How to care for Cyclamen after seedlings emerge

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Cyclamen is propagated by sowing. After the seedlings emerge, they must be managed well; only with proper care can Cyclamen flower normally with bright blooms and lush leaves. 15 to 18 weeks after sowing, or 5 to 6 weeks after transplanting, when the seedlings have 7 to 10 leaves, they can be potted up. For the miniature series and mini series, 10 weeks after sowing

1. Substrate. A mix of peat with good air permeability, a certain proportion of clay (10%) and perlite is required. The pH value is 6 to 6.5; adding an appropriate amount of calcium fertilizer to the substrate can achieve this. The EC value is less than 0.5.

2. Potting up and planting depth. Use a standard or homemade seedling-lifting system to push the seedlings up from below, taking care not to damage the roots. The soil should just cover the root system, leaving the small corm exposed. Never press the seedlings and surrounding soil down with your hands.

3. Climatic conditions. Optimum temperature: 17°C for 2 to 3 weeks after potting up, after which it can be lowered to 14°C to 16°C. Relative humidity: between 60% and 85%. Note: if the daytime temperature is 25°C and the relative humidity is 50%, when the nighttime temperature drops to 13°C and the humidity reaches 100%, condensation will form, affecting growth.

4. Light. If the outdoor light intensity is 30 klux to 40 klux, use a shade net with a shading rate of 75%. If the outdoor light is 40 klux to 73 klux, a double-layer shade net should be used.

5. Fertilization. Usually, in the early cultivation stage, the required N:P:K ratio is 1:1:1; in the middle stage, the required N:P:K is 1:1:2; in the late stage, the required N:P:K is 1:1:3. The substrate EC value should be less than 1.0. During high-temperature periods, the amount of fertilizer should be reduced; for small varieties such as the miniature series, the amount of fertilizer should be reduced.

6. Watering. Water regularly, alternating between dry and moist. Do not touch the flowers or leaves with your hands, as this easily damages the corm and breeds disease. For the first 6 weeks after potting up, water from above; once the leaves are dense and the root system is well developed, water from the bottom or use drip irrigation. Water only in the early morning or during the morning.

7. Flower stem length. The length of the flower stems is affected by temperature. By raising the nighttime temperature and applying low-temperature treatment in the morning, the flower stems can be shortened.

8. Flowering. Cyclamen flowering is closely related to the average day and night temperature. When the average day and night temperature exceeds 27°C, its flower buds grow slowly. If the temperature is even higher, it will seriously affect flower bud growth, causing leaves to grow excessively, but after the high-temperature period the plant will continue to grow and flower. Therefore, when the average day and night temperature is greater than 27°C, the plant will enter a dormant state, and the growing period will be lengthened.

9. Pest and disease control. On dry days, in the early morning or evening, when there are no workers in the greenhouse, spray insecticide. Ensure the plants are dry at night and that there is good air circulation between plants.

How should Cyclamen be cared for

How should Cyclamen be cared for? For beginner flower lovers, this is the first thing they need to understand. Most flower lovers buy finished Cyclamen from flower shops or greenhouses. After getting them home, some immediately repot them for appearance's sake; some place them in strong sunlight as soon as they get home; some give them a big soak in a water-filled basin as soon as they get home; some put them on radiators or underfloor heating as soon as they get home; some rinse the leaves with water as soon as they get home; some pull the potting soil apart to take a look as soon as they get them home; and some fertilize them as soon as they get them home, and so on. I wonder which type you are? Stop right there, flower lover!!!

The above is not aimed at anyone in particular; these are generally common problems, please forgive me. Now let me talk about my method (accumulated over several years of experience): a few words about watering. I never soak the pot (except for seedlings 1----6 months old); I always pour water along the edge of the pot (provided that one third of the corm is exposed). After buying Cyclamen and bringing it home:

1. Place it in a spot with diffused light to acclimatize for 5--7 days, letting it get used to the environment (temperature and humidity). Generally, finished Cyclamen are grown in greenhouses and glasshouses; after purchase, the temperature can be met, but the humidity cannot be helped;

2. Do not repot it. If you want it to look nice, just slip it into a prettier pot;

3. Water slowly with a small amount, gradually watering thoroughly, then gradually increase the amount of water (mainly for fear that it will not adapt);

4. Never place it on a radiator. Flower lovers with underfloor heating should place it on a coffee table as much as possible (not on a plant stand, as the hot air will scorch it);

5. Do not rinse the leaves, as they will rot. If there are dirty spots, wipe them with damp toilet paper;

6. Try not to fertilize at first; even if you do fertilize, wait until it has adapted to the environment. Remember, less is better than more.

The above are my views. If there is anything inadequate, I hope fellow flower lovers will guide me, so we can learn from each other and improve together!

How to grow Cyclamen

Soil selection

The culture soil for Cyclamen can be made from humus soil, forest leaf mold, cinder and so on, with an appropriate amount of calcium carbonate and other chemical substances added for preparation. This kind of soil is relatively loose, which helps the growth of our Cyclamen. When cultivating, pay attention to the size of the container; increase it gradually, and do not use a large pot to cultivate small seedlings.

Fertilization method

Cyclamen likes fertile soil, but does not like concentrated fertilizer. When repotting, some base fertilizer needs to be applied. Generally, fertilizer can be applied once every 1-2 weeks, with emphasis on frequent application of dilute fertilizer. After several months of vegetative growth, apply organic fertilizer to it and water the flowers with diluted liquid. When the temperature cannot be controlled in early summer, fertilization must be stopped.

Watering method

Although Cyclamen is drought-tolerant, it is best to keep the soil moist during its growing season, and note that there must be no water accumulation in the pot. Water frequently but lightly; do not let it get too wet. If it does not go dormant in summer, normal watering can be carried out, and the potting soil needs to be kept pleasantly moist. After the Start of Autumn, it will enter the reproductive growth stage; at this time, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied to control vegetative growth, promote flower bud differentiation, and encourage budding and flowering.

Temperature requirements

The suitable growing temperature for Cyclamen is 10-22°C, and the daytime and nighttime temperatures should be maintained at 8-10°C. If the nighttime temperature is kept at around 7-8°C, it can still flower, but the flowering period will be slightly delayed; if it is below 6°C, it will not flower normally.

Light requirements

Temperature and light have a certain influence on the growth and development of Cyclamen. Throughout the process, one needs to start with temperature and consider extending the flowering period. After the number of flowers decreases in late April, the plants need to be moved out of the greenhouse and grown in a well-ventilated place. Climate changes, suitable temperature and light will cause Cyclamen to produce another batch of flower stalks and continue to bloom. In the Yangtze River basin and areas to its south, the leaves gradually turn yellow after May, which reflects rising temperatures. At this time, watering needs to be controlled. In summer, if conditions permit, cooling equipment should be used to lower the ambient temperature.