Relocation of Cyclamen hederifolium

[david m]

I 14 days time I am moving to a  new build property with a much smaller garden.Down from 130x90 feet to 25x30 feet
Although this gives me a chance to start from scratch I want to take some plants with me.
It is a difficult choice but as the thread title suggests I have a large number of Cyclamen hederofolium which are now in full flower and I wish to take with me.
What are the chances of and how can I maximise their survival.
The buyer is going to build a garage over the site which also has a beautiful 10x4 feet stand of 17 feet high Phyllostachis nigra 
The rain we have had this year ha resulted an incredible growth in my bamboos an Miscanthus sps.
Thanks for any help.
David

[Carlo]

David,

It doesn't seem as if you've much choice. You need to dig.

I'd scoop your cyclamen with a nice complement of dirt, pack them into a flat and cart them away. Because of their relatively large corms/tubers, and their storage capacity, they should be easy to move--even in flower. The key, as always, will be to get them into their new homes quickly. If you can't plant right away, pot them up.

With some plants, moving in flower is too great a strain because of the resources being allocated to blooming (which are substantial). In these cases, I'd cut the flowers to redirect the flow of energy in the plant. I don't think this will be necessary in your case...but you may find that you encounter a little premature senescence.

[Lesley Cox]

If you can't take them all, give them away to someone or a school or something. Better than having them covered by a concrete garage floor

[Martin Baxendale]

In my experience, Cyclamen hederifolium are difficult to kill. If you're short of time for dealing with them, even just digging them up and collecting them in buckets, then chucking a bit of soil on top will do for a few days until you can get them into the new garden. Even if they lose foliage and/or roots, they should survive. They may go dormant for a year, but will still mostly recover with time. I've left them lying around on top of the garden soil for weeks, even months, and they'll still flower and grow new roots.

[david m]

Thanks for the replies..up they will come.
They are in full bloom at the moment and it would break my heart to lose them especially as I've grown many from seed.

[Maggi Young]

Good luck, David... and HAPPY NEW HOME AND GARDEN!!

[david m]

Thanks for that Maggie.
I'm looking forward to the new house and garden but a little sad at leaving the old place.
We have lived here since we were 25....kids brought up.. grandchildren love it but now is the time to move on.
Not many stay in the same house for 42 years these days!
One of my daughters has moved five times in nine years 
I couldn't survive the stress
David

[Maggi Young]

One of my daughters has moved five times in nine years 
I couldn't survive the stress

My Mum, an army wife, lived in at least seventeen houses during her marriage and took it all in her stride. I loved the life, at the time, but I must say that I am now more than happy to not only live on in the one place, but stay at home whenever possible!
While it is hard to leave a home filled with happy memories, there is always the possibility to build wonderful new memories in a new home and, most likely, to be very glad at some point in the future that you were brave enough to make the decision to move... better to make the move when you might think it a moment too soon than a mon=ment too late.   Besides, you'll be able to get your five times removed daughter to mastermind the "flitting".... and the rest of the family to do the decorating and unpack the boxes 

[david m]

Besides, you'll be able to get your five times removed daughter to mastermind the "flitting".... and the rest of the family to do the decorating and unpack the boxes

You are, of course, joking Maggie.

[David Nicholson]

All the best in your new home and garden David. I'm sure you will soon settle in and you will always have the memories.

[Maggi Young]

You are, of course, joking Maggie.

Well, no, I was quite serious... but then again, I don't have any children so I may have rose-tinted spectacles....

[david m]

Unfortunately my daughter has inherited my "unable to organise a .......in a brewery" gene.
My dear wife is so organised it it makes me quite ashamed!

[david m]

Well, I managed to relocate around 50 cyclamen and all seem to have settled in.
I had quite a few C. mirable and other sp. in pots which have transplanted well.
I heard from my ex next door neighbour that my bamboos, 40 foot conifer, my Bramley and presumably a lot of bulbs have all been destroyed to make way for the garage.
Thanks for the advice on the cyclamen.

[Maggi Young]

How sad to hear from such destruction from your previous garden, David. Thank goodness you have managed to move some things and I am sure the Cyclamen will be grateful for their new quarters.
Happy new home and garden, anyway!