Propagation of Cyclamen seed

[Jimcoffey]

Hi advice required please
I am new to the propagation of cyclamen by seed..
Would a thermostatically controlled propagator assist ie Vitopod system
My idea is germinate at 15 deg C till good percentage emerged
then lower to 10 deg C to overwinter in my frost free greenhouse ..

Any advise
Jimmy

[David Nicholson]

Welcome to the Forum Jimmy.

There used to be some good descriptive material about growing from seed, and especially so of using the so-called 'Reading Method', on the Cyclamen Society Web Site but it doesn't seem to be there now. That Web Site has recently been overhauled. You will probably find the following link of use though, it is Diane Clements Diary on the Alpine Garden Society Site and she talks about the reading Method.   

http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/diaries/Midland/+January+/161/

[Maggi Young]

For cyclamen the most often mentioned method of raising them from seed is the "Reading Method" - which  basically says that some species of cyclamen germinate fastest in temperatures between 15 and 18C and  in the dark - have a look at these posts - it'll give you something to think about before one of the real cyclamen experts turns up!

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12608.msg320794#msg320794
http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13982.msg349517#msg349517

 And the experienced cyclamen grower Diane Clement, also an SRGC Forumist, describes the method here in her blog for the AGS  site : http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/diaries/Midland/+January+/161/

[Maggi Young]

Oh!  David beat me to it!   

[Jimcoffey]

Thanks for reply'
I have read up on the reading method and will follow along those lines
My worry is the stage after germination
What temp to maintain them at to keep them going

[Graeme]

If you can in the first year keep them in growth do so, After germination I tend to keep them under the benches but in growth

Make sure you have washed the seed first as well for 24 hours in warm water and a bit of washing up liquid

When I first started I had some C.Intaminatum seed which were not washed - they moved house twice and germinated a very wet winter 12 years later.

Don't be too eager to pot on as they seem to like company when they are young

what are you growing - Hederifolium - coum?

[Jimcoffey]

Hi Graeme
Hederifolium,mirabile,intaminatum only to start

[ashley]

Make sure you have washed the seed first as well for 24 hours in warm water and a bit of washing up liquid

Although this is the standard advice I find that fresh seed sown at this time of year usually germinates fairly quickly without any special treatment, e.g. seed fallen from parent plants either under glass or outdoors.

[Jimcoffey]

Thanks for advise Ashley

[SJW]

Thanks for reply'
I have read up on the reading method and will follow along those lines
My worry is the stage after germination
What temp to maintain them at to keep them going

I don't bother with a heated propagator. As long as I'm not sowing in bulk, at this time of the year I put the covered pots in a drawer in our cooler, spare room. As long as the temperature stays between about 13 - 18 C the hederifolium should be the first up through the grit in about a month. So if you can find a spot in the house for them I'd give that a go. As long as the weather isn't too freezing cold the pots of germinated seed of the species you are growing will be fine out in the greenhouse. If it's really cold over the winter the young seedlings will just sit there and grow only slowly until the weather improves. And if it gets really frosty you can cover overnight with some fleece. I've found the young seedlings do ok over winter in the house on a bright (SE facing) windowsill as long as the room temperature doesn't get too high. They'll stretch a bit although I don't think that's really a problem in their first year, but the advantage is that the higher, more even temperature keeps the young plants in growth for a longer period than those in the greenhouse.

[Jimcoffey]

Cheers steve for your advice