Cyclamen 2008

[Oron Peri]

Chris,

Seeing the photos it is definitely a cultivar of C. persicum.

From your description of its hardiness, and the healthy appearance I think it is worthy of growing it on a larger scale.

Leaves looks very thick a fact that might help its hardiness.

Very nice!!!

[Gerdk]

There are interspecific hybrids between purpurascens and persicum around here (Cyclamen 'Odorella'). It is said they are hardy outside.

Might this be an answer to the problem?

Gerd

[Oron Peri]

Gerd,

I'm afraid not,

'Odorella' is quite a new hybrid, the plant shown by Chris is 8 years old.

Also, 'Odarella' is sterile, and in the photo you see new seedlings of the mother plant.

[ChrisB]

Could be Gerdk, I have no way of knowing.  

The one with the very nicely marked leaves is not related to the one living outside, just in case I muddled things up, so that one is unlikely to be hardy, which is why it is kept in a pot.  I showed the underside of the foliage just so you could see it is marked in purple.  Can either of you tell me if this is the true C. persicum species?

The first of the three pictures is of the one that lives outside, keeps its foliage year round and is very sturdy.  Oron - yes, the leaves are very thick and fleshy.  If you want, I could send you one of its progeny to examine more closely - pm me if you are interested.

[Joakim B]

How sensitive is Cyclamen persicum for rain?
Since instructions was to water on the saucer I presume the foliage might be a bit sensitive or is that just indoors where there is no wind to dry the plants?
I only dared to plant the C.persicum closest to the wall of the house and not in the side of the pot that gets more rain.
I also had some extra drainage below the Cyclamen with expanded clay balls and some sand. If it sounds totally off the wall please let me know!
Further out I planted fuchsia and in the sand layer tulips and crocus. The main plant is two Hibiscus sp (rosa-chinensis) that is NOT treated to be small indoor plants so they grow a lot! Great buying at 2€ each! Especially the 70Cm white with red throught
Could I have planted the C. persicum where it might get some rain. It is less than what an unprotected are would get and still that is not so much.
Sorry to ask so much about flowers that is so ordinary but we have to start somewhere do we not?

Kind regards
Joakim

[Joakim B]

Here is the planting
First the cyclamen with an extra hibiscus that will move this weekend.
Here it is seen how well the cyclamen liked to be crammed into one pot indoors.
Second an attempt to show the size of the Hibiscus (and also the size of our balcony).

Kind regards
Joakim

[Maggi Young]

Joakim, the advice to water the cyclamen from the saucer is not so much because the leaves do not like to be wet, but to prevent water from sitting in the dip on the top of the corm and staying wet so allowing damp rot to begin.  I think you will be okay with the ones around the hibiscus, though I would try not to pour water directly on the cyclamen corms, but aaround the edges.
 

[Joakim B]

Thanks for the advice Maggi
I am not sure if I will put two more in the front it sounds as it is possible. I intend to water from the side.

Kind regards
Joakim

[Maggi Young]

I think you could put two more in, Joakim..... they will not steal much goodness from the hibiscus which should be well able to live in harmony with the cyclamen.

[ChrisB]

This is most helpful, Maggi.  I have lost a rather large corm of C. mirabile to rot having planted it a bit too deep and watering from above.  I'll be very careful from now on with my pot grown cyclamen watering.

[Joakim B]

Nice when my ignorance helped Chris even if it was through Maggi
Maggi my fear was most that it would get problems with more rain further from the house wall.
Here is a photo to show the new plantation.
Sorry that the colours are a bit unnatural but it was pitch dark when I took the photo.
Kind regards
Joakim

[Mick McLoughlin]

Noticed a strange flower among my Cyclamen hederifolium. Petals not curved back, is this common?

[Lesley Cox]

Don't think it's really common Mick but the same thing was present on a couple of small pots of C. persicum that I bought for my kitchen window sill. For three months all the flowers were spread out like that. Then they had a bit of a break and when they started again, the flowers were normal.

[Maggi Young]

Glad to have been of help, Christine and Joakim!

 By the way, Christine, many thanks for the dactylorhiza seed, safely delivered via Sue.... all now scatterred around the garden/troughs..... watch this space, eh? !! 

[Tony Willis]

some in flower at the moment