Cyclamen is a flower of the primrose family of the Mirsin family. Other names: dryak, alpine violet. There are many subspecies of this plant, which, depending on their characteristics, grow in different regions of the world, differing from each other in climate, soil composition and other features. Cyclamen is a perennial plant that allows you to grow it at home. Reproduction of some species of this flower is done by planting seeds.
Where can I get seeds?
Currently, a wide range of cyclamen seeds are available in flower markets and shops. They are supplied in paper packaging with an inner protective coating that prevents the negative effects of humidity and temperature.
The packaging must contain information about the manufacturer, the name of the flower variety, and a graphic color photograph of the flowering cyclamen. From this information, you can determine the quality of the product and the variety of the plant.
It is allowed to obtain seeds at home. To do this, you must have an adult plant available. During its flowering period, pollination of flowers should be carried out. In some cases, flying insects feeding on pollen can do this. If there are no such insects in the room, and there is no way to take the pot with the plant outside, you can pollinate yourself.
The transfer of pollen is carried out on blossoming flowers as follows: for several weeks, shake each flower until the pollen in its interior rises into the air. When it settles, some of it will fall on neighboring flowers.
For pollination, a mechanical transport method can be used. You need to take a small brush or cotton swab and hold it over the location of the flower pollen. Then make similar manipulations with the neighboring flower. Continue until the pollen from all the flowers is mixed.
After manual pollination, wait for the end of the flowering period and collect the formed seed pods. They can have a shade from dark brown to brown-orange, look like small deflated balls that have lost their shape. The seeds are contained in a bud formation, similar to a round container that appears in place of a flower. Using seeds is one of the most effective ways to propagate a given plant.
In order to grow cyclamen from seeds obtained at home, it is necessary to observe the planting dates. It is believed that the best time to plant cyclamen is from the end of winter to the first half of spring. Therefore, after the end of the flowering period, it will be possible to plant seeds in February.
If the flower is planted in a pot that remains indoors, then theoretically the timing of planting can be neglected. However, cyclamen is a specific plant, and the time of seed germination, as well as their survival in general, can depend on any factor. With this in mind, experts advise planting seeds at a specified time.
Preparation of soil and materials
To achieve the best result in growing home cyclamens, it is worth germinating the seeds in advance. This process will prepare the seed for planting in the main container.
When germinating, you can take a plastic container with low sides and a lid. Pour a thin layer of soil onto the bottom of the container. Place seeds in it. The density of their placement does not really matter, but it is better that the distance between the seeds is about 1 cm. The soil in the container must be constantly moistened.
In order not to exceed the humidity level, and to irrigate as evenly as possible, you can use a manual spray gun set to the maximum spray mode.
Cover the container with a lid to prevent excessive evaporation of liquid from the container during soaking. The lid should not be too tight. Seeds require fresh oxygen and some ventilation to keep mold from forming.
It is important to observe the temperature regime. With temperature indicators that do not fall below +20 degrees, seeds can germinate in 30-40 days. Excessive temperature can lead to the start of anabiosis process inside the seeds. The same is true at low temperatures. Damage to seed material in the form of drying or decay is not excluded.
While the seeds are germinating, you can start preparing the soil. The flower shops sell different types of potting soil to suit different plants. Cyclamens are no exception, as they are quite demanding on the composition of the soil in which they will grow. If it is not possible to purchase it at a specialized institution, you can prepare the mixture yourself.
To prepare soil for cyclamens you will need:
- leafy ground - humus of woody leaves;
- peat or peaty soil;
- sand is not river, without clay admixtures.
The last ingredient can be washed and cleaned of unnecessary inclusions of silt and clay components. Sand acts as a thinner and prevents the soil from caking, which could prevent oxygen from entering it.
All components of the mixture, including any fertilizers, should be mixed in moderate proportions. Excessive amounts of one or another constituent element can damage the structure of the seeds and reduce the chances of germination.
The prepared soil should not contain components that continue to support the decay process. As part of this process, heat is generated inside the soil, and the seeds can "burn".
A container for disembarkation is prepared in advance. The germinated seeds are placed in a box where they undergo an initial ripening period. The final planting is done in pots with sufficient internal volume and diameter, which will allow the future tuber to develop in spacious conditions.
Following the step-by-step seed planting guide will provide the best result, expressed in the fastest germination and full formation of the root and deciduous-stem systems of the flower.
Before planting, you need to carefully check the seeds for suitability for further use. Pay attention to the remnants of the seed cover, which sometimes prevents the free development of new leaves. In some cases, it may be appropriate to remove the remaining portions of the seed coat yourself. This manipulation can significantly accelerate the further growth of the seedling, but you should be careful - young shoots are extremely fragile.
In order to safely remove old seed skins, cover each sprout with a cotton swab dipped in water. After a few minutes, the peel will become soft and peel off effortlessly.
A layer of expanded clay or small pebbles is laid out at the bottom of the pot. Layer thickness 2-3 cm. In the absence of these materials, you can use clean sand. This is necessary to ensure good water permeability, which prevents siltation of the soil, and the creation of an air cushion, since the cyclamen needs a sufficient amount of oxygen.
Next, the soil is poured, prepared in advance. At the preparation stage, it is important to exclude the ingress of seeds of other plants into this soil, as well as larvae of pests that can spoil the undeveloped tuber of the flower.
The height of the soil layer should not reach the top edge of the pot by 2-3 cm. The distance remaining to the top is needed to locate a sprout in it, which is placed in the center of the pot and sprinkled with earth.
It is necessary to lay the ground around the stalk in such a way that some of its trunk and the forming leaves remain above the ground . The space left to the top of the pot is needed to create a greenhouse effect.
This effect is achieved by covering the pot with plastic. This is done until the height of the flower exceeds the level of the side. When the plant grows more and more, it starts to rest against the film, that should be removed.
The foil blanket is not always used . Periodically, it must be removed so that the plant can "breathe" and not burn out in an impromptu greenhouse. At the moment of opening, the pot is installed on the window, where the indirect rays of the sun can feed the young cyclamen and start the necessary processes in it.
During this period, the flower sprout needs constant attention, which is expressed in regular moderate watering, airing, loosening the soil, and so on.
Cyclamen is a flower that requires special care. From the very first days of the sprout's set, it needs attention throughout the rest of the time. This flower should not be left unattended for a long time. This can lead to the cessation of flowering, a state of suspended animation or the complete death of the plant.
As part of the care of the cyclamen, several mandatory procedures can be noted that should be carried out regularly.
- Providing a drainage system. Cyclamen does not tolerate liquid stagnation in the soil. To satisfy its need for moisture, but not to ruin it with excessive amounts of water, you can periodically pierce the soil with a thin knitting needle. The punctures should be at a sufficient distance from the root system of the flower so as not to damage it.
If the primary sprout was planted in a temporary container, then as it grows, it must be transplanted into a more suitable container. This will enable the flower to form a root tuber and start metabolic processes in full force.
- Every six months, the flower needs to be fed with special mixtures, which can be made independently from organic humus or purchased in a specialized store. If a store-bought fertilizer is used, care should be taken when adding it to the soil. Excessive concentration can lead to the death of the flower, so the fertilizer should be diluted in half proportions, regardless of what is indicated in the instructions on the package.
Special attention is paid to the plant when it blooms. Flowers take up a large percentage of nutrients, so you need to take care of cyclamen even harder.
- It is important to pay attention to the presence of light. Flowers absorb this resource in large quantities. Given this fact, you can install a flower for a short time in direct sunlight. At the same time, monitor the level of soil moisture and the condition of the leaves.
Under the influence of direct sunlight, moisture evaporates intensively through the pores in the leaf cover of the plant. Lack of control of this process can lead to the fact that the flower cannot keep up with the need for liquid from all leaves.
Given the properties of cyclamen, one should expect some problems in its development. In some cases, the plant does not bloom for a long time, despite the fact that the flowering time has already come. In other cases, after a dive and attempts at reproduction, the seedling dies.
The reasons for these problems can be attributed to several factors. Perhaps the soil lacks minerals necessary for successful flowering, or, conversely, the permissible amount of trace elements is exceeded. To solve this problem, you can experiment with the level of fertilizer added to the pot. Depending on the reaction of the plant, conclusions can be drawn about how to further care for it.
In addition, a pest can settle in the soil, which feeds on tuberous tissues or plant sap. In this case, it is worth completely changing the composition of the soil. For this, it is better to use store-bought mixtures, since they undergo bioprocessing, which excludes the presence of living organisms in the earth.
If everything is done correctly and consistently, you can grow a cyclamen at home, which will delight the eye for many years.
You will learn more about growing cyclamen from seeds in the following video.