Cyclamen alpine violet species and reproduction. Alpine violet or cyclamen: plant description, home care tips. How to choose a flower container

Alpine violet or cyclamen, also called dryakva, is a perennial herbaceous plant that is incredibly popular. A cultivated bush has a rather beautiful decorative form. The leaves of the bush are endowed with a dark green color, decorated with gray patterns.

Many people ask: how and when does indoor cyclamen bloom? The answer is simple. Flowers are located on long shoots in the form of multi-colored butterflies, and, depending on the variety chosen, they start pleasing the eye from the middle of the autumn or winter months (some species can begin blooming only in spring), and the “fluttering of tender moths” continues until the end of spring.

All about cyclamen

Flower of Solomon

Where exactly the cyclamen flower came from is unknown, but some of the countries, including Iran, Central Europe, Greece, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean believe that it was first discovered on their territory. But it is impossible to know for sure who for the first time could enjoy the flowering of dryakva, since it has happened since ancient times.

AT old times this plant was considered King Solomon's flower. The influential monarch became famous for his wisdom and philosophical approach to life, so for a long time he tried to find a flower that could decorate royal crown. Do right choice it was not easy, since it depends on him how elegantly and, at the same time, majestically the symbol of power on the monarch would look. Once the king saw the cyclamen flower, then he was fascinated by its unforgettable appearance. From that moment on, Solomon was sure that it was this flower that would adorn his crown. Soon a golden crown in the form of this flower was made.

Caring for cyclamen after purchase

If you don't know what to give to someone dear to you, then indoor plant cyclamenia will best solution this question. It is endowed not only decorative qualities that attract others, but also has beautiful flowers exuding an unforgettable aroma.

When purchasing a flower, focus on the following details:

If you are offered a sluggish flower with lowered leaves, then you should refuse it. Also pay attention to the general appearance, because it should not have mold, plaque and mucous formations, since such a plant will surely die soon.

Also, if you bring an infected bush into the house, it can infect other indoor plants.

What are the popular species

You can find about 15 varieties of cyclamen (Cyclamen L.), including:

  • Cyclamen Persian Care

Persian

This plant variety, which appeared on the territory of the Eastern Mediterranean. The leaves are heart-shaped, painted in rich emerald green color, which is diluted with a marble pattern.

Flowers are located on long shoots and in their shape are somewhat reminiscent of butterfly wings. There are flowers, both white and red.

You can enjoy bright flowers for many days. From October to March, cyclamen releases about 100 flowers that will delight you with their aroma. From May to June, the bush is at rest.

  • European cyclamen

Or as it is also called alpine violet, in its natural environment it can be found in Central and Southern Europe. The plant has smaller leaves compared to the previous species. Depending on what color the cyclamen flowers will be, it depends on what aroma it will emit. Unlike all other varieties, this one does not shed its foliage during hibernation.

  • Kossky

First discovered on the territory of the island of Kos, it differs from other varieties in its petals, which taper towards the base and are endowed with darkening spots.

  • Ivy or Neapolitan

The plant variety has leaves that differ from other counterparts with notched-toothed edges, which have a lot of similarities with the famous ivy. Flowering begins in September or early days november. Flowers are formed much faster than the leaves of the bush.

  • Caucasian

Caucasian

In the Caucasian variety, which grows in this area in the open field, foliage appears in the fall and exists under a layer of snow all winter.

The leaves can be either round and heart-shaped, or narrow or elongated. The color varies from dark green to brown. Miniature flowers, the circumference of which does not exceed 2 cm, are painted in pink shades with dark purple spots at the base. Tuber Brown forms roots from below.

For breeding cyclamen in rooms, the Persian species is mainly used, which includes many varieties and varieties.

You can meet standard ones, the peduncles of which reach 20-30 cm, medium-sized ones with shoots from 15 to 22 cm, and low plants, in which shoots with flowers no more than 15 cm.

The most popular varieties:

Any of these names can often be found in ordinary apartment or office space on the windowsill. After all, cyclamen mix was often presented as a pleasant present or a token of attention.

How to care for cyclamen at home

He does not require any special care, but if you dream to please you with your beautiful inflorescences and grow up healthy, then you need to follow certain rules.

  • The first thing to do is to find the most appropriate place for a flower. It prefers to grow in a well-ventilated area, where there is no direct sunlight. But do not neglect the fact that the plant also does not like drafts, even the slightest ones.
  • Compliance temperature regime very important. Prefers to grow in rooms where there is no strong heat. The temperature at which cyclamen will feel great should not exceed 14-16 degrees.
  • In the event that you cannot maintain such a temperature on hot summer days, then it is best to transfer the bush to the basement or other room with the appropriate temperature. Do not forget about the lighting, as the dry wood will not grow in the dark. Of course, you can leave the plant in a room where the temperature will not exceed 25 degrees, but this will stop the growth of the bush.
  • With the onset of cold weather, remove the plant pot from radiators, fireplaces and other sources of additional heat. Do not forget to water the bush and monitor the humidity in the room.
  • If the alpine violet is kept in a room that is too cold, and also watered too often, then it will begin to rot, and will soon die.

Need to transplant a plant after purchase or no video

Before moving the tuber to new soil, it must be washed in warm water. Peat, which is too stuck to the bulb, wash off. As soon as it is completely cleared of the old substrate, it is processed with root. Then placed in a pot with drainage and poured suitable soil for cyclamen.

Subsequent transplants are carried out only if necessary. As a rule, the reasons are the overgrown root system, which is cramped in a small pot, as well as a change of soil.

Transplant rules

  • Wait until summer, because at this moment the plant comes out of dormancy and is ready for transplanting.
  • If young leaves appeared on the tubers, then this is an indicator that cyclamen needs to be transplanted.
  • If the plant blooms, then in no case should it be transplanted.
  • Choose a pot well, as the distance from the bulb to the sides of the pot should be about 3 cm.
  • The root system must be moved to a container without removing a lump of earth from it, in which it grew before transplanting.

Before transplanting, do not forget to take into account the plant variety, since each species has certain features in this procedure. In Persian cyclamen, the root system develops at the bottom of the bulb, so it is necessary to plant a tuber so that it top part was above the ground.

In the event that the roots form along the entire diameter of the tuber, then the latter should be placed deep into the ground.

After the plant has been transplanted, you should:

  • Place it in a cool room with diffused light.
  • In the first two days, provide cyclamen with moderate watering.
  • Further watering should be carried out a little more often.

Proper watering of alpine violets

Since the plant is among the lovers of moisture, when growing it in your home, do not forget to carry out timely, plentiful watering.

How to water cyclamen correctly? Regardless of what time of the year you will water the bush, carry out this procedure by pouring water into the pot pan. As a last resort, move the leaves with your hand and carefully pour water around the edge of the pot.

The fact is, if water gets on the bush itself or its flower stalks, it will lead to rotting of these areas.

The first signs are not proper watering these are brown spots that lead to the subsequent death of the entire bush.

  1. Use settled water for watering dryakva in the room where it grows. Watering from the tap is not recommended.
  2. In the event that you forgot to defend the water, and you need to water the flower as quickly as possible, then use boiled water, cooling it to the desired temperature.
  3. Do not let the water stagnate in the pan, after watering and soaking all the soil, pour it out of the container.

In the event that you become the owner of a Persian variety of a flower, then water it like the most common houseplant, because its bulb is located above the ground.

Fertilizers and top dressings

In order for the buds to develop well, the soil needs to be fed. As soon as the foliage begins to appear and until the very appearance of flower stalks, feed the plant with mineral fertilizers once every 2 weeks.

Organics will also be beneficial for your flower. Be careful when using nitrogen fertilizers. If you apply too much, the root system may begin to rot. In the event that the leaves began to turn yellow, you should use fertilizers, which include iron. The plant itself must be sprayed with iron chelate, and at the moment when it begins to bloom, apply the same top dressing under the root.

Indoor cyclamen reproduction

Dilute given plant at home is not easy. The main methods are dividing the bush and growing it from seeds.

seed breeding

When purchasing seeds, pay attention to the expiration date, as only those seeds that have been stored for no more than 2 years will sprout.

If you already have a flower and want to get seeds from it, then you have to pollinate it with your own hands. Using a brush or cotton swab you need to transfer pollen from one flower to another. To be sure that the plant is certainly pollinated, carry out this procedure more than once. As a rule, the procedure is carried out on a sunny morning.

Before starting sowing, the seeds must be stored for 2 months, and then soaked in Zircon.

To create soil for seeds, you will need peat, which must be mixed into equal parts with vermiculite or hardwood. After spreading the seeds on the surface of the soil, cover them with a thin layer of the substrate. In order for the seeds to germinate indoors, a temperature of 20 degrees is required. If you create conditions with more or less temperature, then the seeds will hibernate or begin to rot. Be sure to watch the seeds and do not forget to ventilate them.

After about 4-6 weeks, the first shoots will appear, which must be transferred to a well-lit room, the temperature of which is not more than 15-17 degrees. After the appearance of the bulbs and the third petal, transplant the seedlings into separate pots. A week later using mineral fertilizers, feed them. But do not forget that the dosage indicated on the package must be reduced several times. After about 12-18 months, the first flowers will appear on the plant.

Dividing a bush or bulb

You can propagate cyclamen by dividing the bush if the plant is at rest.

The first thing to do is to get the bulb out of the ground and dry it thoroughly. Next, cut it so that each part has roots and buds with leaves. The best individual will be the one with multiple buds.

To avoid infection of the plant, process the sections charcoal and let them dry. After a few days, start planting the bulbs in the container.

Do I need to care for cyclamen in winter

As soon as flowering is over, all the leaves on the bush begin to turn yellow and fall off. This is an indication that the plant is entering a dormant period. At this point, you need to provide cyclamen with special care.

  • Remove all dry leaves and flowers from the bush.
  • Those leaves that have not yet turned yellow are cut off closer to the base. The procedure is carried out with the help of sharp cutting objects.
  • Watering is carried out infrequently and in small doses. Keep the soil slightly moist so that the tubers do not suffer from drought.
  • Place the pot in a cool, shaded area. Remember that the life of the dryak is supported by the bulb.

What diseases and pests attack

If you can't provide a plant good care, then most likely it will be attacked by various insects and infections.

Cyclamen flower, how to care for at home, so as not to get sick:

  • The cyclamen mite lives in colonies and can be detected by a coating that resembles a layer of dust. Insects live on reverse side leaf, and their presence leads to its twisting, as well as withering of buds and flowers. In pest control, insecticides will help you, which are applied after all infected leaves have been removed.
  • Thrips are insects that live off the juice in the leaves. They lay their offspring in the form of larvae on the reverse side of the sheets. Also, pests can settle in the soil and attack the bulb, damaging it. If white spots appeared on the pet and the edges of the leaves began to dry out, then this is the first sign of a thrips attack. Infected plants should be treated with insecticides and sent to quarantine, as these insects can fly and can move to neighboring plants.

What to do if the leaves began to turn yellow

The first reason why the color of the leaves has changed may be a sharp change in temperature. Yellowness can also indicate that there are not enough nutrients in the soil, it is waterlogged or too dry. If the plant has a dormant period, then yellowness is a normal process.

Why cyclamen does not bloom at home

  • In the event that the air temperature in the room is too high, alpine violet will not produce flowers. Reducing the temperature will help to cope with this problem.
  • Spraying the bush 2-3 times a day, and rubbing its leaves with a damp sponge, you will also help it bloom.
  • Lack of fertilizer for full development, add phosphorus-potassium supplements to pet care and flowering is ensured.

What are the medicinal properties of sage

Even the ancient physician Hippocrates was able to discover medicinal properties of this plant. Its tubers are able to relieve any inflammation, and are also endowed with a calming and antimicrobial property.

The people use the juice of the bulb, which can cure many ailments. With its help, you can cure sinusitis get rid of various kinds pain, radiculitis, osteochondrosis and many other diseases.

But it should be borne in mind that this plant should be used very carefully, as it contains toxic substances that lead to vomiting and dizziness.

Sometimes cyclamen poisoning can lead to convulsions and difficulty breathing.

What are the signs associated with the plant

The Romans believed that cyclamen was able to protect the family from the evil eye and damage. Therefore, they put it in a prominent place so that an evil person could not do any harm.

Nowadays, many people also believe that the plant takes away all the negative energy.

Growing indoor alpine violet at home is considered a good indicator, because thanks to it, benevolence and tranquility will always prevail in the family.

The flower should be placed in the bedroom, because according to ancient beliefs, it also helps to increase male potency.

How to care for cyclamen at home video:

Cyclamen flowers are representatives of the primrose family, this perennial with tuber roots. Their homeland is Southern and Central Europe. In the wild, it can be found in the Caucasus and Crimea. The population includes approximately 60 species. In stores, hybrids and European are mainly found.

Both species are very popular with flower growers who know everything about cyclamens. Some ignorant people consider these flowers rather capricious, but this is a deep delusion. It is enough to properly water and maintain the optimum temperature, then they will delight with their flowering for many years.

Cyclamens are shaped like a flock of butterflies that flutter over a bush. Color palette very diverse. The plant blooms with small, up to 5 cm long velvet flowers. The height of peduncles can reach 30 cm, there are also dwarf species, growing up to 15 cm. The flowers have and (bisexual).

variety variety

Cyclamen flowers have long been grown as ornamental plant, therefore, over a fairly long period of time, a lot of different varieties: small, medium and large. With pleasant aroma and without it, of different colors and sizes. For example, the Persian variety begins to bloom in winter time year, and in the summer it is at rest.

Usually the flowers are odorless, but there are compact forms (Kaori and Puppet) with strong aroma. The rhizome has processes only from below, without child tubers.

The European hybrid, on the contrary, "comes to life" in the summer. The flowers are smaller and have a pleasant aroma. The root is also in the form of a large rounded tuber, from which the roots grow. Unlike the Persian variety, the European one produces daughter tubers, they are used for propagation.

Care and reproduction

Cyclamen flowers grow for a long time and abundantly with proper care. The plant loves cool rooms with a temperature not exceeding + 17C. If the temperature is higher, flowering is reduced, the leaves begin to fade and turn yellow. During the flowering period, the room should be light, the plant requires abundant watering(without getting on the buds and leaves), when the cyclamen stops blooming, it is removed in the shade, laying the pot on its side and not watering for some time. Just needs to be protected earthen clod from drought.

Sometimes a flower needs to be fed with special fertilizer and watered with settled water. If you strictly follow all the rules, then the flowering period lasts about 2 months. At rest, watering is significantly reduced, at the same time, not allowing it to dry out. In the shade, the plant should be until July, from the end of the month it gradually begins to be watered and sprayed.

In September, when young leaves appear, it is better to transplant the flower into a mixture of peat, sand, turf and leafy soil. The tuber is deeply buried in the soil, covering with moss (1/3 of the top should be bare). After that, the pot is moved to a shady place until autumn, when flowering begins. It must be remembered that cyclamen flowers need sunlight in the winter.

It is carried out in several ways: in summer - by seeds, in spring - by tubers. The flower is overly sensitive to dry, warm climates, this can even lead to death. If it is impossible to provide the optimum temperature, it is better to put the pot in slightly damp peat.

Waterlogging also negatively affects the leaves, they begin to wither, turn yellow and rot. When watering the plant, the main thing is not to get on the tuber, for this you need to water it from the edge of the pot or by immersing it in water. Flowers can be affected by various pests, in such cases, the leaves must be sprayed special solution and treat the soil with pesticides.

In addition to creating beauty, cyclamen is widely used in folk medicine in diseases of the eyes, migraines, women's diseases and purulent lesions. Usually use the juice of the plant, which is extracted from the tubers. They even treat sinusitis, colds, runny nose. Juice is diluted with ordinary water in a ratio of 1:6.

Do not forget that this plant is very poisonous, so they need to be treated with extreme caution and under the supervision of a specialist.

The popular flower of cyclamen (Cyclamen) is also known under other names - dryakva, alpine or Persian violet. The plant is native to the Middle East and the Greek islands. Symbolizes happiness and good luck. Bright inflorescences called the wings of a butterfly, the rays of the sun, the mystery of the East. At the same time, cyclamens are poisonous crops for pets. One of the few representatives of the flora, blooming brightly in winter.

Cyclamen "Ivy" in a container.

There are more than twenty types of cyclamen. The flower belongs to the tuberous. It must be borne in mind that the plant has strong and long roots. Unlike most crops, leaves and buds appear in the fall, when the rest of the plants are preparing for a dormant period.

Cyclamen flowers have 5 petals, usually directed upwards. The color of the inflorescences can be white, pink, purple or black colors and shades. After withering, a fruit is formed in the form of a seed box, from which the seeds are scattered.

Cyclamens are very tender plants. The flower does not like severe frosts. When grown outdoors in temperate climates, it can overwinter on site. The most common types of culture are "Persian" and "European". There are also special dwarf varieties, the size of which is only 15 cm in height.

The leaves are very compact with a heart-shaped pattern. The plant is very attractive and without flowers. The main leaves are green with silver markings, the secondary leaves are gray marbled around most of the leaves. The center is dominated by green. Beautiful inflorescences appear on the strongest and longest stems. After withering, cyclamens are often thrown away, as from annuals. With proper care, you can save the plant for flowering next season.

How to care for cyclamen in a container

Temperature

Cool air within + 10 - +18 °C is ideal for cultivation. It is advisable to choose a room without heating. In this way, the flowering period can be extended. If the room is hot, you should place the flowerpot on a cool windowsill.

Lighting

For wild flowering cyclamens it is desirable to provide a sufficient amount sunlight. It is necessary to avoid a place under direct scorching rays.

Cyclamen planted in partial shade.

Watering: features and rules

Moisten the soil should be as the top layer of soil in the pot dries. good method for watering - place the pot in warm water so that the soil absorbs as much liquid as possible. Then you need to give the plant time to drain the pan. When immersed in water, avoid getting water on the roots. Otherwise, you can damage the root system.

Features of proper watering can be found in the video:

The soil

Cyclamens prefer loose soil that retains moisture well. Particular attention should be paid to the acidity of the soil and the content of mineral components. The perfect combination for a plant:

  • leaf humus;
  • soddy soil;
  • peat briquettes in crushed form;
  • small straw;
  • shavings.

When choosing a substrate, you should pay attention to the size of the components - large wood plates can ruin the tubers. Therefore, before planting, the soil mixture should be sifted.
Preference should be given to a fresh and moderately moist composition, without pronounced viscosity.

The connection can be thermally processed, for example, in an oven. This will require a wide a metal sheet with curved edges. The procedure should be carried out at a temperature of about + 85 degrees for no more than ten minutes.

Air humidity

Sufficient humidity can be ensured by placing the flowerpot in a tray with pebbles or artificial method increasing the vapor content of the air - a humidifier.

Cyclamen transplant

A cyclamen plant should be transplanted after the end of the flowering season and wilting of the leaves no more than once every 2-3 years. You need to do the procedure as the soil is depleted. In the process of transplantation, you must:

  • take a larger container;
  • prepare a new soil mixture;
  • moisten the soil;
  • remove all dead parts of the plant, including roots;
  • carefully place the cyclamen in a new pot;
  • slightly level the ground;
  • sprinkle with mulch or peat on top.

pruning

Dry, yellowed and dead leaves must be removed at the first sign of wilting. You need to cut close - at the very base of the plant. The fallen parts of the culture should be cleaned regularly so as not to expose the cyclamen to various diseases.

As soon as the culture has faded, the stems with the base of the inflorescence can be removed for further bud production. It is enough to gently hold the plant at the base and gently scroll to separate the stems from the rhizome. Cyclamen needs rest during its dormant period. Therefore, in order to store energy for next year, the plant must be saved from the expenditure of energy on the withering of the stems.

Alpine violet in open ground

You can grow alpine violet in partial or full shade. Cyclamen does not compete with the root systems of other plants. Trees and shrubs provide cyclamen with protection in cold winter weather. Their roots absorb excess moisture and improve drainage. Therefore, the plant goes well with various green spaces.

Hardy varieties of cyclamen are "Ivy", "Kossky" and "Purple". They withstand prolonged temperature drops (-6° C). Novice gardeners should pay attention to resistant varieties. In terms of ease of cultivation, they rank first.

Cyclamen can be successfully grown at very low temperatures if there are auxiliary factors:

  • protection of trees and bushes;
  • the amount of precipitation;
  • location of buildings near the landing site;
  • access to sunlight.

There are varieties that can survive severe frosts, but in the future they will not be able to dissolve the buds. Such dryakva must be dug up for the winter.

Cyclamen "Purple" is ideal for growing in shaded rockeries or in partial shade of green spaces. It pairs well with ferns and hardy perennials. A mixture of different cyclamens planted in one area forms a colony of amazing colors.

The plant harmonizes well with paving slabs, open areas and alpine slides. Alpine violet can be planted in garden vases and planters.

Basics of growing on a windowsill

How to choose a flower container

You should pay attention to various parameters:

  1. A plastic pot is ideal for cyclamen. You need to check the quality of the material. Too thin a flowerpot can be fragile.
  2. Ceramic containers often cause liquid stagnation, which leads to rotting of the roots. In this case, when planting, it is necessary to provide drainage with expanded clay and sand.
  3. Overgrown cyclamen should be planted in a container with a large diameter and height.
  4. The container must contain a drain for water. If the factory specifications do not provide for such a function, you can make several holes yourself.

Before use, wash the pot thoroughly with soapy water. Clay containers need to be given heat treatment. Thus, the occurrence of characteristic diseases for the plant can be avoided.

Top dressing - the main nuances

It is necessary to fertilize the plant during the period of development and flowering twice a month. Mineral components are ideal for stimulating growth.

Feeding features:

  1. Caring for cyclamen at home requires additional activation. Excessive application of nitrogen stops bud development.
  2. Mineral compounds can kill young cyclamen sprouts.
  3. For the development of leaves and seeds, microfertilizers will be needed.
  4. Do not fertilize dry soil.
  5. Fertilizer is applied only for a healthy crop.
  6. When using a special mixture during planting, further chemical exposure is not required.

Classic problems

Yellowing leaves

After flowering, the foliage and root system will deteriorate. If the rhizome looks good on the outside, the plant may be too hot. yellow spots appear under the influence of direct sun rays, dry air or excessive watering.

Short flowering period

Causes, as a rule, a combination of dry and warm air or lack of water. Provided that the plant bloomed profusely at the time of purchase.

Leaves are sluggish and drooping

The plant dies due to excessive watering. The soil needs to be changed immediately.

Pests of cyclamen

The plant is affected by thrips, mites and aphids. You can fight insects with the help of insecticides "Verticillin", "Bikol" and "Boverin". From folk remedies used soap solution. Affected leaves and flowers must be removed.

Characteristic diseases

Bacterial Soft Rot and Fusarium

The yellowed plant withers and quickly dies. Corms become moist and soft. To prevent cyclamen disease, corms must be purchased from reputable sources and planted in a clean environment. At reuse the pot must be cleaned thoroughly with a household disinfectant or a weak bleach solution before planting.

Botrytis

Appear dark spots on the leaves. The flower petals look watery at first, and then a gray fungus appears. You can save cyclamen at an early stage. It is necessary to improve air circulation - regularly ventilate the room. The disease is contagious, so you should carefully monitor the plants that are located nearby and, if possible, isolate other flowerpots.

Tielaviopeis

Causes the plant to wilt. Roots become black and shriveled. You can try to save the plant with chemicals. During treatment, cyclamen should be placed in a separate room.

Viruses cause a range of symptoms, including misshapen leaves and flowers, abnormal growths on buds, streaks and ring spots.

Cyclamen disease with characteristic spots.

An infected alpine violet should be discarded, otherwise all the plants in the room may die.

Features of flowering

Despite the high decorative value and elegant appearance, the plant can cause severe allergic manifestations. Upon contact with flowering cyclamen, sometimes there are severe swelling of the upper respiratory tract, a burn of the mucous membrane.

Reproduction methods

Reproduction by tubers

most popular and effective method. Corms can be transplanted during flowering. It is easier to do this while the plant is dormant.

Successful propagation involves the location of the upper part of the tuber above the soil surface. The procedure is quite easy:


Seed cyclamen

It takes a lot of patience to grow dryakva from seeds. Most species will germinate in four to ten weeks. The growing procedure includes:


Planting seeds in open ground

outdoors with moderate winter conditions the plant can be sown in late summer or early autumn. In more severe conditions, the flower should be sown in the spring. It is necessary to choose a place in partial shade with good drainage. It is necessary to prepare a hole for planting with compost or peat. Sow the seeds at a distance of 8 cm from each other, lightly covering them with a layer of sand. The soil should be kept moist before and after germination.

Seeds germinate slowly and usually release one leaf before the onset of winter. Sowing seeds in a cold greenhouse is a good alternative for open ground and great way outdoor cultivation. After a few years, you can transplant the culture to a permanent place.

What to do if cyclamen does not bloom

The culture does not bloom, as a rule, for a reason long period rest. But the absence of new inflorescences can be caused by an overabundance of fertilizers, excessive watering or lack of lighting for some subspecies. It is necessary to carefully review the care of the plant.

How to choose planting material

You can buy a plant in the form of:

  • adult representative;
  • seeds;
  • tubers at rest.

"European" cyclamen with fragrant flowers.

The price of a plant varies depending on the condition of the crop, variety, container and type of root system. For example, the grown cyclamen "Purple" can be purchased for 369 rubles in a plastic pot. Seeds in a "Mix" package (3 pieces) are sold at a price of 34 rubles.

Alpine violet is a perennial flowering herb that actually has nothing to do with the violet genus. This is tuberous plant, which belongs to the genus of primroses.

Correct name This plant is Cyclamen. There are few species - only 22 and some of them are on the verge of extinction. Also among the people, this beautiful little indoor flower is called Dryavka.

The ancestor of cyclamens is, whose homeland is Turkey and the Middle East. All his hybrids need similar conditions cultivation.

What is an alpine violet? This is a cute compact flower that varies in height from 15 to 30 centimeters. The main advantage of indoor cyclamen is delicate flowers that bloom in winter. They come in a variety of colors - from white and pale pink to rich red and purple. The leaves are heart-shaped. not pure green, but decorated with a marble pattern.

Content Rules

Lighting

Alpine violet perceives summer heat as a period of rest. At this time, it is better to place a pot with a plant near the eastern or western windows. With the advent of autumn, when the flower begins to grow actively and prepares for flowering, it can also be transferred to the windows overlooking south side. However, the plant must be protected from direct sunlight.

Air temperature

Although cyclamen is a perennial herb, often presented in winter as a blooming alpine violet, it does not survive until the next flowering. The most common reason is not maintaining the desired temperature. environment. Although this plant is considered to be heat-loving, you should not take it so literally and leave the pots in hot and stuffy conditions next to the batteries. Thermophilicity is expressed in the fact that, unlike their garden counterparts, homemade cyclamen cannot be kept at a temperature lower than plus 10. In order for the flower to be comfortable, it is necessary to provide a moderate and even slightly cool temperature - about 17 degrees Celsius.

Overheating can cause the leaves to turn yellow, while flowering will be normal. Also, non-compliance with the temperature regime can greatly reduce the flowering period of cyclamen. Elevated temperature is also favorable for the main enemies of cyclamen - ticks. Cyclamen mites like hot, humid conditions. For spider mite best friends- warm and dry.

During the dormant period, summer months, cyclamen should also try to protect from the heat, not exposing it to the scorching sun, but keeping it in a cool fresh air in the shadow.

Soil Requirements

The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral. You can make a mixture yourself according to the following recipe: 3 parts of leafy soil and 1 part of peat, humus and sand. You can add coconut fiber, or rotted bark. There must be a layer of drainage at the bottom.

Watering mode

Watering alpine violets should occur at such intervals that the top ball of soil has time to dry out. Like any other tuberous plant, cyclamen does not tolerate waterlogging.

In the matter of watering very important point is exactly how this procedure takes place.

You can water cyclamen by arranging a dive for it. A pot with a houseplant should be immersed in a tank of water and let it stand there for up to a quarter of an hour. The water should be tepid, and before returning the flowerpot to its place, it is also necessary to allow time for the excess liquid to drain.

Alpine violet should also be sprayed according to the rules. The main thing is not to do this when the plant is flowering. Spraying should be stopped as soon as the buds appear.

The fact that the watering is uneven and the earthy lump periodically dries up, the flower will signal premature or uneven flowering. In this case, the buds will open at different levels, sometimes even from under the leaves.

Falling leaves will indicate excessive watering.

Feeding

Top dressing is necessary during the bud setting phase. It is also not recommended to fertilize immediately after transplantation; it is necessary to wait at least a month.

A suitable fertilizer should be nitrogen-free. Excess nitrogen will negatively affect the condition of the buds, they may not even bloom or fall off. Top dressing should be applied through watering.

Transfer

Alpine violets may need to be repotted every two years. It is necessary to focus on the growth of tubers and on the saturation of the soil. The favorable transplant period is in the fall.

It is necessary to choose the moment after the dormant period, when new shoots appear on the plant.

When transplanting an alpine violet, it is important to know which variety you are the owner of.

The differences are such that Persian cyclamen they plant it so that its tubers are half covered with soil, but the European one should be completely in the ground.

reproduction

Reproduction of alpine violet is possible. Their germination time is a month and a half. Seeds can be obtained by artificial pollination. Moreover, the procedure should be carried out several times in a row. After the flower withers, it should not be torn off, as is usually done with. You have to wait for it to dry on its own.

Also, an amateur gardener can try the method of dividing a bush.

Diseases and pests

This is herbaceous plant afraid of cyclamen mites. The fact that cyclamen is infected with it will show the condition of the leaves. They acquire a collapsed state, the stems can twist, the plant stops growing.

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Cyclamen European(alpine violet) requires difficult conditions of detention. It survives, let alone reproduces, far from all flower growers, so it’s worth dwelling on this separately. It's pretty rare home plant, for which flower growers have a real hunt, it is not easy to buy it. Outwardly, it resembles cyclamens, which are sold in bulk in stores - Persian cyclamens. Only the flowers of European cyclamen are smaller, very fragrant and they bloom not in winter, but in summer. The value of European cyclamen, or, as it is sometimes called, alpine violet, is precisely in the smell of flowers.

Watering conditions for alpine violets

European cyclamen is watered only and only in a saucer under a pot. In exceptional cases, you can pour into a pot, but make sure that moisture does not touch the sockets. The second method I sometimes use only when the plant has not yet grown - only after transplantation. A lump of earth should not dry out inside, but it should not be constantly wet either. When water is critically lacking, cyclamen shows you - the leaves are drooping, which means you need to urgently water. You don't need to bring it up to that point. As for overwatering - this is also not too good. I can sometimes leave the pot in the water pan for two weeks while I'm away, but once I got bugs from it that spoiled the flowers. They were easily removed by the first insecticide that came across, but not pleasant enough.

Light conditions for European cyclamen

Our cyclamens are very photophilous, but they do not like direct light. How to solve this problem? The obvious solution is a northern or shaded window. My grandmother did just that. However, flowering under such conditions will begin only in June, and will also end early. I solve the problem in a different way. The best thing alpine cyclamen grew up on my south window, with a single, but very important condition. From early spring to late summer, the lower part of the window was covered with thick sheets of white landscape paper so that direct rays did not fall on the leaves. One sheet is enough in thickness, but they may need 2-3 to block all directions of the rays of the incident light. Under such conditions, flowering will be from April to December inclusive, with almost no hibernation.

Transplant and soil

European cyclamen needs an annual transplant, which is carried out in February. The pot can be used the same or slightly larger than the previous one - medium-sized low wide pots are suitable. In transplantation, the main thing is not to increase the size of the plant itself (the violet will remain small in any case), but to remove extra rosettes and replace the soil itself, which is depleted in a year.

When choosing a pot size, it is important to be aware of the purpose for which you are transplanting the plant. If you want to get kids, then take the pot a little wider so that new sockets go, and for good flowering take a pot in which there will be nowhere for new outlets to branch.

pot material special significance does not have - first-years live perfectly even in plastic cups for half a litre. However, in ceramic pots there will be less chance of drying out the soil, and more beautiful.

This pot was chosen with babies in mind, so it's a bit wider than I would for an actively flowering plant. It is now February, so some (winter) leaves have elongated petioles - by the beginning of flowering they will die off and the bush will take on a more compact look.

You carefully remove the extra outlets (you can get new plants from them) and replace some of the soil. Do this very carefully, leaving a clod of earth around the rhizome or tuber that forms in old plants. If the tuber is already large, it can be cut into several parts according to the presence of rosettes - this operation is for advanced flower growers. Slices are sprinkled with charcoal to avoid fungal infection or rotting. The tuber of European cyclamen, unlike the Persian counterparts, in which the tuber is only partially buried, must be buried completely, leaving only the growing point of the rosette open!

The soil can be taken any universal, be sure to put the drainage on the bottom. Lime stones, which I specially brought from the south, showed themselves very well as drainage - apparently, this is closest to natural conditions in the Alps.

It is necessary to be in time with the transplant before the first buds appear, the end or even the middle of February is the best time.

After transplanting, it is important not to flood the plant - the soil should be moist, but not wet.

Fertilizer cyclamen

With an annual transplant, alpine cyclamen does not need fertilizer. However, if for some reason you could not transplant a flower in February, then feed it with ordinary fertilizers for flowering plants twice the recommended dose. Feed only when watering, foliar feeding is not needed.

spraying

Alpine violet does not need spraying, but it can be done occasionally, especially on hot days after the sun has gone. You can spray with growth stimulants and succinic acid. At the moment, I don’t use anything like that - I don’t see a particular need.

hibernation

According to my observations, hibernation in European cyclamen occurs only because of a very modest light regime our latitudes - in winter it is too dark for normal growth and vegetation. However, growth in autumn and winter slows down, but does not stop - with a clear lack of light, winter leaves with long petioles. In winter, I keep pots of cyclamen closer to the light, I don’t shade the rare Moscow sun, but I water it almost the same as in summer, especially since the air in the apartment is still dry. By February, the plant is already starting to wake up, so do not delay the transplant.