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Despite their toxicity, cyclamen are popular garden and indoor plants that come in a variety of colors and set attractive accents in the garden. Since cyclamen is a bulbous plant, propagating the primrose plant is usually a bit difficult, especially for beginners. however, there are three methods you can use to easily enjoy new specimens that come from your own small "breed".
Cyclamen propagate by seed
manual
Targeted sowing is an unproblematic method of propagating cyclamen. You can purchase seeds or collect them directly from the plant. The seeds are ripe from May to June and are clearly recognizable by their size. Proceed as follows when sowing:
1. Be sure to wear gloves, if you pick up parts of the cyclamen plant. It is poisonous and even touching it can cause reddening of the skin or allergic reactions.
2. First, harvest the seeds from the plants. This is not necessary if you bought seeds. Allow the seeds to dry until the slimy covering breaks open on its own and you now have access to the seeds. Then soak it in fresh water for 24 hours. This will prepare the cyclamen seeds for germination.
3. During this time you can already prepare planters, for example a small pot or a seed tray. Fill these with a substrate mix of good quality potting soil and sand to improve drainage. As an alternative to sand, you can use clay granules. If you want to be on the safe side, use cactus soil, as it is particularly permeable. Lean growing soil is not recommended for propagating cyclamen, as the plant seeds already need a lot of nutrients at this point.
4. The dark germs are placed half a centimeter deep in the ground, covered with soil and the surface moistened.
5. Now choose a spot in the house that has a constant temperature of around 20°C and is bright. Direct sunlight is not recommended as this will dry out the soil.
6. The average germination time of the seeds is four to six weeks. During this time, the soil must be kept moist, but not wet.
7. When the first leaves can be seen, the seedlings are pricked out and cared for like the adult plants.
You have to be patient a little longer until the first blossom. It usually takes up to 30 to 32 weeks before the first flowers appear, but this varies from species to species.
tip: If you have planted cyclamen in the garden, there is a very high chance of the plant self-seeding. However, you then have to do without flowering for three to four years, as the plants first form their bulbs, which takes a lot of time.
Sharing cyclamen
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Another option is to divide the cyclamen tuber. This method may only be older specimens are used, the tuber of which is large and healthy, younger specimens die completely. The advantage of propagation by division is that the plant sprout quickly. Since it is half a tuber, it has exactly the same characteristics as the cyclamen before it was divided. This means that it drives out just as effectively and can therefore bloom immediately the following year. The best time to divide is just after summer, when the cyclamen begin their dormancy. Then do the following:
1. Dial in sharp knifethat has been previously cleaned or disinfected. You also need a digging fork with which you can easily dig up the tubers. Of course, this is not necessary for a specimen in a pot, here you simply take the entire tuber out of the bucket.
2. Once you have carefully dug up the bulb, cut it straight down the middle. Before cutting, make sure that both sections have at least one shoot bud feature. Without this, it is not possible to sprout and the tuber sleeps in the ground, so to speak, until it is dug up again or rots.
3. Now the sections are either planted back in the garden or in a pot. If you are considering container planting, prepare the same substrate as described above. In the garden, choose a bright location for propagation, preferably at the location of the mother plant. Of course you can choose a different place if the soil is permeable enough. The tubers are planted about three inches deep in the soil, flat side up.
4. Water the spot well and protect it over the first winter, as the tubers are still sensitive after dividing. Autumn leaves are good for this.
Propagating cyclamen from cuttings
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Many people wonder if cyclamen can be propagated from cuttings. Cuttings are also possible, but in most cases they take longer and are only suitable for keeping in containers, as the cuttings do not survive outdoors. Proceed as follows:
1. To propagate cyclamen from cuttings, use the leaves. Using clean secateurs, cut off one of the leaves along with the stem. Make sure the leaf is healthy. An older sheet is usually recommended as these are more robust.
2. Now dip the stick into root hormone and let the cutting dry for a period of 14 days.
3. Then prepare a small planter with the above-mentioned substrate and put the leaf in the ground with the stalk first. The leaf should look out of the ground. The cyclamen now looks like a miniature version of the mother plant.
4. Now moisten the soil and place it in a light location without direct midday sun. It may take a while for roots to form. For this reason, you must pay attention to whether the cutting dries up or turns yellowish. In this case, the formation of roots did not work out. Propagating cuttings also requires a bit of luck.
