With their delicate, inverted flowers and strikingly patterned leaves, cyclamen are enchanting plants that can brighten up any space If you already have a cyclamen plant that you love, propagating it allows you to multiply your plants and expand your collection Successfully propagating cyclamen requires understanding the nuances of their growth patterns and using the optimal techniques.
Overview of Cyclamen Propagation
Cyclamen propagation is achieved through two main methods
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Division of tubers – Cyclamen grow from a tuberous root structure. Dividing this tuber is an effective propagation technique.
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Seed sowing – Cyclamen produce seeds that can be collected and sown, but this method requires more time and care.
Other approaches like stem cuttings are not effective for propagating cyclamen. Their key to generating new plants lies in their tubers and seeds.
When to Propagate Cyclamen
Timing is crucial for cyclamen propagation. The optimal window is late spring to early summer, just after flowering concludes. This minimizes stress on the parent plant while allowing adequate time for new growth to establish before dormancy in winter.
Propagating in winter or during active growth periods is not advised as it can shock the plant and reduce success rates.
Step-by-Step Guide to Dividing Tubers
Dividing mature, healthy tubers is the most reliable cyclamen propagation method. Follow these steps:
Selecting Tubers
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Choose tubers from established, mature cyclamen plants that are at least 2-3 years old. Older plants have better developed tubers that propagate well.
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Inspect tubers and select ones free of decay, rot, or disease. Discard any with dark, mushy spots.
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Remove any dead stems and foliage, leaving just the healthy tuber.
Preparation
Before dividing the tuber, gather:
- Clean, sharp knife or razor for making smooth cuts
- High quality potting mix that drains well
- Pots or containers with drainage holes
- Plant labels
Dividing the Tuber
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Rinse off excess soil from tuber but don’t soak it.
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Carefully slice the tuber into sections using the sterilized knife.
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Each section must have at least 2 growth nodes from where new plants will emerge.
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Avoid damaging the growth nodes when dividing.
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Allow cuts to dry for a few hours before planting to prevent disease.
Planting Divided Tubers
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Fill pots with potting mix, moisten, and make holes for tuber sections.
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Place each tuber piece in a pot, with the top growth node just below the surface.
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Lightly cover with more mix and label pots.
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Water gently to settle soil without dislodging tubers.
Cyclamen Seed Propagation
Collecting and sowing cyclamen seeds is an alternative propagation method. Key steps include:
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Harvest seeds from spent seed pods right before they burst open.
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Soak seeds in water overnight to remove germination-inhibiting coating.
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Sow prepped seeds in well-draining soil. A mix of potting soil, compost, sand or peat works well.
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Cover seeds lightly and water.
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Provide cool 65-70°F temperatures, indirect light, and consistent moisture.
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Be extremely patient. Cyclamen seeds can take many months, even over a year to germinate and become established plants.
Caring for New Cyclamen Plants
With either propagation method, provide attentive care for new plants:
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Keep soil moist but not saturated. Good drainage prevents rot.
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Water carefully to avoid dislodging young tubers or seeds.
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Maintain indoor temperatures between 60-70°F with indirect sunlight.
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Increase humidity for lush growth.
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Transplant seedlings into individual pots once 2-3 true leaves emerge.
With time and optimal care, both divided tubers and seeded cyclamen will grow into mature, blooming plants to enjoy.
Common Problems with Cyclamen Propagation
Here are some potential issues and solutions in propagating cyclamen:
Rotting tubers – Cause is too much moisture. Allow cut tuber pieces to dry before planting. Improve drainage in potting mix. Don’t overwater.
Seeds not germinating – Seeds may not have been prepped to remove germination inhibitors. Ensure proper soaking before sowing seeds.
Weak growth – Can result from low light or temperatures. Provide bright indirect light and maintain 65-70°F temperatures.
Leaves yellowing or wilting – Likely due to overwatering or high temperatures. Reduce watering frequency and move plant to a cooler spot.
Propagating cyclamen Requires Patience
While dividing tubers is the simplest approach, propagating cyclamen from either tubers or seeds requires diligence. It can easily take over 12 months before plants reach maturity and flower. With attention to timing, method, and care however, propagating these charming plants is very rewarding.
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Propagate in spring after flowering.
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Select only healthy tubers or mature seeds.
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Allow cut tubers to dry before planting.
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Soak seeds before sowing to break dormancy.
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Maintain cool temperatures and indirect light.
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Water carefully and ensure quick drainage.
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Be very patient for plants to establish and grow.
With the right techniques and care, propagating cyclamen allows you to expand your collection of these delightful bloomers that brighten up any space.
How to Propagate Cyclamen: Techniques
Start with selecting healthy and disease-free cyclamen tubers. Inspect tubers carefully for any signs of rot or disease. Older stems that have died back should be carefully removed to prevent decay. This not only keeps the tuber healthy, but it also stops any fungal diseases from hurting the new growth.
Gather all necessary tools and materials before starting the division process. Youll need:
- There should be a clean, sharp knife to make clean cuts through the tuber.
- High-quality potting soil that ensures good drainage.
- Deep pots or containers that give each tuber section plenty of room for its roots to grow
- If you are growing more than one plant, use plant labels to keep track of the different tuber sections.
- A watering can that can be used to water the newly planted tuber sections gently without disturbing them
Using the sterilized knife, carefully slice the tuber into smaller sections. There should be at least two nodes in each section. These are the growth points where new cyclamen plants will come up. Make sure the cuts are clean and avoid damaging the nodes. Let the pieces dry for a few hours after cutting so that a callus forms on the cut sides before planting. This helps prevent rot and disease.
Cyclamen plants produce seed pods after the flowers have finished blooming. These pods swell and eventually burst open, releasing the seeds. For successful propagation, collect these seeds just before the pod bursts open to prevent loss and contamination. This timing ensures the seeds are mature and ready for propagation.
Cyclamen seeds are coated with a sticky, germination-inhibiting substance. To remove this coating:
- If you want to soak the seeds for 24 hours, mix some water with a little dish soap. This helps to dissolve and wash away the sticky substance.
- After soaking, give the seeds a good rinse with clean water to get rid of any detergent and coating that is still on them.
- You can mix loam-based compost with sand or regular potting mix with sphagnum peat added to slightly lower the pH to make your planting medium. The goal is to make a slightly acidic, well-draining soil mix that is like the cyclamens’ natural environment for growing.
- Wet the ground before planting the seeds, and then sprinkle them on top.
- Put a thin layer of soil or sand over the seeds and water them again.
Cyclamen seeds are known to sprout slowly; it can take anywhere from a few months to a year for them to grow into seedlings.
When to Propagate Cyclamen
The optimal time for cyclamen propagation is late spring to early summer, just after the blooming phase concludes. This is the most important time because it comes after the plant’s dormancy period and before new growth. This makes the conditions perfect for propagation while putting the least amount of stress on the parent plant.
CYCLAMEN PROPAGATION FROM SEEDS | Germination period, care
FAQ
Can you grow cyclamen from a cutting?
Do cyclamen multiply?
How do you propagate indoor cyclamen?
What is Cyclamen propagation?
Propagation means reproducing new plants from existing ones. Cyclamen can be propagated through seeds, leaves or tubers. However, it’s better to propagate them through tubers because reproduction by leaves or seeds takes more time and effort.
How do you propagate Cyclamen seeds?
Propagating cyclamen plants by seed involves soaking the seeds and putting them in the ground at the correct time. Generally, you should soak cyclamen seeds in water for up to 24 hours before you put them in the soil. If you want to plant the cyclamen seeds directly outside, do so in the spring.
How do you plant Cyclamen?
Start tuberous roots indoors with the crown up, showing slightly above the soil; start tuberous roots in pots 6 inches (15cm) deep or more. Set cyclamen tubers in the garden just below the soil surface. Mark planting sites to avoid disturbing them. Thin seedlings when they are a few inches high.
Can you plant Cyclamen seeds outside?
If you want to plant the cyclamen seeds directly outside, do so in the spring. Wait until the soil warms up to 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit (7-12 C.). They will bloom the following spring. Alternatively, when you are propagating cyclamen plants by seed, you can start them in pots inside during the winter. This may produce blooms the first year.