the reason:
- too dry or hot air;
- too moist soil in the pot;
- improperly selected soil.
When cyclamen changes color, it is worth examining the root system on which rot can form due to the activation of the pathogenic bacteria of Erwinia. An unpleasant odor and damage to the foliage may also occur. Ways of infection:
- from diseased plants;
- with dirty water.
Cyclamen blooms poorly when the tick is parasitized. It will be difficult to destroy these parasites, because they adapt well to new drugs that process the flower.
Pests - a serious danger to plants
After the flower fades, it is important to periodically inspect it. This will help to identify problems in a timely manner and ensure proper care. This is the main, but not the only factor affecting the health of the flower.
When buying tubers, it is advisable to rely on the age of the plants. A healthy tuber is elastic, hard, heavy, with buds on top. When selecting plants, it is worth paying attention to the elasticity of the leaves and the smoothness of the surface of the tubers. It is better to start a plant at the initial stage of flowering - in the fall. Non-digested kidneys are preferred.
Growing cyclamen is a troublesome, but exciting business. The color of the plant is unique and always pleases the eye with an unusual and sophisticated look.
