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Mini cyclamen

Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
in Plants
I bought some mini cyclamen last year which I put on the North facing window sill in my rather chilly bathroom. They did really well so I put the pots out in the garden when they finished flowering. They were ignored by me all summer except for the occasional water. A few weeks ago I noticed a few leaves appearing on the corms so repotted them and put them back in the bathroom.
They now have copious leaves and the first flower stems have appeared so hopefully, they will repeat their display of continuous flowers for the next few weeks.
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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Joyce Goldenlily That sounds like the best way to care for them. My Mother in law did the same they spent the summer in pots on their sides in the veg patch. Then back in and on a cool sill with some light off they went again, she kept them for a few years that way. Cyclamen can live for decades,
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    In a previous garden, I had hardy cyclamen, neapolitanum, with corms that grew to the size of dessert plates.
    In my current garden, I have them several years old and seeding themselves all over the place. Especially in cracks in walling and spots where there is virtually no soil, just grit, slate chippings, etc.
    I suspect we probably kill them in overcare, too rich soil, etc. I have coum that are busy seeding themselves prolifically so I assume they are happy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Joyce Goldenlily I have Cyclamen hederifolium everywhere in my garden, I think the ants move them about. C coum is always short lived I don't think it likes my soil. It does grow on a bank nearby hundreds of plants. The soil is good and deep, the bank drains well which they like. I remember the first time I came across one as you say the size of a dessert plate I wondered what on earth it was!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    Whenever I dig up little cyclamen hederifolium to give to friends I always advise them to plant where they'll not be disturbed by weeding etc. Hedge bottoms and at the base of trees are safe places I find, if there are no woodlandy areas.
    I can see in the orchard grass where flooding carries the seeds and the little plants grow -- these are the ones I dig up, so it's a little production line really.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Why do they self seed far more successfully, than when I collect and sow them myself?
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Arthur1Arthur1 Posts: 542
    In the 1970's I worked for Rochfords Houseplants. They had glasshouses packed with highly scented mini cyclamen. I have loved them ever since but its hit and miss getting them to survive for more than one year.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited November 2022
    The Cyclamen that are grown as houseplants are difficult to keep . I think @Joyce Goldenlily has done very well to get them alll to survive.
    @Arthur1 I can imagine the scent was lovely en mass not overpowering. They have lovely flowers and leaves too.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    The ones I have in the bathroom are the scented ones, gorgeous. I love the leaf patterns as well. No two are the same and some are definitely more interesting than others.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I think a lot of house cyclamen are killed by overwatering. Mine had virtually no water at all during the prolonged drought we had in the summer and they also seem to enjoy very a very gritty growing medium.
    I found a neapolitanum flowering in the bottom of a hedge earlier. It must have been taken there by a mouse and had no care from seed to flowering plant so at least 3 years of total neglect.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    punkdoc said:
    Why do they self seed far more successfully, than when I collect and sow them myself?
    'Cos they can't read the books  ;)
    I have mainly hederifolium, as the garden is fairly new, and a kind forum member sent me some. They're steadily increasing, and I have little pockets appearing everywhere. 
    In reference to what @Joyce Goldenlily was saying about cossetting - ideally they like a bit of leaf litter, and enough moisture, but other than that, they need nothing. If they're happy, they'll spread.
    I expect Joyce's get enough moisture from above, as mine do, so they'll be happy in poorer, freer draining soil. I have some which have seeded in the gravel beside a raised bed which is west facing. How well they'll thrive is another matter, mainly because I keep standing on them.... 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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