Cyclamen is also called dry violet or alpine violet. This is widespread herbaceous plant, belonging to the Mirsinov family, can be found naturally in Central Europe, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. Cultivated plants have a unique decorative appearance.

They have dark green basal leaves with silver or gray patterns. The flowers are located on tall peduncles and bloom mainly in winter, and some species in spring.

If you want to buy cyclamen for yourself or as a gift in a store, then it is important to pay attention to the following points when choosing a plant in a store:

The plant must have a dense bush,
The tuber should be visible on the soil surface,
The foliage should be elastic and bright, with clear patterns on the surface.

The genus Cyclamens includes about 50 plant species. Some of them are grown at home, some in the garden. The most popular varieties are:

Persian cyclamen. It reaches a height of 30 centimeters. Blooms from autumn to spring with white, pink, red or purple single or double flowers; 5cm petals bend back.

The leaves are heart-shaped and can reach a diameter of up to 15 centimeters. The leaves have a white or silver border along the edges. During the dormant period from May to June, the plant completely sheds its foliage. The tubers are spherical, dense, with roots at the bottom.

European or purple cyclamen. Adapted to grow both in open ground and at home. It is an evergreen plant up to 15 centimeters high.

The foliage is round, with denticles along the edges in some plant species. The leaves, up to 5 centimeters in diameter, are dark green in color, with a silver pattern on top and brown underneath.

The flowers are up to 2 centimeters in diameter, fragrant. The petals widen towards the top. The variety blooms from summer to autumn. Fragrant flowers can be white, pink or red. The tubers are irregular in shape and have roots all over their surface.

Cyclamen Kos, named after the island where it was first found. Its peculiarity can be considered the expansion of the petals from the base and a dark spot on the upper petal.

Caucasian cyclamen. The leaves of the Caucasian cyclamen begin to form in the fall and winter well under the snow. The foliage shape can be heart-shaped, round, elongated or narrow.

Color can also vary from dark green to brown. The petals are painted in different shades of pink - from pale to bright color, have a lilac spot at the base. The flower size is about two centimeters. The roots on brown tubers are located at the bottom.

This is the most frost-resistant species. Distinctive feature The species has notched, toothed leaves resembling plush with a silver marbled pattern.

Blooms from September to October. This type of cyclamen produces flowers before the leaves appear. The roots are at the top of the tubers, so unlike varieties, when planting they are buried at least 10 centimeters.

Home care

There are a few key features plant care that will allow you to admire the beautifully flowering cyclamen in your home:

Arranging a suitable climate
Selecting the optimal soil composition.
Choosing the optimal location.

First things first.

Do I need to replant the plant after purchasing it?

Transplantation should be carried out when, instead of soil, there is transport peat in the plant pot.

Before moving to new ground The tuber itself should be rinsed well with water and the peat should be completely washed off from the roots. Then they should be treated with root.

In general, the plant should be replanted as needed, when it becomes crowded in the pot, or when it’s time to change the soil. Feeding a new plant in your home should begin no earlier than 2-3 months after purchase.

When carrying out a transplant, it is important to remember the following points:

Caring for the plant after transplantation

After transplantation, the plant must be moved to a bright and cool room; in the first days, watering should be moderate, then watering can be increased gradually.

The soil. Soil for planting cyclamen can be bought in specialized stores or prepared yourself. For self-cooking You can use one of the recipes below:

Before planting, the soil must be calcined in a fire or treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is important to provide a drainage layer in the pot made of small stones, pebbles, gravel or granite.

Fertilizers. Cyclamens need to be fed from the beginning of foliage formation until the first flowers. mineral fertilizers once every two weeks. The plant accepts it well and organic fertilizers, can be fed moderately with nitrogen.

Lighting and watering

Cyclamen is a light-loving flower, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. Feels good in diffused light or partial shade.

The optimal place for it is on the east or west side of the house. If you place the pot on the south side, then you need to additionally take care of shading, and if it is located on the server side, you need to take care of additional light.

Watering. The key subtlety in organizing watering a plant is to avoid getting water on the plant tubers. Therefore, you can water through a tray or add water along the edges of the pot.

The water temperature should be several degrees lower than room temperature. Excess water from the pan should be drained within an hour after completion of watering to avoid root rotting.

After flowering is completed, watering is reduced. The flower tolerates waterlogging more difficult than dry soil. If the earthen clod becomes dry, the flower can be placed in a bucket or bowl of water for an hour, and the water level in the container should be a couple of centimeters lower than the edge of the pot.

Temperature. The optimal summer temperature should be between 18 and 22 degrees. For abundant winter flowering, it is important to maintain the temperature no higher than 12-14 degrees.

When the humidity in the room is low, it is recommended to spray the plant, avoiding water getting on the roots of the plants. You cannot spray a flower when the period of bud formation or flowering has begun.

Additionally, you can moisten the plant using a tray with wet expanded clay or moss. Cyclamen is very difficult to tolerate heating season air from batteries central heating, therefore such proximity should be avoided.

Reproduction of cyclamen at home

The flower reproduces in two ways: seed and vegetative.

The plant can be propagated vegetatively only during the dormant period. The tuber must be removed from the soil, divided into parts so that each of them contains a root and a bud with leaves.

Cuts on the tuber need to be treated with crushed charcoal and let dry well. Planting material ready to plant in new pots in a couple of days.

Growing from seeds. Most cyclamen varieties are propagated by seeds. This method takes longer, and you have to wait longer for a new plant to bloom than plants grown from a tuber. But the process of growing from seeds is quite simple.

If you already have cyclamen, then there is no need to buy seeds. You have the opportunity to collect them yourself from your plant. To obtain seeds, you need to carry out a cross-pollination procedure.

You need to pollinate the plant in the morning on sunny days; for this it is best to use a soft brush, which you need to transfer pollen from one plant to another. This procedure must be repeated several times.

To speed up the formation of the ovary, you can additionally feed the flower with phosphate-potassium fertilizers. Seeds should be sown immediately after collection, usually in December.

Seeds that have been left for some time and dried out lose their viability. In order to test seeds for germination and reject low-quality seeds, you can carry out the following procedure. Pour the seeds with a 5% solution of sugar and water.

Seeds that float are of low quality and should not be planted in the soil. Those seeds that remain at the bottom must be additionally soaked in a zircon solution before planting in the ground. The soil for planting seeds can be prepared from peat and leaf soil in equal proportions.

The seeds should be spread over the surface of the soil and sprinkled with soil. For successful germination, you need to create greenhouse conditions for the seeds - cover with film or glass, water moderately and ventilate periodically, optimally maintaining a temperature of about 20 degrees.

At lower temperatures, the seeds may rot, and at higher temperatures, they may go into hibernation. Seed germination time is 30-50 days. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film can be removed from the greenhouse and the container can be moved to a well-lit place at a temperature of 15-17 degrees.

As soon as small tubers with leaves are noticeable, they need to be transplanted into containers with the following soil mixture: for 2 parts of leafy soil you need to take 1 part peat and 0.5 parts sand. In this case, the tuber must be completely immersed in the prepared substrate.

The first time you need to feed the plant is 7 days after transplantation. This can be done using a universal flower fertilizer or an aqueous solution of ammonium sulfate (2%).

After ten days you need to feed with potassium nitrate (1%). Plants can be transplanted into separate pots as early as April - May. Young plants will bloom 14 months after planting the seeds.

Features of winter care

Winter is a time of active growth and flowering for cyclamens, so there are some subtleties and care for the plant:

Caring for the plant during the dormant period

During the dormant period of cyclamens, the leaves turn yellow and fall off, the tubers appear almost completely from the ground. For most varieties, the dormant period begins in the summer months.

Before transferring to storage, you need to remove wilted and dried flowers and leaves, and reduce watering. During this period, the pot should be placed in a dark and cool room, the best option- basement.

Watering during this time is greatly reduced, but it is important not to let the soil dry out. The dormant period lasts 2-3 months, then the plant can be returned to its original place and gradually increase watering as foliage appears.

Diseases and pests

Most often, diseases and pests appear on plants due to improper care. Let's figure out what mistakes in care can lead to what, and how to deal with it.

Insect activity on a plant can be easily detected by changes in its appearance– curled leaves, dots and tubercles, sticky coating on stems and leaves:

FAQ

Is it possible to grow cyclamen in open ground?

In summer, flowers can be planted in the garden; to do this, you need to choose a place in the shade of trees or shrubs, or any area with diffused light throughout the day. For the winter you need to transfer the plant to indoor conditions.

Can cyclamen flowers be cut?

Yes, you can. One plant bush is capable of forming about 50 buds. They are stored for a long time as bouquets. To extend the durability of the bouquet, you need to cut the sections of peduncles lengthwise into a couple of parts, and change the water in the storage container after 2-3 days.

Why does the foliage turn yellow and dry?

The main reason is sudden changes in temperature; leaves can also turn yellow due to a lack of minerals in the soil and excessive moisture or, conversely, drying out of the soil. If this happens during the dormant period, then there is nothing critical in the situation; this is a natural process for the plant.

How to get cyclamen to bloom?

You will not see flowers if the flower is kept in a hot room. To correct the situation, you need to lower the temperature by spraying a couple of times a day and ventilating the room and feed the plant with phosphate-potassium fertilizers. Sometimes it happens that a flower adapts to more high temperature air and can bloom if all other care conditions are met.

Why did the flowers grow lower than the leaves?

The reason flowers bloom under the foliage is improper watering, either waterlogged or overdried soil in combination with low temperatures.

Folk signs and superstitions

IN ancient Rome It was believed that cyclamen protects against damage and the evil eye. To this day, it is believed that it absorbs negative energy.

It gives hope to people who are already despairing and helps eliminate shyness in a withdrawn person.

Many people consider the presence of this flower in the house good sign, as it reduces conflicts and calms children's whims. According to legends, its presence in the spouses’ bedroom has a beneficial effect on male potency.

So what are the reasons to have this in your apartment? interesting plant there is plenty, especially since it is not so capricious in care; if you follow certain rules, it will delight you with its flowering for several months.

Cyclamen is one of the most beautiful indoor plants with delicate flowers. white, all shades of red and rich green leaves. Getting such a flower on your windowsill is not difficult at all. You just need to learn how to properly care for it. This plant requires proper reproduction, watering, transplanting. In response to such care, cyclamen will not only present its beauty, which you will want to capture in a photo, it has medicinal properties and will help cope with colds, flu, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Cyclamen is a heat-loving plant that came to us from the Mediterranean. IN wildlife it also grows in northern Africa, the Middle East, on the shores of the Black Sea, and in Crimea. This perennial refers to herbaceous. It has a thick root in the form of a flattened bulb, the stems grow up to 30 cm. The leaves of cyclamen are dark green, shaped like a heart. Special attention cyclamen flowers deserve. They look like butterflies with the most incredible palette: red, pink, burgundy, purple, crimson and even white.

There are 2 types of this plant that are grown at home:

European cyclamen (alpine violet) - small leaves, pink-lilac, white, carmine flowers. This type of plant tolerates cool weather well and easily adapts to room temperature. Alpine violet blooms from May to December. In the summer you can take it out into the garden or onto the balcony, but only after protecting it from direct sun rays.
Cyclamen Persianum (dryakva) - has large leaves and two-color flowers with inverted petals, which gives them incredible beauty. Petals can be pink, purple, white, lilac flowers, and the throat of a flower is always different. This type of plant blooms from November to March.

Cyclamen European (left) and Persian (right)

Other types of cyclamen grow in open ground:

African Cyclamen is a shrub with pink flowers. Grows in Algeria and Tunisia.
Cyclamen Kos is a plant with velvety tubers and flowers of different shades of pink. Grows in Syria, Iran, Crimea and the Caucasus.
Cyclamen Kyrenia is a plant with fragrant flowers of white or pale pink with a purple base of the petals. Grows on the island of Crete.

Features of cultivation and care

Today you can buy an adult flower and immediately put it on the window, you can buy tubers for growing. But it is much more interesting to create a flower from a small seed.

Growing from seeds. This procedure begins at the end of winter - beginning of spring. 12 hours before planting, the seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or special drugs. While the seeds are being prepared, you can start working on the soil. A mixture in the following proportions is suitable: steamed soil, soil mixture, river sand (1:1:1). Make a 1 cm groove in the soil, fill it with water and place the seeds there at a distance of 2-3 cm. Sprinkle the soil on top and cover with film for 1-2 months.
Landing. With the appearance of sprouts, the film is removed and the container is placed in a bright place, but without direct sunlight. After six months, the plant can be planted in a separate pot, using the same proportions for the soil as when sowing. The corm should not be immersed deeper than two-thirds.

Attention! A small pot is needed for planting. The root should be no more than 3 cm away from the walls of the pot.

Temperature. This plant does not like heat and stuffiness. The room where the cyclamen is located must be regularly ventilated. At the same time, make sure that the flower does not fall into a draft. Indoors needs to be maintained high humidity, this can be done by spraying water from a spray bottle.

Cyclamen shoots

Watering. It is very important to maintain a balance here. When the plant is actively growing, it needs to be watered regularly, but not too much, so that the roots do not begin to rot. It is best to use bottom watering: make holes at the bottom of the pot and pour water into a bowl under the pot. The soil will absorb as much moisture as it needs.

Attention! With abundant watering or top watering, the plant may begin to rot and die.

Transfer. Once every 2 years, cyclamen needs to be transplanted into another pot. To do this, you need to choose the period when flowering ends and the plant enters the dormant stage. A month after transplantation, the plant needs to be fed. At other times, there is no need to fertilize the flower.

Problems, diseases, pests

At proper care the flower is not in danger. But violations will inevitably lead to problems.

Insufficient watering causes spider mites.
Excessive watering - rotting.
The flower turns yellow if it is too hot. Changing the location to a cooler one will solve this problem.
If the plant does not bloom, the reason is also high temperature.

Cyclamen is used in folk medicine

Medicinal properties

You need to be very careful with cyclamen so as not to burn the mucous membranes.

Fresh juice clears the maxillary sinuses and is used for gynecological purposes in the treatment of leucorrhoea.
Juice with oil is also used to clear the nose of purulent discharge and to treat coughs.
Hot infusion with cyclamen is used for sleep disorders and nervous system disorders.
The alcohol tincture is used to rub the areas affected by rheumatism and gout.

The rules for caring for cyclamen are quite simple. Even an inexperienced indoor plant breeder can cope with them. But cyclamen blooms very beautifully and for a long time - about 3 months or more. Therefore, it invariably becomes a decoration of the home interior.

Alpine violet belongs to the perennial tuberous plants of the primrose genus. Its other name is cyclamen. More than twenty species of plants are known. Almost all of them are endangered. Its popular name is dryakva.

Description of the flower and its features

The very first flower was the Persian cyclamen. Its homeland was Türkiye, as well as the Middle East. Almost all types of it require the same personal care.

The height of the flower ranges from fifteen to thirty centimeters. It is quite compact and grows well at home. His delicate flowers usually bloom in winter time years and come in different shades, from white to purple. The leaves are shaped like a heart, covered in a marble-like pattern, as shown in the photo.

How to care for alpine violet

As for the rules of care at home, the plant does not tolerate heat and therefore remains dormant in the summer. Therefore, it is necessary to place it on the western or eastern side of the house. Starting in autumn, the flower develops vigorously and therefore requires moving to the south side. It is worth protecting it from direct sunlight.

Although it is believed that this plant is a perennial, for some reason the flower that blooms beautifully in winter does not survive until the next flowering season. The reason for this is the lack of the required temperature environment. Of course, the violet loves warmth, but this does not mean that it should be placed in hot places and next to the radiator. Love for warmth is expressed only in the fact that normal temperature for its maintenance no more than plus ten degrees. That is why you should take care to keep the flower in a cool room, where the temperature does not exceed seventeen degrees.

If the plant is overheated, the first sign will be yellow leaves, although the flowering will remain just as lush. In some cases, high air temperatures can affect flowering time. In addition, this can contribute to the appearance of mites, which thrive in a humid and warm environment and are dangerous to the plant.

When the flower is at rest, and this is autumn and winter, it should be provided with a cool room without direct sunlight.

As for the soil, the most suitable option the environment will be slightly acidic or neutral. Can be purchased ready mixture in the store, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, you need to mix peat, humus and sand. Sometimes coconut fiber or bark is also added. It is necessary to place drainage at the bottom of the pot so that moisture does not accumulate in the roots.

The watering regime should be such that upper layer the soil had time to dry out and the roots did not rot. Watering too frequently is detrimental to the plant.

Features of watering alpine violet

And one more very important rule watering: add water only to the pan, since getting it on the stems of the plant can lead to their damage. Another method can be used. Take a vessel larger than the pot with the plant, pour water into it and place the pot there for fifteen minutes. It is better to take warm water. After this, you should remove the flower and allow time for the root system to dry.

You should also spray as soon as the buds appear. However, it is better not to do such procedures during flowering.

The condition of the flowers will help you find out that the plant is not watered correctly. If the buds open differently and even under the leaves, then this is a signal of distress and you should pay close attention to caring for the violet. If the leaves of the plant begin to fall off, it means that the watering was too abundant.

The plant should be fed at a certain time. First of all, during the formation of buds. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers after transplanting a flower. You should choose fertilizers that do not contain nitrogen, since an excess of this substance will not in the best possible way will be reflected in the buds. They will either fall off or not open at all.

How and when to replant a flower

Violets should be replanted no more often than once every couple of years. In this case, you should pay attention to the plant tubers and soil. The most best time it will be autumn for this.

Transplantation rules depend on the plant variety. For example, Persian cyclamen is planted in such a way that the tubers are half covered with soil, while the European variety requires complete immersion of the roots.

Violet reproduces exclusively by seeds. They are collected one and a half months after flowering. As soon as the flower has wilted, you should wait for it to dry completely. Some gardeners also propagate the plant by dividing the bush.

Of all the pests, the most dangerous for it is the tick. The presence of a pest can be identified by the leaves. If they begin to curl and stop growing, then it’s time to sound the alarm. The violet may also be attacked by a beetle that eats the leaves. Its larvae usually lie in the roots, and in order to rid the flower of it, it is necessary to completely change the soil. Sometimes a scale insect may appear, which is also a cyclamen pest.

Video on the topic of the article

Sep 14 2018

Cyclamen (Alpine violet) - home care

Among indoor plants that delight us with their flowers on cloudy autumn and winter days, cyclamen occupies a special place. Although many consider it difficult to grow, in fact it is enough to properly organize watering and temperature conditions. In this article we will talk about the intricacies of caring for alpine violet at home.

In the wild, cyclamen grows in the warm and humid climate of the Mediterranean. It can be found in the shady forests of southwest Asia, southern Europe, on the wooded mountain slopes of Greece, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Crimea. Cyclamen has several popular names: dryakva, “pork bread”, alpine violet. The name "pork bread" comes from the fact that wild boars They love to feast on cyclamen tubers, tearing them out of the ground.

Cyclamen belongs to the Primrose family, its genus consists of 20 species. It belongs to the ephemeroids that bloom for a short time. And during the rest of the year, the leaves of the plant dry out, and the flower begins a period of rest. Cyclamen is a perennial tuberous plant; the flowering period in nature begins in autumn and ends in spring. Indoor cyclamens They mostly bloom in the cold season. Although they appeared hybrid varieties, starting to bloom in spring.

At the beginning of autumn, new leaves appear from the tuber. Cyclamen leaves have a round shape with a silver pattern on a dark green surface. The leaves are arranged horizontally and form a dense rosette. Above it, flowers resembling moths appear on long stalks. The petals are bent back and raised upward. During the flowering period, from fifty to seventy buds appear on the cyclamen. And although one flower “lives” for about ten days, thanks to the large number of buds, the flowering period lasts several months.

Flowers are distinguished by a richness of colors and shades. Cyclamen has a rich palette of shades of pink and red. White alpine violet is also popular. Modern hybrid varieties can boast of unusual shades: burgundy, purple.

Types of cyclamen

All types of cyclamens are divided according to height into three groups:

short, with a height of 15 cm;
medium-sized - about 20 cm;
standard - height reaches 30 cm.

The following types of cyclamens are common in nature, differing in size, color and place of growth:

Persian

The Persian species is one of the most common varieties both in nature and in indoor floriculture. The tubers grow up to fifteen centimeters in diameter and have a flat-round shape. Leaves dark green covered with a silver pattern and have a heart-shaped shape. The height of the peduncles is from fifteen to twenty centimeters, and overall height the flower reaches thirty centimeters. The flowers are white, pink or red and have oblong petals about five centimeters long, set back from the corolla. The Persian species blooms from autumn to spring, and sheds its leaves in the summer. Many hybrid varieties for indoor floriculture have been bred based on Persian cyclamen.

European

European cyclamen among indoor flowers is much less common. It has some differences from the Persian type. The size of the leaves is three to four centimeters. In addition, the underside of the leaves has purple tint. Its flowers are smaller, and the size of the petals does not exceed two centimeters. Flowers are white, red or pink. The main difference between European cyclamen is the flowering period. It blooms from May to September, and does not have a pronounced dormant period with the leaves drying out. Of course, in summer it is advisable to keep it at a temperature no higher than 25 degrees and in diffuse sunlight.

Cretan

Cretan cyclamen is found naturally on the island of Crete. Is different small in size. Flowers are white and pink.

Kossky (photo by Andrey Pomidorov)

Kos cyclamen is found in the Caucasus. The low plant reaches only ten centimeters in height and can overwinter under the snow. The white or pink-red flowers have dark spots at the base of the petals.

Ivy (Neapolitan)

Ivy-leaved cyclamen has a second name - Neapolitan. It differs from other species in that the flowers appear first, and then the leaves.

Rules of care

Lighting

Cyclamen does not like direct sunlight, so it is better to place it on northern, western and eastern windows. In winter, when the amount of light decreases, it can be moved to southwest or southeast windows.

During the dormant period, the pot with the tuber is placed in a shaded, cool room. This can be a shaded place on the balcony or terrace. Some people place a pot with a tuber under the bathtub for the summer. But at the same time, we must not forget to water the soil once or twice a month. big amount settled water.

Temperature

Maintenance optimal temperature for cyclamen is the main difficulty when keeping it in an apartment. The most suitable temperature for alpine violet is considered to be between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius. This is especially important during the flowering period, which falls during the heating season. The flower pot must be protected from dry and hot air from radiators. As a last resort, temperatures up to 25 degrees are allowed, but it is necessary to increase the air humidity. This will allow the plant to adapt to room temperatures.

At high indoor temperatures, cyclamen's flowering period is shortened.

How to water cyclamen

When the room temperature is above 17-18 degrees, it is necessary to increase the air humidity. It is not recommended to spray cyclamen. You can spray water into the air around the plant, making sure that the droplets do not fall on the plant. But the best way will place the pot with cyclamen on wet pebbles or expanded clay. In this case, the pot should not stand in water, otherwise this will lead to rotting of the tubers.

The watering regime for cyclamen is determined by the period of flower development. During the period of leaf appearance and flowering, watering is done more often to prevent the earthen clod from drying out. Watering is carried out with settled water at a temperature a couple of degrees below room temperature. As the leaves begin to wilt, reduce the amount and frequency of watering. During the dormant period, infrequent watering is carried out a small amount water. Water along the edge of the pot to prevent moisture from getting on the tuber. Watering flowering plant pass through the pan, pouring out the remaining water after an hour. You can lower the pot into a container of water for fifteen minutes so that the water does not reach the edge of the pot. This method is suitable for clay pot, the pores of which allow water to pass through. A plant in a plastic pot is watered through a tray.

Top dressing

From the moment the leaves appear until the end of the flowering period, cyclamen must be fed. Use complex fertilizers for beautiful flowering plants. Perform two feedings per month. In summer, during the dormant period, cyclamen is not fertilized.

The soil

Cyclamen prefers light and loose soil, neutral or slightly acidic. If you prepare the mixture yourself, you need to take leaf and turf soil, peat and sand in equal quantities. Another mixture is also suitable for growing cyclamen:

leaf soil (3 hours);
peat (1 hour);
sand (1 hour).

You can purchase a ready-made soil mixture for tulips or a universal soil. It is recommended to add sand or vermiculite to the finished mixture to add looseness.

Transfer

The plant is replanted after the end of the dormant period, when young leaves begin to emerge. First you need to select a pot according to the size of the tuber.

Important! The basic rule for choosing a pot is that the diameter should be more sizes tuber, so that there are two to three centimeters between the tuber and the edge of the container.

There should be holes at the bottom of the pot for water drainage. First, a layer of expanded clay is poured. Then an earthen mixture is added, which must be heated in the oven for half an hour before planting to kill bacteria. After all, cyclamen tubers are easily susceptible to disease.

The exception is diseased plants and recently acquired ones. The tubers are inspected for the presence of rot, the rotten parts are cut out, and the cut is sprinkled with crushed activated carbon. Purchased plants are planted in soil with a large amount of peat to accelerate growth. Therefore, you need to transplant the cyclamen into more suitable soil.

Young flowers up to five years old are replanted annually. Adult plants are transferred to a new pot, first once every two years, and then after three years.

Attention! When planting, the tuber should not be covered with soil. At least a third of the tuber must protrude above ground level, otherwise the plant will die. The exception is European cyclamen, in which roots are formed over the entire surface of the tuber. Therefore, it is permissible to sprinkle it with earth, but not to bury it deeply.

Preparing for the rest period

Let us pay attention to one subtlety when caring for cyclamen. When the flowers fade and the leaves dry out, they must be removed. Removing faded flowers lengthens the flowering period, promoting the appearance of new buds. But be sure to perform this procedure correctly. Do not pick or cut off old flower stalks and leaves. They must be unscrewed near the tuber itself, carefully so as not to damage it. If a “wound” forms, it is sprinkled with powdered charcoal (activated) carbon.

Reproduction

To propagate cyclamen, seeds or the method of dividing the tuber are used. Each method has its pros and cons.

Propagation by seeds

Growing cyclamen from seeds is a long and labor-intensive process. Seeds can be purchased at a flower shop or obtained independently. To obtain seeds from home cyclamen, it is necessary to carry out artificial pollination. To do this, pollen is transferred from one flower to the pistil of another using a soft brush. If there are several alpine violets in the house, then cross-pollination is carried out - pollen is transferred from one flower to another.

The ovary is better formed if pollination is carried out on a sunny morning. In this case, pollen transfer is carried out several times, which increases the likelihood of ovary formation. Before pollination, it is recommended to feed the flowers with the following composition: dissolve 1 gram of superphosphate and 0.5 grams of potassium sulfide in one liter of water.

Seeds are sown in August, before the beginning of the growing season. The seeds are first filled with a five percent sugar solution. The floating seeds are discarded. Then soak the remaining seeds in a zirconium solution for a day to improve germination.

An earthen mixture consisting of equal parts of peat and leaf soil, or a mixture of peat and vermiculite, is poured into the planting container. The soil is moistened and seeds are sown on the surface, sprinkling thin layer land. The container is covered with film and placed in a shaded place with a temperature of 18 to 20 degrees. Periodically moisten the soil with a spray bottle and ventilate. Shoots appear in a month and a half.

After the leaves appear, the film is removed and the seedlings are moved to a lighted place without exposure to sunlight. In this case, the temperature should be lower - 15-17 degrees. In December, the seedlings develop two or three leaves and form a small nodule. They can be replanted with a pick into a new mixture, which is made up of two parts of leaf soil, one part of peat and sand in half the dose. When transplanting, the tubers are sprinkled with earth. Picked seedlings are fertilized with complex fertilizers in half the dose a week after transplantation. Before the onset of the dormant period (second half of spring), the seedlings are transplanted into separate pots, leaving a third of the tubers protruding from the ground.

It takes 13-15 months from sowing to flowering. Plants grown from own seeds, acclimatize better than seedlings from purchased seeds.

Propagation by tubers

Most gardeners propagate cyclamen at home by dividing the tubers. During the dormant period, the tuber is removed from the pot and divided into several parts. There will be as many parts as there are growth points on the mother tuber. The sections are dried a little, sprinkled with powder from activated carbon or Kornevin. Then the parts are planted in separate containers in the usual mixture for cyclamen. Its composition was given above.

Despite the apparent simplicity of this method of propagation, the death of both the new plant and the mother tuber is often observed. Cut tubers are susceptible to rot.

Diseases and pests

At good care Cyclamen has been pleasing owners with its flowers for many years. But violations in care, non-compliance with watering and temperature regime lead to various diseases. The table lists the main problems when growing cyclamen.

Main features	Cause	How to fix the problem
Brown spots appeared on the leaves.	Dry air, bright lighting.	Rearrange the pot or shade it, increase the air humidity.
The flower sheds its buds.	A sudden change in ambient temperature, for example, moving to a warmer room.	If transfer is necessary, the plant must gradually get used to the change in temperature.
Cyclamen leaves turn yellow and wither.	Excessive watering, which led to rotting of the tuber.	Remove the tuber from the ground, cut out the rotten parts, sprinkle with Kornevin or coal and plant in a new sterilized mixture. If the leaves turn yellow and wither after flowering, this is normal.

For cyclamen, fungal diseases pose a great danger, which often lead to the death of the flower. Infection most often occurs through contaminated soil.

The main fungal diseases of cyclamen

Disease	Main features	Cause	How to fix the problem
Fusarium wilt or dry rot.	The leaves are turning yellow. Yellowing begins at the top and often affects one side of the plant.	The fungus enters through the roots vascular system plants, clogs it, which disrupts the nutrition of the leaves.	Fundazol is watered under the roots, and the leaves are treated with Topsin-M. Both drugs are taken at a concentration of 0.1%.
Wet rot	Leaves and flower stalks wither and droop, which is accompanied by a putrid odor.	Fungal spores enter with contaminated water or soil through cracks in the tuber or places where flower stalks are torn off. Heat and moisture promote the development of the disease.	It is impossible to cure a sick plant. It is destroyed along with the earth. The pot must be disinfected.
Gray rot	Mold appears on the leaves gray, which rises into the air when air moves. Leaves and flower stalks turn yellow, darken and die.	Develops in cold conditions with high humidity.	Remove the affected parts, reduce watering and spraying, ventilate the areas where they are kept, but without drafts. Treat with fungicide according to the instructions.
Root rot	The leaves turn pale, dark areas are visible on the tubers.	The fungus gets in with unsterilized soil.	The soil is treated with a fungicide. But the young plant may not survive. In an adult cyclamen, the tuber is removed from the ground, damage is removed and treated with a fungicide. Then they are planted in new sterilized soil.
Anthracnose	Peduncles are affected and stop growing; their upper part dries out. Then the leaves are affected, curling and drying out.	The fungus gets in with the soil and develops when high humidity and temperature.	Reduce air humidity, remove damaged parts of cyclamen. Treat with fungicide.
Sooty fungus	A black coating appears on the leaves and shoots.	It appears in aphid habitats. It clogs the pores of the plant, and first growth slows down, and then the leaves dry out.	You can wash the leaves with a two percent solution of green soap, then with a copper-soap solution. Then they wash it clean water. Or they are treated with a fungicide.

Among the pests of cyclamen, the main enemies are aphids, mites and thrips. To combat them, insecticides are used, which are widely available on the market.

Conclusion

Alpine violet, blooming in the cold season, gives good mood, the joy of contemplation beautiful flowers with a subtle aroma. Do not be afraid of the difficulties in growing cyclamen, and it will decorate your windowsills in winter.

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homemade Cyclamen - Alpine violet. How to care for a plant
Name of the plant in Russian: Cyclamen
Other flower names: Alpine violet, dryer
Latin name: Cyclamen
Family: primroses (Primulaceae)
IN room conditions The following types are very common: Cyclamen persica (C.perseum) And C. European (C. europaeum)

External signs of the plant, description indoor species Cyclamena:

Name Cyclamen comes from the Greek word Kyklos, which means circle, is the shape of the tubers of this long-lived, beautifully flowering plant.

Home to 15 wild species of this plant are: Caucasus, Crimea, Central and Southern Europe, certain areas of Asia Minor, Greece, the Middle East and the Alps .

Alpine violet is a perennial plant that can live up to 25 years in nature.

In a few sentences you can describe Cyclamen like this: delicate decorative perennial flower with a thick fleshy bulb tuber, green and dark green leaves with a pattern of silvery veins. But the most important advantage of the Alpine violet is its beautiful, light as a butterfly, delicate, bordered or fringed flowers, very rich in multi-colored colors: white, red, pink-lilac. The flowers gracefully sit on reddish petioles of different heights (their length differs in different varieties: there are large ones up to 30 cm high, as well as medium and miniature cyclamens). I would also like to note the pleasant aroma of dryberry flowers.

Common indoor species are European and Persian cyclamens, between which there are some significant differences. For comparison, below is short description each of the domestic species.

European cyclamen(C.europaeum) is a long-lasting herbaceous plant with a round, elongated, or flattened tuber with a diameter of up to 10 cm; daughter tubers are located on underground shoots. From the top of the tuber grow short shoots with small leaves 2-4 cm in diameter on long, rounded petioles; the top of the leaf is dark green with a silver pattern, and the bottom leaves are dark red in color. The flowers are also small - 2-5 cm in diameter. pink shades and with a pleasant smell, they delight the eye from spring to autumn.

Cyclamen persica(C.persicum) - has a larger tuber, reaching 15 cm in diameter. Unlike the European one, in which the roots are located on all parts of the tuber, the Persian Cyclamen has roots coming from the bottom of the turnip. Characteristic Features This type of Alpine flower has large leaves in diameter. up to 14 cm, painted underneath green color and may have a jagged edge. The flowers are larger - 5 cm with pink or purple petals bent back or slightly curled. The flowering period is autumn-winter until spring.

The photo shows home views
Cyclamen

European cyclamen with soft pink flowers

Persian Cyclamen - huge leaves and
pink flowers with serrated edge

Different varieties of C. differ not only
the color of the flowers, but also the pattern on the leaves

How to care for cyclamens different types:

When growing Cyclamen indoors, you must adhere to certain conditions. For different types of Alpine violet, advice on maintenance and care is similar, but may differ. Therefore, differences in the cultivation of Persian and European flowers will be discussed separately.

Cyclamena prefers diffused sunlight, do not allow direct exposure to the sun. Therefore, in the summer it is placed on a north window in the shade.

Temperature conditions should be +18-+20 degrees Celsius in summer, and in winter - around 10-12°C.

Watering is carried out moderately, and during the dormant period it is significantly reduced., without allowing the soil in the pot with Cyclamen to become too dry. Here I would like to note that C. europaea does not have a pronounced dormant period and is watered evenly all year round. And for the Persian Cyclamen, the rest period begins immediately after flowering from May to June, a sign of this is the shedding of leaves; during dormancy, the Persian Persian (C.perseum) is watered approximately 1 day after the soil in the flower pot dries out. You can periodically spray the surface of the leaves.

Flowering period for each type is also different: European. Ts. pleases with its flowers from spring to autumn. Persian Ts. sprouts roots with many flowers in the autumn-spring period. In order for the Alpine violet to bloom longer and produce more flowers, it must be kept in a bright, cool room, and yellow leaves and wilted flowers must be removed in a timely manner. With proper care, Cyclamen can bloom for more than a month and a half and during this time produce more than 50 beautiful, delicate, fragrant flowers.

This tuberous flower is replanted in the fall, but many gardeners recommend a different scheme. Persian C. transplanted into a wider bowl early July when new leaves begin to grow. For Cyclamen europaea, the pot is changed annually in March or April. Transplanted cyclamen is rarely watered. Increase watering only as rooting progresses. The European tuber is covered completely with soil, while the Persian tuber is covered halfway up. Soil mix for this winter indoor plant has the following composition: one part sand, humus and peat and three parts leaf soil.

The main method of reproduction in the two indoor species of Cyclamen also differs.
European look has side shoots with small nodules, with the help of which young plants of this species are propagated.
With reproduction in Persian look things are much more complicated, because it needs to be artificially pollinated. To do this, it is advisable to have a second plant and take its flowers for pollination. If pollination is successful, boxes with seeds are formed in place of the flowers, which are immediately sown fresh in moist peat to a depth of one centimeter and kept at +17°C (very important: if the temperature of the seeds is higher than +18°C, the seeds will enter the state secondary dormancy and will germinate within a year). If the temperature is kept low, the seeds will sprout within 1 month. When the small nodules formed from the seed produce a second leaf, they can be picked, completely buried in the soil. They are watered and the top layer of soil is loosened. The second transplant of Persian Cyclamena seedlings will take place in 1.5-2 months: the young tuber is buried by two-thirds, observing moderate watering and shading from the sun.
Such young plants will bloom in about a year.

Features of caring for Alpine violet at home:

! Excess moisture has a detrimental effect on the Cyclamen plant: A fungus can settle on the leaves, after which the leaves wither and turn yellow. The affected leaves along with the petiole must be removed immediately.

! The most common cause of yellowing leaves Cyclamen has warm and dry air, because the dryer loves a cool room - in winter it is twelve degrees Celsius, in summer it is not higher than plus twenty, and preferably seventeen degrees Celsius.

! When watering Cyclamen water should not get on the tuber, because this can lead to rotting of the tuber and death of the plant. You cannot spray the flowers of C.

! When replanting the plant, it is advisable to leave the upper part of the tuber open without covering it with soil.

! Apart from the usual common pests **Cyclamen can affect ground weevil - striated mower. The larvae of which eat the roots, and the adult beetle gnaws the leaves at night. The fight against this weevil consists of completely replacing the soil clod, checking and removing adult individuals from the roots and chemically. processing the Cyclamen tuber before planting in new soil.

! Abnormally small, misshapen leaves**- the cause may be the cyclamen mite. This pest settles on the leaves of cyclamen, saintpaulia, balsam and pelargonium. As a result, the leaves curl, the growth of the plant stops, and with a large concentration of these tiny mites on the underside of the leaf, they look like light dust. The cyclamen mite loves wet places, spraying with conventional preparations will most likely not produce results, so the affected leaves should be removed immediately.