Cyclamen cultivation information
Plant knowledge section, sharing with you the content of cyclamen family flower cultivation, cyclamen cultivation information, let's take a look together.
Cyclamen, also known as rabbit flower,萝卜 crabapple, first-class crown, belonging to the genus Cyclamen perennial bulbous herbaceous flowers. Native to the Mediterranean coast, it is a semi-cold-resistant plant, now cultivated in both south and north China. French Morel Company is the world's largest cyclamen seed production company, and the F1 generation cyclamen it breeds has many varieties, bright colors, and various shapes, enjoying a high reputation in the domestic and international horticultural circles.
I. Product Introduction
French Morel Company's F1 main products are mainly divided into three series:
Halios: It is a large flower type product with a round and dense plant shape, strong and sturdy, flourishing and uniform flowers, beautiful leaves and long flowering period. The peak flowering period is from October to the following March, which can withstand high temperature and strong sunlight, with a short production cycle. It is suitable for using pots of 12-20cm in size, and the seeds can bloom after 8-9 months (32-36 weeks) of seed production, and the seedlings can bloom after 4-5 months (16-20 weeks) of potting. It includes 16 bright single-color varieties and one modern flame mixed color, and a new product with a fresh begonia color was launched in 2000.
Latinia: It is a medium flower type variety with uniform and consistent plant height, medium and dense flowers, centralized flowering, large number of flowers, and continuous flowering. The peak flowering period is from September to the following February. It is early maturity and short cultivation period. It is suitable for using pots of 10-13cm in size. It can bloom after 7-8 months (28-31 weeks) of sowing production and 3-4 months (12-15 weeks) of seedling production. There are 10 single-color varieties, including three fragrant ones.
Mini Series (Metis): It belongs to the mini cyclamen with many bright flowers and long flowering period. The peak flowering period is from September to the following February. The cultivation period is short and can be cultivated into ultra-miniature pot flowers of 6cm. It is suitable for using pots of 8-10cm in size. The seeds can bloom after 6-7 months (25-28 weeks) of sowing production, and the seedlings can bloom after 3 months (10-13 weeks) of potting. It includes two pure color varieties (bright red and pure white) and three mixed color varieties.
II. Cultivation Management
(一) Sowing
1. Sowing time: The sowing time is determined by the time of finished flower listing and the growth period of the variety, as well as considering the impact of environmental conditions on its growth rate. It can be sown in any season of the year.
2. Sowing equipment: If conditions permit, use a sowing machine to sow, preferably with a hole diameter of 2cm.
3. Matrix: 90% screened lime peat and 10% fine sand and gravel mixed matrix, with a pH of 5.6-5.8. 500g of 15-15-30 (N-P-K) fertilizer can be added to each cubic meter of matrix, and an appropriate amount of fungicides for preventing Fusarium wilt can be added to prevent root rot.
4. Sowing: Press the matrix in the tray, make a small hole in the center of each cell, and plant the seeds in the center, then cover with 5mm of vermiculite. Watering should be done to thoroughly wet the matrix. Seeds can be sown using the soaking method (soaked in warm water at 24°C for 24 hours) and dry seeds (Z-B) method. After sowing, the trays should be placed in a germination room, kept in complete darkness, at a temperature of 18°C and a relative humidity of 90%. Seedlings will start to emerge after 20 days. After emergence, the trays should be transferred to a greenhouse shelf. To ensure that all seedlings emerge, it is necessary to maintain appropriate humidity and control the temperature between 18-20°C, with a light intensity of 5klux. After entering the greenhouse, water immediately, but not excessively, to prevent the growth of gray mold and Fusarium. After 7 weeks of sowing, fertilization should start, with a fertilizer concentration of 0.45g N-P-K (1:0.7:2) per liter, and the conductivity should be 0.8ms/cm.
(二) Transplanting
1. Transplanting time: Transplanting should be done 8-9 weeks after sowing, and no later than 10 weeks. Avoid damaging the roots during transplanting.
2. Cell tray: Use a shallow tray with a diameter of 3.5cm and a depth of 3.5cm to transplant seedlings, avoiding black trays.
3. Matrix: The formula is the same as the seedling matrix, only the peat is slightly coarser.
4. Transplanting: The matrix of the seedlings should not be too moist during transplanting. The bulb should be kept below the surface of the matrix. After transplanting, the matrix should not be pressed too hard. Try to keep the leaves in the same direction to fully absorb light, making them neat and beautiful. The night temperature should be kept at 17-19°C, and the maximum light intensity should not exceed 20klux. After transplanting, water thoroughly, similar to a drizzle. When the seedlings have grown 3 true leaves, the humidity of the matrix should be appropriately reduced to prevent the leaf stalks from growing upwards, affecting light absorption. Adjust the fertilizer concentration according to the size of the seedlings. Remember, the smaller the seedlings, the lower the fertilizer concentration should be. The ratio of fertilizers is 1:0.7:2 (N-P-K). After transplanting, prevent diseases and pests, and keep the dosage moderate to prevent phytotoxicity.
(三) Potting
1. Potting time: Potting should be done 15-17 weeks after sowing.
2. Pot size: It can be determined according to the variety requirements and local consumption habits, with good permeability.
3. Matrix: 90% yellow peat and 10% perlite mixed matrix, with a pH of 5.6-5.8, which should have certain permeability and breathability. The potting matrix must be new. The matrix can contain a compound fertilizer of 15:11:21 (N-P-K), but the amount should be determined according to the size of the plant to be cultivated:
Plant Type Standard Dense Fertilizer Amount
(kg/cubic meter matrix) 1 0.5 0.5
Morel Company uses a special cyclamen matrix from EGO Company, which has good permeability and is a high-quality mixture of peat and perlite.
4. Potting: Before potting, reduce the amount of watering to make it slightly dry for easy removal of the bulbs. The potting matrix should be kept slightly moist but not caked. Place the bulb gently in the center of the pot, taking care not to damage the roots. In the first 4 weeks after potting, the pots should be placed closely together to create a better microclimate environment. After 4 weeks, the pot spacing should be adjusted to improve plant growth, keeping the plant compact, flowering early, and increasing disease resistance. For the first 15-3 weeks after potting, only watering is needed, and the bulbs must be kept moist. The surface of the matrix should not dry out, otherwise, it will affect the growth of the bottom roots of the bulb. The standard for watering is to completely soak the roots and matrix, but no water should flow out of the pot. Water should be less but frequent to prevent the matrix from drying out, and the roots should always be kept moist. Cyclamen is not very responsive to changes in day length. The growth and flowering of the plant are mainly affected by the amount of light received by the central part of the plant (light intensity and the number of daylight hours). The light intensity is 40klux, and if it exceeds 50klux, appropriate shading is required.
When autumn comes and the intensity of sunlight decreases, the shading net should be removed in time. If it is too late, it will affect the light intensity. Greenhouse ventilation should be good, with top and side windows to allow for good air circulation. When the temperature is too high, appropriate cooling should be done. When using micro-spray cooling, ventilation should be increased to prevent high humidity, which can lead to tissue softening and bacterial growth. Fertilization should start 15-3 weeks after potting. The initial fertilizer is a formula of 1:0.7:2, with a conductivity of 1.2mS/cm. As the plant grows larger, the conductivity can be increased to 1.8mS/cm. Fertilizer can be applied with water. By adjusting the nutrient solution concentration, the growth rate of the plant can be changed, and quantitative fertilization can be used to control the growth of the plant, balancing fertilization can cultivate evenly shaped finished flowers. If potassium is increased or nitrogen is reduced after potting, it is more beneficial for bulb and root development. Since the release rate of slow-release fertilizers is affected by temperature, it is recommended not to use slow-release fertilizers. Using gibberellin to promote flowering will soften the leaf stalks and deform the flowers, affecting their ornamental value, so it is also not recommended. It is recommended to remove the first 3-4 flowers to promote the germination of more flower buds. During the flowering period, temperature and ventilation must be carefully observed to prevent Botrytis infection, which can cause gray mold on the flowers.
III. Common Diseases, Pests, and Insects
1. Fusarium: Cyclamen is prone to disease and should be planted in clean, well-drained areas. The main disease is Fusarium, which often lies dormant in seedlings and starts to show symptoms after transplanting. During transportation, temperature and humidity management should be paid attention to, strict disinfection, and soil and pots should also be disinfected. Discard yellowing seedlings, and many flower farmers apply Celerys or Mycostop for prevention in the fifth week after transplanting.
2. Cyclamen Wilt: After transplanting, the stems and leaves of the seedlings develop poorly, the leaf edges show black fungal spots, and the vascular bundle system of the leaf stalks and bulbs show light red lesions. There are large pieces of light orange spores on the residual plant organs, and this disease spreads rapidly. Remove the diseased plants and apply Euparen for control.
3. Soft Root Disease: The symptoms are sudden wilting and then falling over, with small bulbs. The main reasons are planting the bulbs too deep, high temperature, and excessive humidity. Avoid watering by sprinkling in high temperatures.
4. Gray Mold Disease: Flowers and leaves show soft rot, and spots and gray mold appear on the flowers. Lower the temperature, increase ventilation, increase the spacing between seedlings, pay attention to the night temperature not being too low, and apply fungicides for prevention.
5. Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV): Symptoms include yellow or brown rings on the leaf stalks, deformed flowers, and stopped growth of the plant. This disease is mostly transmitted by thrips, so controlling insects can control this disease.
6. Cyclamen Spider: It causes leaf deformation, curling, loss of color in some flowers, and twisted deformation of flower stems. Pest control is necessary.
IV. Mini Cyclamen
Mini cyclamen is a new variety that is popular among flower farmers and consumers. When cultivated with other similar varieties, it has special requirements. Mini cyclamen has a shorter growth period (6-7 months), and some colors have a pleasant fragrance, which further increases its attractiveness to consumers. Mini cyclamen is generally suitable for planting in pots of 8-10 centimeters.
I. Seedling Raising: Mini cyclamen is raised from seeds. To achieve the best seedling raising results, seeds should be sown in moist lime peat. The seeds need to be covered with material. They can also be sown on open seedling boards, broadcast in rows, or sown in larger seedling trays. Keep the moisture uniform during germination. Germination takes about 3-4 weeks. The temperature must be kept between 18-20°C for the best germination results. After emergence, seedlings need plenty of sunlight and should be sprayed regularly to keep the relative humidity high.
II. Potting: The transplanting stage is generally omitted and can be potted directly, usually 120 days after sowing. If transplanting is done, it can be done 80 days after sowing. If the seedlings in the seedling tray are too dense or growing unevenly, the transplanting time can be slightly adjusted.
Seedlings will develop small bulbs during the transplanting stage. When transplanting, the bulbs should be kept parallel to the soil surface. Planting too deep will cause crown rot.
Matrix: Use a matrix mainly composed of peat,无毒无菌, with good permeability. You can add an appropriate amount of sand, vermiculite, or perlite.
Fertilization: After transplanting, fertilize regularly with a full-nutrient fertilizer of 15-15-30. The fertilization concentration is slightly lower than that of standard-sized cyclamen. The ultimate goal of watering, fertilizing, and temperature control is to keep the plant short and dense, so that the mini plant shape matches the pot size.
Watering: Mini cyclamen requires a drier growing environment than standard-sized cyclamen.
Temperature: For the first 5-6 weeks after transplanting, the night temperature should be kept at 18-20°C. Then the night temperature can be lowered to 16°C. The daytime temperature can be slightly higher (18°C). Too high temperatures will slow down the growth of the plant.
In the later stage of cultivation, the night temperature can be lower, but under low-temperature conditions, good ventilation must be maintained. If the leaf crown is too dense, it will increase the chance of cyclamen disease.
Lighting: The requirements are the same as those for ordinary cyclamen.
The above is a specific introduction to the cyclamen cultivation information, hoping you will like it!