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Neat and dwarf like, Cyclamen Primulaceae are charming tuberous plants. Originally found in the Mediterranean region and also known by its common name sowbread, cyclamen grow quite well in fairly rich soil containing plenty of leaf-mould and is particularly happy in a shady pocket of the rockery, under the trees or in pots. Different species bloom for many weeks and most of the species lose their foliage for a brief period each year, generally during summers. Cyclamen Persicumlaceae, the Florists’ or Persian cyclamen is the large flowering species which is now offered in many strains: colours of white, pink, salmon, crimson to mauve or cherry-red flowers and plain or marbled foliage, it grows to about a foot tall. Puck — a hybrid — blooms almost continuously bearing about two inch flowers on six to nine plants and is highly recommended. Most small flowered cyclamens are suited for gardens at medium elevations and do best in light shaded soil which is enriched with compost and leaf-mould, provided by an annual spring mulch of about half an inch. However, the Florists’ cyclamen and Puck can be planted in autumn for late winter or spring blossoms. As house plants, they do best in bright, indirect or curtain-filtered sunlight where night temperature is around 13-15.5 degrees celsius and day temperature is no more than 20-22 degree celsius. Corms should be planted a couple of inches below the surface with roots uppermost, four inches apart in rockeries or ground in well-drained soil enriched with bonemeal and peat moss or leaf mould. Seeds, however, should be sown around August-September in boxes of open soil placing them in a cool corner. Do not expose the seedlings to too much hot sun. As the leaves begin to appear, the seedlings may be lifted gently and potted into small pots. Cyclamen likes an open soil at all stages of growth and absolutely loves lime in soil. A mixture of equal parts of loam, sand and sifted leaf-mould with a little complete fertiliser is good for cyclamen. Do not press the soil firmly and always water at the side of the pot to avoid wetting central growth. Water them with care as too much water rots the corms and too little injures them beyond recovery. Let the crown of the tuber be on level with the top of the soil. As plants grow and are about to flower, feed with weak liquid manure once a fortnight. Keep the foliage clean by syringing with clean water. When the blossoms are over, and the foliage shows signs of discoloration, decrease watering gradually and after the foliage dies down completely, withhold water altogether, take them out of soil and dry till potting time in next season. Corms give the largest
flowers in first year of blooming, thereafter there may be more
flowers, but smaller. Cyclamens from seeds usually take about 18
months to flowers but Puck blossoms in about five months. |
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