Collapsing Cyclamen

[John Kitt]

I have been growing cyclamen in pots for the last two years successfully.
In the last week one "collapsed" although some flowers and some new leaves look fine.
Read in one of the bulb logs about removing leaves and flowers and I was doing this when the whole tuber came out.
Lo and behold!! under the tuber was a nest of what I'd call cockchafer grubs.(I'd attach a pic but haven't learned how)
I have cleaned the tuber and re-potted with new mix and am watering from below. Anything else I can do? (It is early winter here)

[Lesley Cox]

Hello John-in-Australia. Welcome to the Forum.

As a safety measure you could give a thorough watering with a solution containing something uncomfortable for grass grubs or vine weevil grubs, both can be fatal to most Primulaceae, including Cyclamen. I use the rather nasty product called suSCon green, but it is probably not available to the general public or in small quantities. Mine is left over from long ago. I add a pinch of it (it's granular) to most bulbs when potting, especially Amaryllidaceae for Narcissus fly.

To post a picture, when you've written your text in the box, go to "Additional Options" to the left of the text box. Click on that and a browse button will appear. Click on that and a space comes up to put in your picture file name. Then click "Open."

For extra pics (up to total of 10) click "(more attachments)" beside the Browse button. Make sure your pictures are downsized to a maximum of 500KB each but preferably less (I find about 80 - 250 is good) so that viewers don't have to scroll across the page to see the whole picture. Good luck!

[John Kitt]

Thanks Lesley.
It has been a useful experience for me. Reinforces the need to re pot regularly.

[Maggi Young]

Hi John! Good to have you posting.
I do agree with you that this sort of experience is a timely reminder that even for plants which can live in pots long term without too much need for repotting that it is a sensible idea to tip 'em out- carefully-  and check them from time to time .... better the slight risk of setback from minor disturbance than a full scale problem such as you discovered with the grub infestation, eh?!


lesley's advice about the picture posting is sound... I'd just add that the resizing of the image to 760 pixels wide, or less, is the main "rule" to follow. Happy posting!!
M

[John Kitt]

Thanks for the help.
I am attaching a totally unrelated picture as a test of me ability to read instructions.

[John Kitt]

GREAT IT WORKED.
But I obviously failed the spelling test.

[Maggi Young]

GREAT IT WORKED.
But I obviously failed the spelling test.

Bravo! Nobody's perfect, John.... dodgy typing is a feature of this forum, so you're fitting in just fine!! 

[Lesley Cox]

Your ability to read instructions John, is obviously matched by mine, to give them. I must tell Roger that, when he tells me not to tell him how to light the fire properly.