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Cyclamen

1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 170
in Plants
I'm trying to learn more about Cyclamen if anyone can help at all please?

All I can see above ground is a very large number of what I believe are seed pods. Do these go on to create a new corm/bulb. When we dug one out last year it looked like a flat round disc measuring about 5" (12.5cm) across.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mother Nature don't straight lines, Broken moulds in a grand design, We look a mess but we're doing fine, We're card carrying lifelong members of the Union Of Different Kinds.
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  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    The flat round disc will be the original corm.  As you rightly say, the little fat balls showing above ground are seed pods.  If you leave them until they have dried a little and just start to split open, you can then use the seeds inside to propagate more plants.  Once you have the ripe seeds, a simple method is to pop them into a small plastic bag with damp compost ( MPC will do ) and keep the bag in a cool spot ( GH, Cold frame, indoors ).  Open up every other day and check the moisture level.  The seeds will sprout within weeks and you can pot the resultant tiny plants on.
    Alternatively, you can simply leave the corm and it's seed pods in situ - they will ripen, drop the seeds and you will have a little forest of young plants.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - the seed pods will spring open when they're ready, and will root if there's a suitable site nearby, or - they'll get distributed by insects, which can often happen more readily.
    Those will gradually mature and form the little corm/tuber, getting bigger over time, although it's quite a slow process. 
    You can also divide large clumps  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    The spherical objects above ground are indeed seed pods. You can easily grow more plants from the seeds (they need darkness to germinate).
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The original corm should still be there, just below ground. It will be dormant all summer and then produce flowers in autumn (if it's C. hederifolium) followed by leaves.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @1945crewood I have lots of C hederifolium think that is because I have lots of ants to move them about.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I just put the seeds in a pot, cover lightly and walk away.
    Why do they need dark to germinate,  sometimes they germinate where they fall in the garden. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • 1945crewood1945crewood Posts: 170
    Brilliant, big thank you to everyone for all the replies, help and advice. Really appreciated.
    Mother Nature don't straight lines, Broken moulds in a grand design, We look a mess but we're doing fine, We're card carrying lifelong members of the Union Of Different Kinds.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Lyn said:
    I just put the seeds in a pot, cover lightly and walk away.
    Why do they need dark to germinate,  sometimes they germinate where they fall in the garden. 
    They don't, just sow them fresh and leave them up a shady corner somewhere. Seeds germinate best if you do as they do naturally. I usually cover them with grit to hold them down


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    My cyclamen didn't come back, I don't know why. 
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