Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Ian Young's Bulb Log - Feedback Forum => Topic started by: art600 on July 31, 2008, 10:12:41 AM
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Ian
Seed from a silver-leafed purpurascens is on its way to you. Will post picture of the plant(s) later today.
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Ian,
Great log, as always. Interesting that you sow the seed halfway down the mix..... I've always found myself that sowing Cyclamen seed under the gravel just like bulb seed has worked very well for me. The new bulbs forms right on the surface of the soil just under the gravel. I find that Cyclamen coum is best dried for a couple of weeks before sowing, as I have found much better germination results than if they are sown directly fresh. Just an observation I thought people might be interested.
Arthur,
I'd be interested in seeing your silver leaf purpurascens too if you don't mind posting a pic here (Wasn't sure whether you were going to post the pic privately to Ian or not, so thought I'd ask). I have various seedlings coming along from my "silver leaf" types (I call them that, but they are by no means pure silver) and I'd be interested to see what is actually around out there by way of silver leaves of this species. It is a favourite of mine as it flowers almost all year here, and I love the leaves. One of my seedlings is almost a solid silver leaf, but I am finding it is much slower growing as the solid silver is obviously in it's case limiting it's food availability.
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Arthur you are a gem and a good friend, thanks.
Paul, yes I used to sow on the surface and just cover with gravel and got a reasonable germination and as you say the young corms were just on the surface of the compost.
My long term problem with growing cyclamen in pots is rot starting in the congested area where all the stems arise from the top surface of the corm and spreading down to the corm itself.
When I started to sow the seed deeply and continued to grow the coms at that depth instead of sitting on the surface I found that I no longer have the rotting problem.
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Ian,
That must be why it isn't a problem here..... no rain, so limited moisture except hand watering!!! ;D ;)
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When I moved to my bungalow in September 2003, I threw a lot of soil onto a raised bed. The soil was from several Cyclamen where I had lost patience and thought there was no chance of germination.
The following pictures show the 2 Cyclamen purpurascens that did germinate. They flowered for the first time in 2006, and have set seed regulalrly since. Cyclamen Hederifolium and coum also germinatd, but these have been removed to other parts of the garden - there were thousands of bulbs in the garden, but no Cyclamen.
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Arthur,
Mine are similar to that. I am hoping that my almost completely silver form goes well, as it should be lovely as a mature plant. And set seed i we're lucky. ;)
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Paul
Just noticed this seedling - could be from the other plants.
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Arthur,
well done. Very similar to mine, although I think mine has an edge of green. Keep an eye on that one, it'll be a stunner I think. 8)
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I'm never really sure what counts as "silver" as opposed to "pewter" in cyclamen terms
Here's a selection of my so-called silver purpurascens
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Diane
Very nice - I would call the majority 'silver' Certainly more silver than mine.
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Silver, pewter, we'd just be pleased with something in a purpurascens leaf that isn't plain green!! So, thanks, Arthur, from me, too! :-*
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Diane,
Very, very nice. My silverish seedling would be like your bottom left one I think, probably pewter rather than silver. I particularly like the main leaf in the top left one, with the tiny christmas tree mark in the centre. Really sets it off. I'd be pleased to grow any of those. So hard to find solid silver versions, so well done! 8)
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I would be delighted to have C. purpurascens AT ALL!!! Used to have a couple of small plants but they didn't survive my last garden move, 11 years ago.
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Lesley,
I can easily send you seeds if you want. I probably still have some from my last collection. I'll have to check.
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I would be delighted to have C. purpurascens AT ALL!!! Used to have a couple of small plants but they didn't survive my last garden move, 11 years ago.
Lesley
I will send you some seeds from the same batch as Ian.
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Yes please - to both. Paul I think we had this conversation about 2 or 3 years ago. :)
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Lesley,
If so, sorry!! While ill a lot of things went by the wayside unfortunately. Will check and find out whether I still have any unsown ones. Even if I find older ones I can send them for you to try, and then do some hand pollinating this year to get you some fresh ones as well.