How to plant the seeds of cyclamen
Compared to most people, the knowledge of how to plant cyclamen seeds and the related knowledge of green plant care in the field of flowering plants is as follows:
Figure: Cyclamen sowing
(1) Cyclamen sowing substrate
Choose a yellow peat soil with loose texture, good breathability, low salinity, and slightly acidic (pH 5.8-6.2) as the sowing substrate. Mix 15% of vermiculite into the substrate. To prevent the occurrence of ground flies and root nematodes, 1.5 kg of insecticide (Miral or furadan) can be added to each cubic meter of substrate. Generally, when filling the tray, the sowing substrate only needs to be moderately moist to ensure it is tightly packed.
Figure: Cyclamen
(2) Cyclamen seed treatment
The seed coat of cyclamen is relatively thick, and it usually needs to be soaked in warm water at about 40℃ for 24 hours before sowing, then soaked in an 800-fold solution of fungicide for 1 hour. After removing the excess water, it can be sown.
Figure: Cyclamen
(3) Cyclamen sowing time
The sowing time is determined by the genetic characteristics of the seeds, the climatic conditions of the planting area, and the time of product launch. Large-flowered varieties are usually sown from December to January of the following year; medium-flowered varieties can be delayed by 15-30 days; mini varieties should be sown between January and March.
How to plant cyclamen seeds
Figure: Cyclamen
(4) Cyclamen sowing
Pre-wet the trays filled with substrate in the greenhouse and use a pressure plate to create a small pit 0.5 cm deep in the center of each tray hole. Place the treated cyclamen seeds in the center of the small pit and cover them with vermiculite with a particle size of 1.5-2.5 mm. Water thoroughly with a fine喷头. The suitable germination temperature for cyclamen is 18℃, humidity should be controlled at around 95%, and kept in complete darkness. Usually, a small number of cyclamen seeds will emerge from the soil after 4 weeks. When the germination rate of the seeds is between 50% to 60% and the length of the cotyledons is between 1 to 3 cm, the temperature should be controlled between 15 to 25℃. After 9 to 10 weeks of sowing, the trays often show signs of seedling congestion, at which time the seedlings can be transplanted. The substrate should be a mix of peat soil and 30% perlite, using 72# or 50# trays. When lifting the seedlings, care should be taken not to damage the roots, and the mossy soil on the cyclamen corm should be removed. When planting, the soil should be slightly compacted, with the corm exposed 1/3 to 1/2 of its surface. To ensure good root development during transplanting, water-saving root promotion cultivation should be carried out 2 weeks in advance. After transplanting, water thoroughly, shade for 7-10 days, and stop fertilizing for 10 days.
Figure: Cyclamen
(5) cyclamen potting
When the leaves of the seedlings in the tray touch each other (about 16 weeks), it's time to pot them, otherwise the petioles will grow too long. The size of the pot is determined by the variety and potting time, either clay or plastic pots are suitable, provided they have good drainage with 5 holes at the bottom or feet for support. Clay pots need to be treated to prevent moss or green algae from growing on the surface, which is unsightly and affects the pot's breathability. Generally, a standard circular multi-hole plastic pot with a diameter of 15-16 cm is used in production, while mini varieties use standard pots of 10-12 cm.
The substrate used for potting can be chosen based on the climate of the planting area, the type of greenhouse, and the supporting equipment. First, the substrate must be new and have good drainage, be loose for better rooting, and benefit initial growth as well as future development and flowering, while also preventing diseases and pests. Second, the substrate should also have good water retention, not losing water too quickly or holding it for too long, which could harm the young seedlings, especially when temperatures fluctuate. Watering can be controlled to regulate temperature. In production, a potting substrate mix of peat soil and perlite in a 4:1 ratio, with a pH of 5.6-5.8 can be used. Organic compound fertilizer can be used as a base fertilizer, but the amount should be determined by the size of the plants and the substrate used.
When potting, the root ball should be slightly dry and easy to remove from the tray. First, dig a hole in the center of the pot filled with cultivation substrate, gently place the corm in the center of the pot, and during this process, minimize mechanical damage to the cyclamen roots and leaves, as it is prone to bacterial diseases. When potting, the corm should be exposed 1/3 to 1/2 of its surface, otherwise it will affect normal growth, with mini varieties needing to be exposed by half. After potting, arrange the plants densely, water thoroughly, shade for 10 days, and stop fertilizing for 1 week.
This article shares a comprehensive explanation of how to plant cyclamen seeds and related care knowledge, hoping it can help you.