A Detailed Guide to Growing Cyclamen (Bunny Ear Flower) from Seed

Cyclamen is also known as bunny ear flower, yipinguan, bonfire flower, fan-petal lotus and so on. Cyclamen has brilliant colors and high ornamental value. So, what are the methods for growing cyclamen from seed? Let's find out together!

1. Growing Habits

Cyclamen prefers warmth but fears intense heat. Its suitable growing temperature is between 15-30 degrees. If the temperature is too high, it will rot and deteriorate. It grows best in a cool environment and in fertile sandy loam rich in humus. Cyclamen is relatively cold-tolerant and can withstand low temperatures of 0°C without freezing. Autumn to spring of the following year, March and April, is its growing season. It is semi-dormant in summer. In winter, the suitable growing temperature is between 12-15 degrees. When promoting flowering, the temperature should be controlled at 18-22 degrees. Above 0 degrees, the plant will enter dormancy. Above 35 degrees, the plant is prone to rotting and death. In winter it can tolerate low temperatures, but below 5 degrees it grows slowly, its flower color becomes dull, and it blooms little. Supplementing carbon dioxide gas in winter can promote growth and flowering. During the growing period, humid air and sufficient sunlight are beneficial to the growth of cyclamen.

2. Seed Treatment

Cyclamen seeds generally need to be obtained through artificial pollination. The seeds usually mature in May and should be harvested promptly. The thousand-seed weight is about 10 grams, and the general germination rate is 85-95%. To promote seed germination, seeds can be soaked to speed up sprouting before sowing, soaking in cold water for 24 hours. If time is short, soak the seeds in warm water at about 35 degrees for 2 hours, then wash off the sticky substance on the seed surface, wrap them in a damp cloth for sprouting, and after 2 days, when the seeds have slightly sprouted, they can be taken out for sowing.

3. Sowing Method

Cyclamen is generally sown in autumn, in September-October. The sowing soil should preferably be sandy loam rich in humus, and it can only be used after fine screening. When sowing, first place the soil in the pot, spray thoroughly with water from a watering can, and after the water has completely seeped down, sow the seeds in the pot at a spacing of 1-1.5 cm, then cover with a layer of fine soil and cover with glass or plastic film to retain moisture. Place it in a semi-shaded spot. During the seedling emergence period, observe the soil moisture at all times and keep the soil moist. Under normal conditions, seedlings can emerge in about 20 days.

4. Seedling Management

1. Transplanting Seedlings

After the leaves of cyclamen seedlings have fully unfolded, the first transplanting of seedlings can be carried out. The potting soil, like the sowing soil, should preferably be sandy loam rich in humus. The spacing between seedlings should be about 3 cm. Immediately after transplanting, spray thoroughly with water from a watering can, then simply keep the seedling pot moist. When the seedlings have grown 3 leaves and the small corms have reached 5 mm in diameter, they should be divided and potted up promptly.

2. Transplanting

For cyclamen transplanting, the potting soil is screened and mixed in the ratio of 2 parts leaf mold, 2 parts garden soil, 5 parts fine yellow sand, and 1 part decomposed manure powder. When transplanting, keep as much of the small root ball as possible, as this can improve the survival rate of transplanting, and make it level with the soil surface. After transplanting, spray thoroughly with water and place it in a sunny spot indoors. After the seedlings resume growth, water and fertilize promptly. Generally, by the winter of the second year, they will be able to bloom.

The above is the method for growing cyclamen from seed compiled by the editor for you. I hope it can help all flower lovers. Let's learn together and make cyclamen bloom more brilliantly!