Persian cyclamen, florist’s cyclamen
The Persian cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) is a popular houseplant or balcony plant of which many cultivars are available.
With a bit of luck, an indoor cyclamen can also produce fruit.
If you have several cyclamen, you can pollinate them.
Family: Primulaceae, Myrsinoideae subfamily
Origin: Greece, Western Asia, Northern Africa
Height: Upt to 30 centimeters
Common names:
Ciclamen, violeta de persia (ES)
Zimmer-Alpenveilchen (DE)
Cyclamen de Perse, Cyclamen d’Alep (FR)
Ciclame, ciclame da Pérsia (PT/BR)
Acem siklameni (TR)
Pollinating cyclamen
If you want to pollinate indoor cyclamen, you will need different cultivars. It will not work with several specimens of the same variety.
However, pollination itself is not complicated. All you need to do is transfer pollen from one flower to the flower of the other variety. A thin brush or q-tip is suitable for this.
The success rate for the plants shown here was 15 %. Three fruits developed from every 20 pollinated flowers of each cultivar.
When the seeds are ripe, the fruits open. To allow the seeds to dry, the fruits should be allowed to remain in this state for a few days.
Sowing instructions
Temperature
Temperatures between 59 to 65 °F (15 and 18 °C) are ideal for germination.
Germination time
It can take between four and six weeks for the first seeds to germinate. Not all seeds germinate at the same time. The last seed of the plants shown here germinated after twelve weeks.
Sowing depth
The Persian cyclamen is a dark germinator and its seeds must be covered with soil. The sowing depth can be two to four centimeters.
Pre-treatment
The seeds can, but do not have to, be soaked in water for about twelve hours before sowing.
Soil
Several substrates are suitable for sowing and growing. I have used peat-free potting soil, herb soil and a mix of potting soil and sand in a 2:1 ratio for several sowings.
Light/location
Bright locations without direct sunlight are ideal.
Humidity
Until all the seeds have germinated, the seed pot can be covered with a glass or freezer bag. Or place it in a indoor greenhouse. However, growing in an open pot also works.
Watering
The soil must always be slightly moist. It should not dry out, especially during the germination phase.
Pricking out
The young cyclamen can be pricked out, i.e. placed in individual pots, as soon as their tubers have reached a diameter of around one centimeter.
Categories: Nuts & Seeds |
