Watering A Cyclamen For Dormancy

As days get longer, especially as it hots up, pot cyclamens decide it's time for a rest; in this case, a well-earned one. Despite starting flowering a month late it then continued as per normal.

JUST ONE LAST DRINK
What I do now is give it a final light watering to see it through the 'shutting down' into dormancy. Although the plant seems to be dying back, its leaves will be working overtime, making food for the corm so it can keep ticking over. Gradually, the leaves will die back as everything dries. I leave the leaves on.

You can lay it on its side, as recommended. However, provided the crown of the tuber is dry enough, you don't need to. That's all there is to it 'till the first signs of new life appear around the middle of June. Could do with a good rest, myself.

Cyclamens Like 'Phostrogen'. But Don't Over-Feed

This cyclamen has not turned out too badly after its poor start last year, and will soon be in full flower. Since potting up in multi-purpose compost, it has received only plain water, apart from a tiny pinch of 'Phostrogen' (just a 'smell').

I have found this feed ('Phostrogen') to be wonderful for all sorts of plants and have used it all my life. I would strongly recommend it for all novice growers. But you must not over-feed. If you stick to about a third of the recommended rate, and only apply once the plant is well-established and is looking under-nourished, you should have no problems. Remember, over-feeding is a big killer of all plants - much bigger than you might suppose.

I do not like leaves to be dark green all over, as is the case with a lot of fast-grown plants. Contrary to opinion, I don't think this type of plant grows to its potential. My plants seem to grow best when the leaves are a vibrant lightish green in the centre and darker around the edge. It is difficult to explain. But you will recognise this when you see it. You can feel the good vibes from the plant - at least I think you can (there I go again, take no notice).

I suggest novices have a look at last year's notes on feeding. Just click the link at the side.

Strangest of Years: Cyclamen Three Months Behind

This is the strangest of years. Things used to run like clockwork. Plants used to grow and flower on time each year. Not this year, it seems. This cyclamen is only just coming into flower, nearly three months behind.

If you remember, it was late starting off. For some unknown reason, it wouldn't develop roots. This has never happened before. I don't know if the roots have now fully developed, because I am afraid of damaging the young flower buds by removing the plant from its pot.

All this does not seem to have affected the number of flowers; there seem to be lots of new buds waiting to spring forth. Trouble is, it might be spring before they do.

Cyclamen First Watering

Seems ages since we planted the cyclamen. It is also incredible that, after fully wetting the compost by partial immersion in a sink of water, it is only now ready for it's first watering.

When I removed it from its pot to examine the roots 12 days ago, I was not impressed. Considering how dry the compost had become, they seemed rather sparse. So, because the plant was not wilting, I decided to leave things a while longer.

As you can see, things have not improved much, although there are a few more fine roots showing through. But the compost is so dry and devoid of roots that it will hardly hold together. Why?

Well, it could be because the compost (multi-purpose) contains too much food. If a plant can get all the food it needs, why bother to go looking for more? This seems the most likely.

However, cyclamens are a woodland-type plant, so thrive in an acid soil. It is possible that the compost is not acid enough (do I normally use ericaceous compost (compost without lime)? - can't remember). Though, as you can see, there is no sign of yellowing on the leaves. Strange.

Note the brown roots. This is a sign that the corm was given too much water at some stage (I left it in the sink by mistake; it was sodden when I removed it). So it might have spent much time recovering. This is what I mean when I say you should leave plants alone; they are capable of recovering all by themselves.

Cyclamens are good value for cool north-facing window sills, flowering until spring next year.

Planting a Cyclamen Corm

This cyclamen corm is beginning its fifth year. After flowering finished in May, it was dried off (as it stood, in the pot, complete with leaves), then removed from pot, and old dry compost carefully removed.

Cyclamen is one of those plants that do not like water on their crowns ('African Violet' is another). So when planting, crowns need leaving proud of the compost. In this case, I selected the smallest pot which would contain the corm, filled it with wetted multi-purpose, then worked corm gently into surface so compost level only slightly above roots.

Note: Compost should be wetted but not saturated (water should run out between fingers when squeezed in hand, then retract when released).

If you have a cool humid window (e.g. bathroom) which receives some morning or evening sun, this plant is ideal. I have had best results when kept cool (kitchen can get a bit too hot). It will then flower for about eight months. And it smells gorgeous.