How to sow cyclamen seeds
Do you know these? The topics of how to sow cyclamen seeds and the cultivation and management of cyclamen flowers and plants are introduced in detail below.
Cyclamen is a perennial bulbous flower of the Primulaceae family. It is also known as the common names such as "rabbit's ear flower," "bunny flower," "first-class crown," "torch spark," "turned-over petal lotus," etc. Cyclamen is a commonly planted flower, suitable for indoor pot planting, and requires greenhouse cultivation in winter. Due to its unique shape, deep green leaves, and beautiful flowers, it is deeply loved by people and is an elegant indoor potted plant for winter.
How to cultivate and manage cyclamen?
I. The ecological conditions required by cyclamen: Cyclamen prefers a climate with plenty of sunshine, warm winters, and cool, humid summers. Autumn, winter, and spring are the growth periods of cyclamen. The optimal temperature for growth and development is between 18-20°C. The indoor temperature in winter must be maintained above 10°C and should not be lower than 5°C. Cyclamen is not heat-tolerant; when the temperature reaches 30°C, it enters a dormant period, and above 35°C, the plant will rot and die. It is afraid of drought and flooding, prefers fertile, loose, well-drained, and humid sandy loam with a pH of 6-7.
II. The propagation methods of cyclamen: The main propagation method of cyclamen is seed sowing, and division of tubers can also be used.
Seed propagation: It is usually sown in September. If sown too early, the bulbs will not be large enough for flowering, which affects the quality of the flowers. If sown too late, the low temperature affects the germination rate and the seedlings are uneven. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in 30°C warm water for 12 hours and then wrapped in a wet cloth to induce germination, maintaining a temperature of 25°C for about 2 days. As soon as the seeds start to germinate slightly, they can be sown. The sowing bed soil is mixed with equal parts of decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and river sand. The seeds are sown in the seedbed or in shallow flower pots or shallow wooden boxes with a spacing of 1.5-2 cm, then covered with 0.5 cm of soil. After sowing, the seedbed is covered with plastic film, and shallow flower pots or shallow wooden boxes are covered with glass. After sowing, water is poured from the bottom drainage hole to keep the soil moist and placed in a slightly shaded, well-ventilated area. When the seedlings have grown their first true leaf, the first thinning is done with a spacing of 3 cm each.
Division of tubers propagation: In August and September, when the old tubers start to germinate after the dormant period, the larger old tubers can be longitudinally cut into several pieces based on the situation of the buds at the top of the tubers. Each small piece should have at least one healthy bud. The cut surface of the small pieces can be treated with wood ash and slightly dried, then separately planted in flower pots. In the initial management, be careful not to water too much to avoid rotting of the cut surface. When more than 10 leaves have grown, they are transplanted into pots.
III. Cultivation: Usually, when the cyclamen seedlings have grown 4-5 true leaves, they are potted in a pot with a diameter of 10 cm, and when larger, changed to a pot with a diameter of 17-20 cm. In the bottom of the pot, broken tiles are placed, then the culture soil is added, and the cyclamen plant is placed in the center of the pot upright, with the roots spread out. When covering the soil, the top of the bulb must be exposed. After planting, water thoroughly and then care for the plant in a shaded environment for a week before moving it to a sunny place.
IV. Fertilization and water management: After the seedlings are potted, fertilize every week after a month of slow growth. When fertilizing, be careful not to get fertilizer on the leaves of cyclamen to avoid rotting. During the growing period, apply decomposed cake fertilizer water every 10 days, and when the flower stems emerge, add bone meal or superphosphate. In the early stages of potting, water should be controlled, and during the seedling stage, excessive watering should be avoided to prevent bulb rot. During the flowering period, control watering, especially on rainy and snowy days, and avoid watering on the flower buds and tender leaves to prevent rot. Stop watering after flowering.
V. Daily management: Avoid intense sunlight and high temperatures during the growing period, and the potting soil should not be too wet. After May, provide shade, ventilation, and cooling to maintain temperatures below 28°C. In autumn, still shield the midday sun. Move indoors in deep autumn, and if the temperature is high at noon, pay attention to ventilation and cooling. The indoor temperature in winter should be between 10-18°C with plenty of sunlight. After flowering, the cyclamen plant enters a dormant period. The tubers can be removed and stored in sand or left in the original pot. By the middle to late August, when the dormant period ends and new buds start to germinate, the tubers can be removed and planted in new culture soil.
The above sharing on how to sow cyclamen seeds and the specific content of cyclamen cultivation and management are for everyone's reference and operation.