Cyclamen - when it blooms, what it looks like
Content:
Correct and timely care of cyclamen plays a decisive role in its long-term cultivation year after year. Flowers have rich colors and are popular everywhere. Many growers ask themselves the question: 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, what family does it belong to?
Cyclamen (alpine violet) is one of the most beautiful varieties of home flowers. He has rightfully earned a place of honor in the collections of more than one generation of amateur flower growers.
Cyclamen appearance
The people note its medicinal properties - the root is an excellent remedy for the treatment of sinusitis. Usually, cyclamen color is understood as shades of pink and lilac gamut.
Short description, history of origin
One of the most sought-after winter indoor plants is the red, pink, or white cyclamen. Today there are many shades of the palette of this houseplant. After the New Year holidays, when the violet and the Christmas tree are in great demand, cyclamen are increasingly being looked for as a memento in flower shops.
This perennial tuberous plant belongs to the primroses family. According to old beliefs, the meaning of cyclamen is as follows: it is believed that a flower brings happiness and love to a family, protects it from trouble, and helps to settle conflicts.
The following hybrid varieties are mainly used:
- Cyclamen Persian. Spherical root, 150 mm in diameter. The leaves are heart-shaped, green with a marbled white and silver pattern. The hybrid is white, red and purple. Blooms from autumn to early spring.
- Caucasian view. An interesting feature is the appearance of leaves in the fall, their wintering under the snow cover. Blooms in late autumn. It has small flowers of different shades. The presence of dark spots at the base of the stem is characteristic. Low-growing variety - no more than 100 mm.
- European look. Indoor flower tuber has an irregular shape. The leaves are heart-shaped, small, covered with a silver pattern. Blooms from spring to autumn.
Features of flowering cyclamen
Cyclamen color is characterized by tenderness, restraint, elegance. The flowers of this small houseplant blend harmoniously 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 home plant is capricious, reacts sharply to the slightest changes in conditions of detention.
The state of the plant in the resting phase
A period of activity and rest
Maximum attention should be paid to the plant mainly in the first months of autumn when the cyclamen blooms. He is especially loved due to the fact that he pleases with his long flowering in winter. With the onset of spring, it stops growing. The flower is losing its leaves. Many gardeners make the mistake of throwing out the plant after this, believing that it has dried up. In fact, the plant goes into a dormant phase.
Types and shape of flowers
Not sure what a cyclamen looks like? The plant blooms with elegant flowers that can be in a wide variety of 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 adorned with specific heart-shaped leaves, and they can often 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 opening buds
The appearance of cyclamen is familiar to every experienced florist. Differs in a peculiar structure - the buds are tilted down, and the petals are turned to the top. All flowers have both pistils and stamens.
Flower care during flowering
The optimum temperature for long-term flowering is 10-16 ℃ above freezing. It is necessary to regularly water the plant with small portions of water, that is, the soil should be kept slightly moist. The best watering method is to immerse the pot in a large container of water and remove after 10 minutes.
Cyclamen flowering phase illustration
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, the cyclamen is asleep. With proper care of the cyclamen after flowering, it is necessary to competently help the plant with the least loss to survive the dormancy. After a few months, the plant will start to please the eye again.
Cyclamen has faded what to do next at home every florist knows. It is worth stopping watering the plant and letting the leaves fall. Place the plant in a cool and slightly dark place. Remove dead foliage that the plant will discard on your own. The resting phase lasts two months. Cyclamen care 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 are visible, it is worth putting the pots with cyclamens into the light and starting to water again. Active leaf growth may appear (this is normal). Excess water from the sump after watering should be removed immediately. After a dormant period, it is important to check the rhizome, whether it has grown too much. If the indoor flower does not fit in the pot, it is worth picking up a more spacious one and replanting the plant. The number of transplants should be minimal.
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 above +20 ℃ during the day and +10 ℃ at night, the plant most likely will not bloom and even soon will simply cease to exist. Too high an air temperature will cause the flower to turn yellow and the petals to fade. The flower will look unsightly.
What diseases and pests can interfere with flowering
Cyclamen is a graceful bulbous perennial. The flower is relatively small in size, with an interesting pattern on wide leaves and bright flowers. But, in fact, cyclamen is susceptible to all kinds of diseases and attacks of pests, including: bacteria, viruses and other parasites. The main reason is that novice growers do not properly care for a delicate and sensitive plant.
At-home care for cyclamens after flowering includes flower rehabilitation due to:
- too dry or hot air;
- too wet soil in the pot;
- improperly selected soil.
When the 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. Unpleasant odor and foliage damage may also occur. Infection routes:
- from diseased plants;
- with dirty water.
Cyclamen blooms poorly when mites are parasitized. It will be difficult to kill these parasites, because they adapt well to new drugs that are used to treat the flower.
Pests are a serious danger to plants
After the flower fades, it is important to inspect it periodically. This will help to identify problems in a timely manner and provide 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 choosing plants, you should pay attention to the elasticity of the leaves and the smoothness of the surface of the tubers. It is better to start the plant at the initial stage of flowering - in the fall. Specimens with undigested kidneys are preferred.
Growing cyclamen is troublesome, but exciting. The color of the plant is unique and always pleases the eye with an unusual and sophisticated look.
