Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/13/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-2710, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Cyclamen Offer Long-Lasting Beauty
By Linda Naeve
Extension Coordinator
Reiman Gardens
At least once or twice a year, most of us order flowers from a florist for a holiday or special event. They are a perfect gift for almost any occasion. However, a fresh floral arrangement will be beautiful for a week or two before it withers and is discarded. Next time you place an order with a florist, consider a flowering plant, such as this week's Reiman's Pick - cyclamen.
Cyclamen plants available from florists and greenhouses are hybrids of Cyclamen persicum. A member of the primrose family, the Cyclamen genus contains 20 species. It is a very diverse genus with species native to woodlands habitats, rocky areas and alpine meadows. Although there are relatively few Cyclamen species, there is at least one species that blooms in every month of the year.
The name cyclamen is derived from the Greek word "kyklamenos," which means "circle form." The flowers are not circular, but rather asymmetrical, with the petals pointing upward. However, a circle is formed where the petals are joined. Other circular forms on the plant are the round fruits that develop after the flowers fade and the round tuber from which the leaves and flowers emerge.
Cyclamen are available from fall through late spring, when the temperatures are cool. They are sometimes called "shooting stars" due to the form of the flowers and their position on sturdy stems that rise a few inches above the foliage. Cyclamen make great winter holiday and Easter gift plants because they bloom in the appropriate seasonal colors: red, white, pink and lavender. The foliage is also attractive. The heart-shaped, dark green leaves are mottled with silver patterns that vary from plant to plant. Like a good flower arrangement, the leaves of the cyclamen fill the container and are an attractive base for the flowers in the center.
Cyclamen bloom through April if given bright light, cool temperatures and adequate water. Cyclamen are one of few interior plants that thrive when set near a cold window or in a cool room. They are comfortable in a 55 to 60 F room. If the temperature is too high, the flowers wither prematurely and the leaves turn yellow. The soil should be kept consistently moist. Never let the soil dry out while the plant is blooming or the flowers droop and the leaves eventually turn yellow.
Cyclamen are often handled like extended flower arrangements. When the plants are no longer producing flowers, they are discarded because they are challenging to force into bloom again. However, if you are up to the challenge, keep the plant growing but let the soil dry out between waterings. Gradually reduce the watering to a couple times a month. When the leaves are yellow and beginning to dry, set the pot on its side in a cool, shady place, such as your basement, and forget about it until August. In late summer, remove the tuber from the soil and pull off all the old leaves. Repot the tuber in fresh soil at or just above the surface of the soil. Water the soil thoroughly and set the container in a warm, sunny location. Once growth resumes, cyclamen need cool temperatures and moist soil.
The conservatory at Reiman Gardens contains a beautiful grouping of cyclamen that form a colorful groundcover. They are planted in a stunning display with other cool-season plants, such as tulips, hydrangeas, and paperwhite narcissus.
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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 244K. Caption: Cyclamen. |
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