How to grow cyclamen from seeds at home?

Cyclamen is a beautiful flower with bright and catchy flowers, unusual in their structure. Of course, this flower can be purchased in the store already beautiful and decorated with an abundant bouquet of inflorescences and buds. But it will be more interesting to grow a cyclamen with your own hands at home from seeds, although this is a completely difficult task.

But you can cope with everything if you study all the nuances and approach in detail the issue of the selection of seed. In addition, with this flower, one should not expect quick victories and flowering can only be expected after a year's period, which will take place in painstaking care of this plant.

Where is the best place to buy cyclamen seeds?

If there is a desire to grow a beautiful and healthy flower, then initially you need to pay attention to varietal seed of this plant... Purchasing seeds from a reliable supplier is a guarantee that, in the end, exactly the plant that is indicated on the package will grow. It will be a shame to spend so much time and effort on growing an incomprehensible flower that suddenly appears in a pot instead of a cyclamen. In addition, the germination rate of seed from a renowned manufacturer is very high and reaches eighty percent.

And this means that it is better to purchase seeds for planting cyclamen for growing it at home in specialized stores that you have confidence in. And in no case should you buy seed from some new and unfamiliar suppliers, about which there are no positive reviews yet.

How to collect seeds from homemade cyclamens?

If one cyclamen is already growing at home, then you can independently collect seeds from it and from them already grow a new, independent plant. But in order for the seeds to form, it is necessary to manipulate the pollination.

How to pollinate to get seeds from a cyclamen flower:

• Using a brush, you need to transfer pollen from one flower to another.
• Flowers should be of different varieties for best results.
• Pollination is best done in the morning.
• To consolidate the result, carry out the pollination procedure several times in a row.
• Each pollination process must end with the application of fertilizer (potassium sulfate).

If all pollination conditions were met, then when the flowering process will end seed pods will appear instead of budsthat must be handled carefully. They cannot be allowed to burst. They need to be ripped off and wrapped in a napkin. The box will open by itself, and the cyclamen seeds necessary for growing at home will burst out.

How to prepare and sow seeds?

Planting cyclamen seeds begins with the fact that you need to purchase or prepare all the material that may be useful when growing these flowers.

You need to prepare:

• Soil (the composition should include peat and leafy soil or vermiculite and peat in equal parts).
• A vessel with drainage holes.
• Drainage (polystyrene or expanded clay).

A drainage layer is poured into the vessel, and then prepared soil is poured.

To ensure fast emergence of healthy plants, flower growers have developed several techniques with which the seeds are processed before planting.A beginner cyclamen hobbyist can divide the seed into equal parts and try both methods to find the right one.

Option number 1

Seed material soaked in cold water For a three days. After this time, you need to dissolve three drops of any dishwashing detergent in a glass of water and pour the seeds with this solution.

In this form, you need to hold the seeds for a few more days, but every day, changing the solution. In this case, the water should not be warm, so as not to cause the decay process.

Option number 2

The second method is to treat the seed with special preparations. It can be ordinary potassium permanganate, "Epin" or "Zircon".

Potassium permanganate must be diluted to a slightly pink color, a stronger solution can damage the seeds. Other drugs diluted with three hundred milliliters of water, three drops.

This seed treatment method is very fast because the soaking lasts no more than sixteen hours.

Now, after soaking procedures, it will be easier to grow from seeds, because, according to experts, even the oldest seeds germinate after treatment with Zircon and Epin.

The treated seed is planted in a prepared container with soil. Seeds can be planted both in a dug trench, and laid out on a substrate, sprinkled with earth. The main thing is to observe the rule that each seed should not lie closer than two centimeters from another and more than three centimeters. And the sowing depth should be two centimeters.

How to care for cyclamen crops?

It is possible to grow cyclamen from planting material if the prepared containers are covered with polyethylene and placed in a warm room. The temperature should not rise higher than twenty degrees, since with such heat these seeds there is a period of rest.

We must not forget to air the crops every day. A makeshift greenhouse must be opened for at least ten minutes.

If all the conditions were met, then in a month the first shoots will sprout from the seeds. But not all varieties of cyclamen have such germination. For example, Kiss and Apple may take six months to sprout.

The first shoots will mean that it is time to transfer the flowers to a cooler place. The seedlings sprouting from the seeds are purple-pink bores. A tuber will grow from each shoot, in turn, a shoot with the first leaf is formed from it.

It so happens that the first sheet is covered with a skin that does not want to be removed. This indicates that the flower lacks moisture. So that the growth process of cyclamen does not stop, you need to carefully remove leathery formation with tweezers... To do this, the plant must be prepared by moistening the formation from a spray bottle and letting it soften for at least thirty minutes. But do not forget about watering, by increasing it, the plant will be able to independently get rid of the skin covering it.

The growth of young cyclamen seedlings after the first shoots will occur unnoticed by others. This is due to the fact that the plant grows a root system, and the growth of the flower above the ground is suspended.

You can transplant a flower into a permanent pot when the seedling has bushes with two, or even stirrups, leaves. It will be under the most favorable circumstances in three months.

How to care for young cyclamen?

Transplanting a young plant into a permanent pot? you need to make sure that it is good drainage system arranged... Cyclamens love abundant watering, but they will not tolerate stagnant water in their pot.

When the flower has reached the transplant period, it is transferred from a temporary container to a permanent pot. The plant is covered with earth so that the entire root system is covered with it. If you transplant an adult plant, then you need to submerge the tuber only halfway into the ground.

Six months after transplanting, the cyclamen needs to be fed with fertilizers. For this purpose, any feeding for flowering plants is suitable. But experts recommend that all fertilizers be diluted not according to the parameters indicated on the package, but only be used half dose of solution.

A young plant does not like drought and prefers constant watering. This maintenance regime must be observed for up to a year, after which the cyclamen becomes an adult plant and watering must be reduced.

How to propagate cyclamen with tubers?

Growing cyclamen from seeds is not the only type of propagation for these flowers. There is also reproduction by tubers, which, although dangerous due to the possible death of the plant, is possible.

Cultivation is carried out by dividing the tuber when the flower is in the dormant stage. For cyclamen, this period occurs in spring. The tuber is cut in such a way that on each piece had an active kidney, from which a new plant can form. In order to avoid infection with infection and further death of the tuber, the sections must be treated with ash.

The divided tuber is planted in a light soil substrate in such a way that the living kidney is not covered with earth. This means that the tuber is only half buried in the ground. It is necessary to care for such seedlings as for an adult plant, watering sparingly.

Now we figured out all the stages of growing a flower and it became clear how to grow a cyclamen at home from seeds. You can start practical exercises and grow this unusual flower yourself.

Cyclamen is a perennial plant. The flower blooms in late autumn and winter, throwing out up to 15 buds of various shades: from salmon and pale pink to rich lilac and purple. At home, it is recommended to grow European and Persian varieties, as well as their hybrids with double and corrugated petals. To get healthy and beautiful plants, you should select quality seeds and care for them carefully.

Good and bad seed

When buying bags with future cyclamens from a flower shop, you should check the expiration date of the seed. Fresh specimens have almost one hundred percent germination, and expired versions turn into sprouts only in rare cases. More often they rot and die.

Purchased seeds must be sorted, separating a viable harvest from empty shells. Checking the planting material is simple:

1. Dissolve 20-30 g of table salt or white sugar in a glass of water.
2. Dip the cyclamen seeds into the liquid and stir for 5 minutes.
3. Wait until one part of the seed floats to the surface and the other settles to the bottom.
4. Pour off the solution together with the empty casings. They will be at the top.
5. Seeds that have settled to the bottom, rinse with clean water and soak so that they swell and increase in size.

"Zircon" should be added to the container with future cyclamens. The product helps the seeds to adapt to the substrate, stimulates the growth of the flower and increases its resistance to diseases. You can do without the additive, just soaking the seed in warm water for 1-2 days.

Swollen seeds, without drying, are immediately planted in a wooden box filled with a special mixture. Cyclamens will take 30-40 days to hatch and grow stronger. During this period, it is important to protect the seeds from sudden temperature changes and not flood them with water, otherwise even the strongest and hardened planting material will start to rot and die.

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Nutrient substrate

Cyclamens are not picky and can take root in almost any soil. The main thing is that the land meets three criteria:

• did not turn into a dense lump when dried;
• let the root system breathe;
• removed excess moisture into the pan, and did not hold it inside the pot.

Some gardeners recommend peat.Yes, the material is nutritious and contains many minerals that will accelerate the growth of cyclamens, but there is one drawback: such soil will absorb too much moisture. You will have to constantly monitor that the middle and lower layer of peat have time to dry before the next watering, otherwise the root system of the plant is attacked by the fungus, and the flower will die.

Many nutrients are found in leafy ground. Choose varieties with intact remnants of bark and fallen leaves. Sod soil is also suitable. The soil brought from the forest or vegetable garden must be ignited, doused with boiling water or disinfected in a double boiler. High temperatures will kill insect eggs and weed spores, as well as fungus and disease.

Peat or soil is mixed with coarse sand or fine perlite to make the substrate friable. Cyclamens grow better in slightly acidic or neutral soil, therefore, at high pH levels, it is advisable to add 10–20 g of dolomite flour to the substrate.

Tip: Those who like to pour flowers are advised to give up peat. It is better to dwell on the option from earth, sand and perlite. Do not add humus or compost to the substrate so as not to infect the cyclamens with fungi or parasites.

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Planting seeds

You will need a shallow wide box made of wood or plastic. Seeds should not be planted in separate pots until they have sprouted. A weak root system is not able to take up all the space, so the soil begins to sour and mold. As a result, young shoots get sick and die.

Planting cyclamen seeds is simple:

1. Lay out the bottom of the box with expanded clay, small pebbles or grated foam. The material acts as a drain.
2. Fill halfway with the substrate, which is tamped tightly. Use a toothpick to make shallow holes or grooves for the seeds.
3. Place damp planting material on the substrate. Cover with a thin layer of sand, which will provide the sprouts with air and prevent moisture from stagnating.
4. Add 0.5–1 cm of peat or nutrient soil on top.
5. Moisten with a spray bottle.
6. Cover with glass or cling film. It will turn out to be a kind of greenhouse.

At the first stage, cyclamens do not need light or abundant watering. Seeds should be protected from drafts and sudden temperature changes. The hatched sprouts are aired daily by lifting the glass or opening the film. Keep the box away from open windows and cracks to prevent a draft from killing the cyclamen.

The lid is removed after the formation of the first full sheet. The seedlings are given several days to adapt, and then transplanted into new separate containers.

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Pick rules

Pots are chosen of medium depth with a small diameter. The flower will live in them for a year, a maximum of two, and then you will have to transplant the plant into a more spacious flowerpot. One large hole is made in the bottom, into which a tourniquet of gauze or a short thick rope is threaded. Cyclamens should not be watered like ordinary indoor flowers. Water is destructive for the root collar and leaf outlet, therefore it should come from below, and not from above. Thanks to the rope, the plant receives the required amount of liquid.

The picking of cyclamens occurs in several stages:

1. Fill the pot with any drainage material.
2. Fill the pot halfway with the substrate with the addition of sand and perlite.
3. Water the soil abundantly in the box in which the cyclamens grow. This makes it easier to remove the sprouts and not damage the root system.
4. Transfer the seedlings with lumps of soil to the pot. Top up the substrate and compact it tightly, leaving the root collar on the surface.
5. Do not water for several days, let the flowers absorb the liquid from the clod of earth, with which they were transferred to a new pot.
6. After a week, fertilize the seedlings with a solution of ammonium sulfate. The mineral additive will accelerate the adaptation of cyclamens and protect immature flowers from diseases.
7. 7 days after the first fertilization, the result should be fixed with a solution of potassium nitrate.

Important: The picking of cyclamens is carried out 3-4 months after the emergence of shoots. The sprouts will have time to get stronger, and the transplant will not become too stressful for them.

Young flower pots are placed on a special tray filled with small to medium pebbles. A drainage layer is necessary so that the substrate always remains slightly damp, but not wet.

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Daylight hours, watering and temperature conditions

Boxes with seeds are kept in cool rooms, where the temperature does not drop below + 16-14 and does not rise above + 18-19. In the warmth, the plant hibernates, and its development slows down. To make the flower grow faster and more actively, the box can be placed in the basement or taken out to the balcony if it's early spring outside the window. But the cold is also capable of destroying seedlings, so cyclamens protect against frost and low temperatures. If the thermometer shows + 5-10, the seedlings should be brought into the house. Adult flowers feel comfortable at +20 and below. The heat weakens the exotic plant, it becomes more vulnerable and can get sick.

The sprouts that did not have time to hatch do not need light. But when the first purple threads appear, the container with flowers is rearranged to the western or eastern window, or a phytolamp is installed next to them. Direct ultraviolet light is dangerous for cyclamen. The sun burns and injures the leaves, dries up the soil. In summer, flowers are shaded and hidden in the far corners of the house, where the light is cool and dim. Tulle, lace sheer curtains or blinds should be hung on the windows so that they diffuse and soften the sun's rays.

Water the cyclamen with filtered filtered water. You can take from the tap or collect rainwater. The liquid does not need to be heated, but ice water is not the best choice. Let it be at room temperature or a little warmer.

Pour water not into a pot, but into a sump. Leave it on for 30-50 minutes so that the plant has time to "get drunk". Drain the rest carefully. You cannot breed a swamp in which fungus or mold will start.

In summer, it is useful to humidify the air around the cyclamen from a spray bottle to protect the plant from the heat. Gently spray the liquid from a spray bottle at a distance of 30–40 cm from the top of the flower. It is impossible for droplets of moisture to fall on the stems and root collar, as well as buds and blossoming inflorescences.

Tip: You can periodically wipe the cyclamen leaves with a damp sponge or cotton swab to remove dust and prevent the appearance of spider mites.

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Useful information

1. The first 3-4 months after picking exotic flowers practically do not grow upward, because they grow tubers and root system. As soon as the bottom of the plant fills the pot, the top will become thicker, and after 7-8 months the buds will appear.
2. Planting cyclamen seeds is recommended in March or April, when it is cool and not too sunny.
3. Exotic flowers should be fertilized 1-2 times a month, making weak solutions. When the cyclamen sheds leaves and enters the hibernation stage, you should discard additives and reduce watering. With an excess of mineral salts in the soil, the plant weakens and withers.
4. When the flower "wakes up" and the first leaves appear, it should be transplanted into a new, more spacious pot.

Even amateur gardeners who are just learning this subtle science can grow cyclamen from seeds. You need to hide the exotic plant from the sun, keep it in a cool room and periodically moisten the soil. If you follow some simple rules, just a year after planting the seeds, exotic flowers will get stronger and throw out their first buds.

Video: how to grow cyclamen from seeds

Cyclamen is a herbaceous perennial from the Mirsinov family. The plant comes from warm regions: East Africa, Turkey, Iran, the Mediterranean.There it can be found in natural conditions; in temperate latitudes, the flower has become an ornamental indoor plant. Among the many varieties bred by breeders, Persian and European cyclamens are the most widespread. The tuber gives the flower vitality. Perennial leaves are dark green with a white or silvery pattern. Their lower part is reddish-purple. The main decoration of the plant is magnificent buds on long peduncles.

European cyclamen

In shape, the flowers resemble exotic butterflies; their colors can be white, pink, purple and many more shades. The perennial blooms in autumn and blooms all winter, creating a special mood in the apartment. In care, the flower is unpretentious, loves coolness and diffused light. Even a novice florist can grow a cyclamen from seeds at home. Seed material is distinguished by good germination, and professional advice on planting and care will add confidence in your abilities.

Reproduction methods

Do owners of an adult plant think about how to propagate cyclamen at home? This can be done in several ways:

• dividing the tuber;
• daughter processes;
• seeds.

In the first case, the onion is cut in half and each part is planted in the substrate. The tuber is divided in August, when the dormant stage ends. Each piece must have a bud and root system. The cut is smeared with brilliant green. The tubers are buried by 2/3, the initial watering is carried out from the pan. In the absence of experience, it is better to refuse this method.

Tuber propagation

Daughter processes (rosettes) appear on tubers of European varieties. For reproduction, they are torn off and planted in moist, light soil. The wounds on the mother bulb are sprinkled with crushed charcoal. A young outlet is covered with a jar or plastic bottle for 2-3 weeks. In greenhouse conditions, it is more likely to take root. The Persian cyclamen does not give rise to daughter shoots, it is propagated by tubers or seeds.

The most common way to reproduce a flower is to grow a seed pod and harvest the ripe seeds. Seedlings from their own planting material grow and develop faster, but to increase the number of varieties of cyclamen, you will have to buy seeds in the store. Their germination rate is quite high, 80-100%. The shops have a huge selection of breeding varieties of Persian and European cyclamen.

Where to get seeds?

The easiest way is to buy seeds from the store. A huge assortment of cyclamens of all kinds and colors is on sale. This option is optimal for novice florists or for those who want to expand their collection of indoor flowers. If there is an adult plant at home, then the seeds can be harvested from it. For the reproduction of cyclamen at home to be successful, the flowers must be pollinated. There are no flying insects and wind in the apartment, so you will have to transfer pollen yourself.

Seeds from a ripe cyclamen boll

Pollination

During the flowering period (December-February) for a week every morning, gently hit each bud with a finger. Ripe pollen envelops the plant in a cloud and falls on neighboring flowers. Another way will require the use of a paintbrush. A small-diameter, soft-bristled watercolor brush will do. She needs to walk through all the flowers, applying pollen to the pistil. This is called cross-pollination. Repeatedly performing the procedure increases the chances of fertilization. You will find out about the results pretty soon. Upon successful pollination, the flower sheds its petals, then bends under the weight of the fruit.

Pollination of cyclamen

The seed box ripens in late spring. The readiness of the fruit is determined by the yellow color, drying and cracking of the shell. Do not wait for the full disclosure of the capsule, otherwise the seeds will fall to the ground. It is torn off a little earlier and left to dry completely.Small brown cyclamen seeds are poured out of the box and collected in a paper bag. It contains information about the collection time. The material is stored in the refrigerator until autumn.

Information. After a year of storage, the similarity of the seeds does not change. After two years, it decreases by 10%, but at the same time the grown seedlings grow into cyclamens with abundant flowering.

Preparing for landing

The most favorable period for growing cyclamen from seeds is considered the beginning of spring, but they are planted at other times. The harvested seed should be sorted - separate viable seeds from empty casings. This will require:

• glass of water;
• h. l. Sahara.

Sugar is dissolved in a glass of water, then cyclamen seeds are poured. After 5 minutes, the husk will float on the surface, and the grains will remain at the bottom.

A package of purchased material usually contains only 3 seeds, less often - 5. Products of the "Gavrish" company are popular. They offer hundreds of different types of cyclamen. The cost depends on the variety, prices range from 40 to 200 rubles. Seeds from the Gavrish company

For good germination of seedlings, you must first soak the seeds for a day. They are placed on a cotton pad, abundantly moistened with water. Add liquid if necessary.

Advice. Soak the seeds not in water, but in Zircon solution. It is enough to add 4 drops of growth stimulant per 0.5 l of liquid. The drug accelerates the development of plants, improves their immunity and adaptation to the environment.

Planting seed in the ground

Swollen cyclamen seeds are planted in a container for growing seedlings. There should be holes at the bottom of the container through which excess water will drain. A special substrate is prepared for seedlings:

• leafy land;
• peat;
• vermiculite or perlite.

Attention. If the soil is collected in a forest, park or on a site, it must be disinfected - doused with boiling water, ignited in the oven.

At the bottom of the container, drainage from expanded clay or foam balls is poured. The height of the layer is 2-2.5 cm, it will prevent decay of the bark system of the seedlings. The prepared soil is poured into 6-7 cm. The substrate is poured abundantly with water until its excess flows out of the holes. Wet seeds are laid out on the surface, the distance between them is 2-3 cm. The soil is poured on top with a layer of 0.5-1 cm. The soil is moistened with a spray bottle. The container with seeds is covered with glass or plastic wrap to create greenhouse conditions - constant temperature and humidity.

The container is placed in a cool, dark place. There should be no drafts and sudden temperature changes. You will have to wait for shoots at least 1 month, in some cases shoots are shown in 2-3 months. It is recommended to keep the container or other container in a room with a temperature not exceeding + 18 ° C. In the warmth, seed germination is delayed. Periodically, the soil is watered, but strong moisture should not be allowed. The greenhouse is opened and ventilated every two days.

A sprout loop appeared in the cups

A month later, the first loops of pinkish-purple color appear on the surface. This is a cyclamen tuber with a root. It appears before the leaves. The container must be rearranged in a place with good lighting. At the top of the sprouts, particles of the seed coat remain. With sufficient humidity, they fall off by themselves. If the flake gets in the way of the leaf, you can wrap it with damp cotton wool for several hours. After such a procedure, it will disappear.

The first cyclamen nodules

After the appearance of 2-4 leaves, the plants can be transplanted into separate containers. Usually, 100 ml plastic cups are used. This volume is optimal for growing a cyclamen seedling. At the bottom of the cup, holes are made for drainage. Further cultivation of the seed-planted cyclamen takes place in the soil with the same composition that was used in the container.The soil is collected in a glass up to half the volume, then a sprout with a nodule is laid and covered with soil. The surface is carefully crushed, taking care not to damage the fragile seedling. From above, the soil is watered abundantly.

Plants with 2-4 leaves are planted in cups

If the flowers grow slightly in three months, don't worry. During this period, they intensively build up the root system. This can be seen by looking through the transparent walls of the cup. The grown cyclamens can be transplanted into pots with a diameter of 5-6 cm. Purchased universal soil for flowering plants is suitable. There should be a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, occupying ¼ of the volume. The nodule should not be completely buried in the soil, a third of it should be on the surface. It is recommended to irrigate through the pallet. This will avoid rotting the tuber.

The first feeding is performed at the age of six months. A complex mineral fertilizer is used, the concentration of the solution is halved.

Cyclamen care rules

A seedling older than 6 months is transferred to the conditions of keeping an adult plant. In order for it to grow well and in a year to please with the first flowers, the following rules must be observed:

1. Perennial loves coolness: in summer, the optimum temperature is 18-20 °, in winter - 14-16 °. Higher temperatures will reduce flowering time.
2. Bottom watering is recommended when the pot is immersed in water for 15-20 minutes. The upper watering is carried out carefully, moistening occurs at the edge of the pot. The water should be at room temperature, clean and settled. After flowering, watering is reduced, in summer at rest it reaches a minimum.

   Bottom watering - the pot is immersed in water for a few minutes

3. The flower loves good lighting, but does not tolerate direct rays. It is placed on the west or east windows. With a lack of lighting, cyclamen may not bloom, so it is worth considering lighting. He needs good humidity in the room. In the summer heat, water is periodically sprayed next to the plant.

   The flower prefers diffused light

4. When transplanting a perennial into a new pot, choose a container with a diameter of 2-3 cm larger than the size of the tuber. In a spacious pot, the plant grows leaves and roots, but blooms sparsely. For a two-year-old flower, the size of the container is 8 cm, a three-year-old will need 12-14 cm.
   

   Important. The tuber of the European cyclamen is rooted all over the surface, so it is buried completely. The bulb of the Persian cyclamen should look out a third from the ground. Its roots are located at the bottom.

5. Top dressing is carried out only during the period of activity. Young plants growing green mass require more nitrogen. Before flowering, they are fed with a special fertilizer that stimulates the formation of buds. Experienced flower growers who know how to grow cyclamen from seeds and will take care of it in the future, advise the drug "Kemira Lux". It is a water-soluble powder that is applied along with watering. Fertilize the flower no more than once every two weeks.

Attention. An excess of minerals harms the plant. Its peduncles become shorter, the buds become smaller, and the color fades.

After flowering, the cyclamen goes into a resting phase. Leaves that turn yellow and fall off are a natural process and should not be a cause for concern. The tuber is placed in a cool, dark place. By the fall, he will come to life again.

Growing your own plant from seed allows it to initially adapt to its environment. The risk of getting a sick flower or losing it due to the difference in the conditions of detention is eliminated. It will take a year to wait for the first buds, but the beautiful flowers will pay off all the efforts.

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Growing cyclamen from seeds at home is troublesome, but not very difficult.True, an amateur grower will have to be patient: from the moment of sowing a seed to the beginning of flowering, it will take about a year, but the end result is worth it.

Features of growing cyclamen from seeds

Growing cyclamen from seed has a number of features:

• the seeds will sprout within a month, if the air temperature is not higher than + 15 ° C, at higher degrees the germination period of seeds can take up to 3 months;
• a rich selection of seed types contributes to the creation of a unique, healthy and luxurious flower garden;
• you can plant seeds throughout the year, although early spring or late summer is preferable;
• it is best to grow cyclamen by seed method in a dark room.

Preparing and sowing seeds - step by step instructions

Growing cyclamen from seed takes place in several stages.

Seed preparation

They are pre-soaked in any stimulant for 18 hours. The most commonly used are Zircon, Epin-extra or Etamon, which are sold in any flower shop. The preparations are diluted according to the instructions attached to the preparation.

You can soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or just in warm water. A piece of gauze or 2 cotton pads folded in several layers is impregnated with prepared liquids. The seeds are soaked for 14 hours, while it is necessary to constantly monitor them so that they do not dry out.

At this stage, it is advisable to use different processing methods for several groups of seeds in order to further draw conclusions about the optimal soaking option.

Landing

In a special indoor greenhouse, which can be used as an opaque container, the prepared soil mixture is placed in a layer of 6 - 7 cm. The substrate is prepared from a mixture of leafy earth and peat in equal amounts. The soil is well compacted. The treated seeds are spread at a distance of 2 - 3 cm, after which they are sprinkled with a mixture of sand and peat with a layer of about a centimeter and watered generously.

To maintain a high level of humidity, the container with the sown seeds is covered with an opaque film or lid. The best conditions for germination are air temperature not higher than + 18 ° C and a darkened room.

The germination process takes a very long time, the first shoots may appear in 30 - 40 days. At first, they are a root with a small tuber. It takes root in the ground, after which pink-purple loops unfold from small nodules.

When erupting seedlings, quite often there is a slight difficulty in the fact that the first leaf does not manage to throw off the peel of the seed for a long time, and it cannot turn around. Usually, with a sufficiently high air humidity, the seedlings independently solve this problem, gradually throwing off the scales, but sometimes they remain in it for a rather long period.

You should not be afraid of this, since the next leaves will come from the nodule in the soil. However, you can help the plant, for which the sprout is carefully covered with a moistened cotton swab and left for an hour and a half. After this, the seed will become soft and easily removed from the shoot. Another method is to use tweezers to remove dried scales, but there is a risk of damaging the sprout.

As soon as the first shoots appear, the container must be transferred to a bright place, but not in direct sunlight. If there are difficulties with finding such a place, then the plants should be slightly covered from the sun's rays. Young seedlings need daily moistening from a watering can with a fine strainer, or using a spray bottle. It is equally important to observe the temperature regime in the room, maintaining it at + 18 ° C.

Seedling picking

Cyclamen seedlings dive when one true leaf is finally formed and a second appears. By this time, the plant has already formed a small tuber.Seedlings are planted in pots or seedling boxes filled with soil consisting of equal parts of sand, leaf and sod soil.

You can put 2 - 3 seedlings in one bowl, they are placed in boxes according to the "6 by 6" scheme. You need to dive carefully, picking up a seedling with a clod of earth. The formed nodules must be completely covered with earth. After planting the seedlings, the growth of the plant begins to go faster.

The transplanted young will take root for about 3 weeks, while maintaining a comfortable temperature for them no higher than + 20 ° C. To prevent the petioles from stretching and twisting, it is necessary to provide the plants with bright lighting. If for some reason it is impossible to arrange the backlight, you need to lower the temperature. This step will slow down the growth of flowers and protect them from deformation.

Transfer to a permanent place

The pot for the rooted cyclamen should not be large, because as the seedlings grow, they are transplanted several times. There must be a drain hole in the container. The bottom is covered with a two centimeter drainage layer (expanded clay, brick, pebble or foam), then an earthen mixture is poured.

In addition to peat, sandy and leafy soil is added to the soil. The seedlings are planted so that the nodules rise above the soil by a centimeter - one and a half. Water the flowers through a pallet or carefully along the edge of the bowl, being careful not to pour over the tubers and leaves.

What is required for self-seeding

For self-breeding of cyclamen from seeds you will need:

• high-quality seed material purchased in the store, from flower growers growing this plant, or obtained independently from a home flower;
• growth stimulants - Etamon, Epin or Zircon;
• ready-made earthen substrate, or peat, clean calcined river sand and leafy soil;
• drainage material (expanded clay, pebbles, etc.);
• opaque film;
• a watering can with a fine strainer or a spray bottle;
• mineral fertilizer;
• box for seedlings for sowing seed material.

Aftercare of crops

The most difficult stage was left behind. Now the main thing is to water the plant in time and make sure that there are no heat sources nearby and direct rays of the sun do not fall on it. An important rule of watering: in order to avoid decay, water should not fall on the tuber, it is better to water the cyclamen along the edge of the bowl.

A nine-month-old plant can please with the first flower buds, and by the end of the first year it may well bloom. As a rule, this flower has a dormant period in summer, but the newest varieties of Persian cyclamens very often delight with flowers all year round. The cyclamen will notify the onset of a dormant period by dropping leaves. If this happens, it is necessary to limit watering to a minimum and transfer the flower to a darkened place.

Frequent fertilization is not required for this flower; in the first 6 months, cyclamen is not fed. In the future, it can be fed at 9 months with a weak solution of mineral fertilizer for flowering plants.

Necessary conditions for young plants

For the successful development of a plant in the future, several conditions must be observed.

When landing:

• Pots designed for young growth, must have holes in the bottom to remove excess water;
• The bottom of the pot is always covered a good drainage layer;
• When transplanting, the transshipment method is used, in which the root system is captured along with a decent clod of earth;
• Seedlings grown from seeds are planted in pairs in one landing container;
• When replanting adult plants, it is necessary to monitorso that the top of the tuber protrudes halfway above the ground.

Fertilizing and watering plants:

• The first time feeding for young cyclamens is applied only 6 months after sowing, applying a half dose of a solution of mineral fertilizer for decorative flowering plants;
• In the first year, it is necessary to water cyclamen often and regularly., for more solid plants, watering should be moderate, once every few days;
• Avoid getting water on the plant, if this suddenly happened, the moisture from the leaves and nodule must be gently blotted with a napkin.

Temperature range:

• Young plants of cyclamens at home do not tolerate high temperatures well., the ideal temperature of their maintenance up to a year is from +5 to + 10 ° C;
• Cyclamens grown in Spartan conditions have a stronger and more compact rosette and in the future will be more resistant to temperature changes;
• Flowers grown at high temperatures, the rosette is loose.

Seed selection criteria

When choosing seeds for self-cultivation of cyclamen at home, you must be guided by the following parameters:

• Careful selection of plant varietiessuitable for indoor breeding;
• Thorough quality control of the seed, which consists in examining it for the integrity of the seeds, for the absence of structural damage, deformation, signs of freezing, infectious diseases;
• If the seeds are purchased from the store, you need to pay attention to the expiration date, this parameter for cyclamens is limited to 2 years;
• Equally important is and the choice of the seed producer;
• The integrity of the package and its appearance are also checked: worn inscriptions, traces of wetting indicate that the planting material was stored in the wrong conditions and that good results should not be expected from it.

Homemade cyclamen seeds

Blooming at home, cyclamen can produce very high quality seeds. Seed setting occurs in the process of self-pollination. For artificial self-pollination, a cross path is used: pollen from one plant to another is carefully transferred with a small brush. After the seed pod is formed, the seed is removed from it, which must then be dried over a few days.

Home seeds give almost 100% germination, grow very quickly and amicably, which is fundamentally different from store seeds.

Major mistakes

When growing cyclamen from seed, it is necessary to take into account the main mistakes made by inexperienced growers:

• The soil must always be moist.so that the seeds do not dry out;
• Watering is necessary daily, but in no case allow stagnation of water;
• To avoid drying out, you can cover the seedlings with glass., while not forgetting about the need for airing;
• During the first 3 months, the roots of cyclamen grow vigorously, the leaves appear later;
• The indoor cyclamen tuber has only 1 growth point., damage to which can lead to the death of the entire flower;
• You need to feed the plant only after 1 half of the yearusing a weak solution of fertilizer for flowering plants.

Tips for florists

To achieve a positive result when propagating cyclamen by seeds, the following recommendations must be observed:

• take seed planting material of only high quality;
• strictly follow the above rules and sequence of planting stages;
• keep soil moisture under control; both excessive and insufficient watering is harmful for cyclamen seedlings;
• apply fertilizers in 3 - 4 months after the leaves appear.

The cyclamen flower, grown from seed, is unpretentious, since it was originally grown at home. Such plants are resistant to infections and pests, tolerate temperature differences without problems. In addition, in stores, sometimes you may not find a plant of your favorite variety and color.

Observing all the rules and recommendations described above, you can easily grow cyclamen from seeds at home, replenishing your home garden with new beautiful plants.