Clycamen

I bought 2 of these today at Lowes (discounted for $2.00) they looked pretty good and had buds on them. Just needed all the dead stuff pulled off. Now I have read these can be planted outside and that they are fall blooming. is this correct? Where would they do good at? In the shade under a pine tree? How much shade? Thanks for any info
Dawn

I saw those @ Lowe's also, but not that cheap. They had alot of pink. My pink 'zone' (pictured) is getting full, otherwise I would get some also, since that area is also shade. I think they would do ok in light sun, but I've never grown them before. What color did you get?

Well, this sticket showed both white and pink. There was one dead bloom that was pink but the little buds look white. So I'm really not sure. A mixture?

Thats a pretty flowerbed by the way

Thx! Yes the ones I saw had some pink and some white. Did you already search on their care on DG?

I didn't see that much info on them here. I'll google
Dawn

Are you sure they are the hardy cyclamen? I've only ever seen the tender house plant varieties sold as potted plants at Lowes; the hardy ones are usually sold as bulbs.

I don't really know. I am going by what the tag says. You can see the bulb in the pot. I've got them in my sunroom. I read in the plant files that they like a cool spot. So, I gonna put them near the glass in there.

The hardy ones are demure, cute little plants, usually 6-8" tall with blooms that are about 2" or so. The tender varieties are larger and showier and are available in more colors. Sounds like a tender variety you've got. I grew one for several years and kept it in an unheated room during the winter where it would bloom profusely during that time. In the summer I kept it outside in a shady spot. They do resent too much warmth; I used to work at a florist and when we got them in they would decline rapidly unless we put them in the fresh flower cooler every evening. They're so pretty, I wish you luck!
Neal

Thanks gemini. They must be indeed the tenter ones. As the plants are rather large. I am eager to try these in my sunroom. It is unusual to have a plant that like "cool with a draft" (read that in the PF) I keep it really cool in there so we'll see. I love to find things that bloom in the fall/winter.
Dawn

If kept cool, they bloom almost non-stop, but often they start to die back when the summer heat comes. I leave mine to die back completely by withholding water. Even the florist types will produce a tuber. When the temps start to fall (mid-September in my area) I repot and start watering again. I leave them outside until they forecast frost then bring them into a cool, sunny window where they flower all winter and spring. Temps down in the 40's is even OK.

The hardy types are the most exquisite in my opinion. Here was mine back in late September. Its C. hederifolium.

Bery pretty Todd. I would love to have some outside. I have read they do well in shady areas where it is dry. (don't ask me where I read this b/c I don't remember, that is what drew my attention to them)

I keep my house at 65 degrees, would they like that temp?

I love cyclamens but get turned off by the high price. However, my local Lowe's had them on special this week for $2.97. I got three and put in this basket.

I've got five cyclamen I started from seed about 5 years ago. they love cool temperatures
and bloom all winter in my greenhouse. I finally figured out they want to be cool & moist
and they've thrived ever since. I can collect seeds for anyone that wants to try them from
seed. (The "florist" type cyclamen that is. )

tam

Tammy, I think that is what I bought at Lowes ($2.00) on clearance. The leaves are fairly large. I have them in a bedroom that gets bright light but no heat right now. They were soaking wet when I bought them (last Wed). I had put them in my SR (unheated) and went to check on them Saturday and they were STILL soaking wet so I put them in this br so they would dry out some. I didn't want the bulbs to rot. Once they driy out some, I'll move them back to the SR. I really hope they do well. It is so nice to find something that will bloom (at all) during winter months. I have Christams Cactus blooming too.
Dawn

I tried planting hardy Cyclamen twice from bulbs I purchased at Spring Hill Nurseries. I saw one leaf sprout, and that was it. I heard it takes a really long time for them to get established. I finally gave up. I just think that they are so beautiful and dainty.
Anyone have a similar experience with hardy cyclamen? Or any advice?

I have bought Cyclamen before and they always died. But this year I have been reading up on them and managed to keep one I rec'd last year for my b-day (december - almost a whole year!) and now bought two more. For the prices I've have paid so far, I have to try and if they dont make it I am not out a lot of money.
Dawn

I have three cyclamen that came back after the first year. But I've planted a lot more than that!
One actually bloomed this fall. Woooo Hoooo

Dawn - I've found that those greenhouse cyclamen like being wet. I drench them every morning
before I leave for work. Mine thrive on cold & wet.

Tam

A daylily hybridizer friend of mine, Curt Hanson, has a wonderful shade garden. He has the most beautiful Cyclamen. He is near Cleveland in Ohio... they are very hardy. I just asked him the other day where he gets his, as I would like to get some too. He said that most came from

http://www.arrowhead-alpines.com/bulb2.htm

a couple quotes from the site...
"We urge you the check out the Grey-Wilson Cyclamen book"
"Arrowhead is probably the largest grower of species Cyclamen in the U.S. and the quality of our offerings is second to none. Most of what we offer is flowering size with leaf patterns that are incredible."

They are the most lovely colors ! The leaf patterns are indeed incredible. His do self seed here and there, but would not be called invasive. He is such a nut for crossing anything with pollen... he has been trying to cross them, but has not had luck so far.

Thanks daylily, I'll have to check that out.
Tammy, you keep yours wet all the time? I moved a couple into the house "dry out" some because I thought they were too wet. I didn't want them to rot. The humidity is so high in the SR they would never dry out. IS that a good thing?
Dawn

Given a cool spot they can just go and go..too warm and the leaves turn yellow and they konk out in no time! I put them in my little greenhouse for the winter where it's about 45-50 at night and I think i have some plants that are about 10 years old by now- they summer nestled in the garden in a shady spot. they have good years and bad years depending on how much attention I give them. I once experimented with cutting an especially huge bulb in quarters, like cutting an apple, and all the pieces lived! the tip about keeping them wet is interesting, tam, what about fertilizing?? anyone have advice on that?

the plants in my greenhouse dry out quickly - I water once a day except on an occasional shady
day. So I'd hate to say this is generically true. But I water my cyclamens very heavily every day.
Cold seems to be a key thing for them. And I put a little fertilizer in my watering water every day
too. I use algoflash and a very dilute amount.

Tam

hmmm Tammy, I think I'll try my beer mixture on them.
Dawn

Tammy, thats beautiful in that pot!

I think the key is while they need moisture, they must be well drained. I've heard of issues with rotting if the soil mix does'nt drain well.

clay pots do dry out sooner than plastic pots- maybe that helps keep soil aerated, i think i'm going to switch because, come to think of it, the ones i have in clay are doing better......