How to grow cyclamen? Detailed explanation of cultivation methods and precautions
Cyclamen is a perennial herbaceous plant with a sturdy and graceful form, abundant flowers and lush leaves, and bright flower colors. It has high ornamental value and is a widely cultivated indoor potted flower in recent years. It also has strong pollution resistance, with a certain tolerance to sulfur dioxide and chlorine. Grown at home, it not only decorates the home but also purifies the air. Below we share its cultivation methods and precautions.
Propagation methods
1. Seed propagation: Select seeds of uniform size and full plumpness. Before sowing, first disinfect them with 75% alcohol, rinse them clean, then soak them in warm water for one day before sowing. Another method is to wrap the seeds in gauze and soak them in warm water for one day, then after soaking, rub and wash the seed coat clean before sowing. After sowing, keep the temperature at around 18 degrees and the humidity at around 90%. After about three weeks they will germinate, and after one month the seedlings will emerge.
2. Stem cutting propagation: Carry out after the flowering period or in August-September. Select strong, healthy plants free of disease, and cut off a corm with more than two bud eyes. The cutting tool must be disinfected to avoid infection by pathogens. Sprinkle plant ash on the cut wound. After the cut corm dries, it can be planted in another pot.
Cultivation methods
1. Soil: It should be loose, breathable, fertile, and well-drained soil, with the soil leaning neutral.
2. Light: Cyclamen likes a sunny and well-lit environment, so it should be grown in a place with sufficient light, especially in winter when low temperatures make light even more necessary. However, it avoids direct strong light. Summer sunlight is rather intense, so appropriate shading is needed.
3. Temperature: It likes a warm climate, with the optimal growth temperature being 10-20 degrees; below 5 degrees, growth slows down; above 30 degrees, the plant enters dormancy; if above 35 degrees, the plant will rot and die. Therefore, the summer temperature must not exceed 30 degrees, and the winter temperature must not fall below 0 degrees.
4. Watering: It likes a moist environment but avoids waterlogging. Too much accumulated water easily causes the root system to rot and die. The amount of watering must be controlled, and do not cause excessive water accumulation by watering too much.
5. Fertilizing: It has little demand for fertility. Applying a low-concentration potassium phosphate fertilizer once during the spring and autumn growing season is enough. Remember not to apply excessive nitrogen fertilizer during the flowering period, otherwise the branches and leaves will grow extremely quickly while the flowers will have a shorter lifespan and will wither and drop early.
6. Ventilation: If grown in a poorly ventilated environment, the petals will drop quickly, so it should be ventilated frequently, but do not place it in a drafty spot.
7. Pests and diseases: Cyclamen has many diseases, so during cultivation you must pay attention to preventing diseases from occurring, and deal with diseases promptly when found.
Precautions
The soil should be neutral, not acidic or alkaline; in summer be sure to watch temperature changes, and if it exceeds 30 degrees, find ways to lower the temperature of the growing environment, and remember to shade it from strong light; when watering, be careful not to pour water on the flower buds and tender leaves, so as not to cause them to rot; when fertilizing, the concentration must not be too high, and it must be diluted, so as to avoid the plant being "burned yellow" by overly high concentration; ventilate frequently, especially during the flowering period, but do not grow it in a drafty spot.
The above is the introduction to cyclamen cultivation methods and precautions by the editor. Through this article, I believe everyone has mastered the cyclamen cultivation methods.