A Detailed Guide to the Latest Methods for Growing Cyclamen from Seed
Cyclamen is also known as radish begonia, rabbit ear flower, rabbit flower, first-rank crown, bonfire flower, flipped-petal lotus, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Cyclamen in the family Primulaceae, suitable for growing in indoor flower pots, and in winter it needs to be grown in a greenhouse. Some cultivated varieties have a rich fragrance, while others have a faint or no fragrance. Now let us take a look at how to grow cyclamen from seed!
Growth Habits
Cyclamen likes warmth and fears heat. It grows best in a cool environment and in fertile sandy loam rich in humus. It is relatively cold-tolerant and can withstand low temperatures of 0°C without freezing. Autumn to the spring of the following year is its growing season, and it is semi-dormant in summer. The suitable growing temperature in winter is between 12-16°C, and when promoting flowering it should not exceed 18-22°C. Above 0°C the plant will enter dormancy, and above 35°C the plant is prone to rot and death. In winter it can tolerate low temperatures, but below 5°C growth is slow, flower color is dull, and flowering is reduced. Supplementing carbon dioxide gas in winter can promote growth and flowering. During the growing period it requires a humid air environment and sufficient sunlight.
Seed Treatment
Cyclamen seeds can only be obtained after artificial pollination. The seeds generally mature in May and should be harvested promptly. The seeds are relatively large, with a 1000-seed weight of about 10 grams, and the general germination rate is 85-95%. To promote seed germination, the seeds can be soaked before sowing to speed up sprouting. Soak the seeds in cold water for 24 hours or in warm water at 30°C for 2-3 hours, then wash off the sticky material on the surface of the seeds, wrap them in a wet cloth to speed up sprouting, and keep them at 25°C for 1-2 days. Once the seeds have slightly sprouted, they can be taken out and sown.
Sowing Method
Cyclamen is generally sown in September-October, and ordinary flower pots can be used for sowing. The sowing soil is best as sandy loam rich in humus, and it can only be used after being sifted through a fine sieve. When sowing, first place the soil in the pot, spray it thoroughly with a watering can, and after the water has completely seeped down, immediately sow the seeds in the pot at a spacing of 1-1.5 cm, then cover with 0.5 cm of soil and cover with glass or plastic film to retain moisture, placing it in a semi-shaded spot at 20-22°C. When the pot soil is slightly dry, use the bottom-watering method to soak it thoroughly so that the pot soil remains moist at all times. Under normal conditions, seedlings can emerge in about 20 days.
Seedling Management
1. Transplanting seedlings: After the leaves of cyclamen seedlings have fully unfolded, the first seedling transplant can be carried out. Ordinary flower pots can still be used for transplanting, with the same soil as for sowing. The spacing between seedlings should be about 3 cm. After transplanting, immediately spray thoroughly with a watering can, and afterward just keep the seedling pot moist. When the seedlings grow 3 leaves and the small corms reach 5-6 mm in diameter, they should be promptly divided and potted. A 9 cm diameter small pot can be used directly for single-plant transplanting.
2. Transplanting: For cyclamen transplanting, the pot soil is sifted and mixed in a 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 soil ball as possible and make it level with the soil surface. After transplanting, spray thoroughly with water and place in a sunny indoor spot. After the seedlings resume growth, water and fertilize promptly, and generally they can bloom by the winter of the following year.