Cyclamen 2007

[HClase]

Here's the situation in Newfoundland.  My main patch of C. purpurascens, growing under a fir tree (mulched with deciduous leaf mold) start flowering in late July and are now more of less at their peak, there are old leaves and new leaves, flowers and last year's seed pods all at the same time.  Signs of weevil damage too (as Hans has) I hope that a bit of diazinon will have dealt with them.  All these plants are self seedlings (aided by ants).   It is the only species of Cyclamen whose seedlings will survive outside here; although C. hederifolium seeds germinate they don't survive the winter.

This year there are only 3 pods, but last year there were lots, I collected some seed, put it into a plastic sour cream container on damp kitchen paper and then forgot all about them for nearly a year.  They were in a corner of our potting area, unheated, but never quite freezes as it's attached to the house.  When I opened it up a couple of weeks ago instead of a mouldy mess there was about 90% germination.  I tried to rescue them by putting the lot into a pot of seed mix and carefully covering them with soil, but it didn't work.  If I can find any seed this year I'll try the same temperature regime, but properly potted - it's always difficult to get them before the ants do.

[Hans J]

Hi all ,

Here some new pics from today :
C. cilicicum
C. colchicum plain leaf
C. graecum f. album
C. graecum ssp. candicum
C. hederifolium 'George Nation'
C. hederifolium 'Arrow leaf"
C. mirabile
C. purpurascens f. album UK
C. purpurascens 'Rasberry'

Enjoy
Hans

[Ian Y]

Great to see the range Hans.
I must try harder to find a better site for the cyclamen in pots which have to live under the bench.
I keep them dry too long, I have only just watered them so it will be a while before they flower.

[Hans J]

Ian ,

All this plants are in pots -the purpurascens outside and all other in my greenhouse ( under the tables ) -I give them all two weeks water .

Greetings
Hans

[Ian Y]

Thanks Hans, I know I should water them sooner and always mean to do it in early August but then I am busy repotting the other bulbs so sometimes the cyclamen have to wait until September when I water the rest of the bulbs.

I am especially fond of Cyclamen mirabile - I think it is my favourite.

[Hans J]

Ian ,

I give my Cyclamen in the whole year in every two weeks water -they should not be really dry - and be carefull with fertilizer -they like it not so much .
If you give to much so they will only produce a lot of leaves - and poor flowers .
I dont know if my method with watering works for you too -but for me is it perfect.
Yes - mirabile are beautifull plants ...I hope to find one day a source for mirabile f. niveum....

[Paul T]

Great pics Hans.  Wonderful to see so many species.  Here at the moment we have all the coums in flower, plus pseudibericum, as well as a few purpurascens with a few flowers left on them.  Nice to see the earlier species "in flower" right now as well (even if it is via the computer!  ).  I agree with Ian about the mirabile.... there is just something dainty about the flower that gives it a something extra.  That purpurascens album is very impressive though!!  Looks like a very happy plant. 

Thansk for posting the pics. 

[Hans J]

Glad that you like it Paul ,
You write : "Looks like a very happy plant "- I had before some days lost a second plant of these - it is died in few days .
A good Cyclamen grower told me that this plants are really sensitive - he has lost all his plants from this source ....so I hope ....

[Paul T]

Hans,

Oh no!  I remember that you said you had 2 plants of this.  Did the other one flower before it died, and were you able to cross pollinate them?  Do they even need cross pollination?  Still good for genetic variation of course, but I realise that some do and some don't need a second clone.  Not sure about purpurascens.  Good luck with getting yourself some seed.  That way at least you'll have backup coming along.  It certainly is a shame to have lost the second one.  Hopefully my comment about it looking so good hasn't doomed this one to a quick death as well.  Murphy's Law and all that!!

[Hans J]

Hi @ all ,

Today a little sun .....and....

[Lesley Cox]

Great pictures Hans - though a bit big for my screen.
For me, the white graecum is the pick of the bunch. So pristine.

[Maggi Young]

I love C. rohlfsianum!
And they are out so early, wonderful what a little sun can do, isn't it?

[David Shaw]

Cyclamen mirabile that has just come into flower.

[tonyg]

Cyclamen graecum is looking good in my covered 'bulb' bed.
When we move house will I be able to move them ..... ? ....

[Lesley Cox]

You MUST. How could you not? I remember from when I dug one from a trough a year or two ago, it had roots to the bottom of the trough and out the drainage holes and into the ground for about 30cms. Dig deep laddie!