European cyclamenAccording to an ancient legend, it was in the formKing Solomon decided to make his crown out of the cyclamen flower. The cyclamen caught the king's eye with its discreet beauty and became a reminder that modesty is a quality of a truly wise ruler. The cyclamen flower really does resemble a crown - delicate petals grow on a long graceful peduncle. It is not surprising that this charming touching plant has won the sympathy of professional and amateur gardeners. Very often, different types of cyclamen (and there are about twenty of them) are also called "alpine violet". This is not entirely correct, since alpine violet is only the European cyclamen or cyclamen blushing (purple). In the wild, as the name suggests, it is found in the Alps. But in indoor culture, this type of cyclamen is a great rarity. Only the most experienced gardeners will tell you where to buy tubers and seeds of the European cyclamen. The European cyclamen is often confused with the so-called Persian cyclamen, a larger plant with a relatively early flowering period. Meanwhile, the "European" has its own characteristic features. Firstly, it is the only non-deciduous type of cyclamen. When the dormant period begins, it stops growing, but does not shed its leaves. Secondly, the European cyclamen has smaller leaves and flowers. The leaves are rounded, slightly elongated towards the tip. The edges of the leaves are smooth. Thirdly, the flowers of the European cyclamen are usually bright pink. There are also very rare, so-called "alba forms" - simply white flowers or white with a raspberry eye. And finally, the flowers of the European cyclamen smell very nice; as the owners of the "Europeans" themselves write, the aroma varies from "simply pleasant" to "the aroma of expensive perfume" and even "divine". The intensity of the aroma depends on the intensity of the color of the flower itself: the lighter the flower, the finer the aroma. It is interesting that on the day of opening the flowers may not smell at all, and their petals are initially very thin and pale. Over time, the aroma intensifies, and the petals gain color, straighten out and thicken. It was already mentioned above that as a houseplant, the "European" is now quite rare. So you are lucky if you have a real Alpine violet living on your windowsill!

Care Cyclamen

Cyclamen is considered to be very demandingand a capricious flower. Indeed, it cannot be considered an unpretentious plant. It requires attention and care, but if you follow all the rules for caring for it, it will delight you with wonderful flowers for a long time. It is important to remember that this flower does not tolerate direct sunlight, heat and drafts. It is best to grow cyclamens in a shaded, cool place. According to experienced gardeners, you can achieve abundant flowering if you keep pots with cyclamen between double window frames in winter, and on the balcony in hot weather. But European cyclamens are indifferent to the shape of the pot, as well as to the material from which it is made. Whether you plant it in a round or square, plastic or ceramic pot - cyclamen will take root in any. It is important to consider the following: if the tuber has "children", you need to choose a pot of such a size that, growing, the "children" do not bump into the wall of the pot, otherwise this can slow down their development. On average, the distance from the tuber to the wall of the pot should be two to three centimeters. Although in nature, European cyclamens grow in the mountains, under coniferous trees, and in open areas - that is, on various types of soil - as indoor flowers they "agree" to a standard substrate for cyclamens (humus, sand, leaf soil and peat). Pour a thin layer of drainage (fine expanded clay or small ceramic shards) onto the bottom of the pot. The substrate in which you plant the cyclamen tuber should be almost dry - too wet substrate can lead to leaf loss. You can fill the top layer of soil with pebbles, although this is not necessary, because the tuber of the European cyclamen is buried in the substrate entirely. So, we bury the tuber, cover the pot with cling film and place it in a cool shaded place. Watering is minimal. In the future, when watering, adhere to one simple rule: before each subsequent watering, the top layer of the substrate should dry out. If you do not follow this rule, the stems of the buds can soften and rot. It may seem surprising, but experts do not recommend feeding the European cyclamen with fertilizers. It is believed that if you fertilize it, it can die, as it becomes too susceptible to diseases. It is enough to simply change the substrate every year or two.Cyclamen European

Reproduction of the European cyclamen

European cyclamen reproduces in two waysmethods: either by dividing the tuber or by seeds. Dividing the tuber The tubers of the European cyclamen produce elongated shoots, the so-called "fingers". They are the same color as the tuber. If the shoots are thin, do not worry, over time they will definitely become thicker. Thin shoots produce very small leaves that open directly on the surface of the substrate. The "fingers" are cut off and planted in a separate pot. This can only be done during the dormant period. Reproduction by seeds Reproduction of European cyclamen by seeds is a more labor-intensive process. If cyclamen tubers can be purchased in a store, then the seeds are obtained by pollinating the flowers artificially. If pollination is successful, fruits-"boxes" with small seeds appear. Experts believe that cyclamen should be kept in a room with a temperature of five degrees throughout the winter, only then will the seeds ripen. In no case should you touch or try to open the seed box yourself. If you are worried that the seeds may spill out into the pot when they ripen, simply place a piece of cloth under the seed pods. Before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds in water for twenty-four hours. Then they are sown in a pot at a distance of about two centimeters from each other and sprinkled with sand (they will not sprout in the light, so you can even cover the pots with seeds with dark film). The soil should be regularly moistened, but not flooded. If the seeds are overdried or flooded with water, they will die, and with fluctuations in humidity, they can “fall asleep”, go into a dormant state. The most favorable temperature for seed germination is 16-18 degrees. The seeds should germinate four weeks after sowing, but to wait for flowering, you will have to be patient - such cyclamen will delight you with flowers no earlier than in three or four years. But, as if in gratitude for your care and patience, the first flowering of the European cyclamen will be the most magnificent.

Diseases of the European cyclamen

Tuber rot Possible cause of this problem– too much watering or water getting on the tuber itself. If you find places of rot on the tuber, you can clean them and sprinkle (or even gently rub) with crushed activated carbon. Deformation and discoloration of leaves Deformation and discoloration of leaves can be caused by pests (for example, cyclamen mite). The infected plant must be isolated from other flowers and treated to destroy the pests. Gray coating on leaves Gray coating on the leaves of the European cyclamen means that your pet is affected by gray mold - a fungal disease caused by waterlogged soil, poor ventilation and moisture getting on the leaves when watering. Affected leaves must be removed, treated with fungicides, and then follow the rules for caring for cyclamen. Yellowing of leaves The leaves of the European cyclamen turn yellow if it is kept in a room with too high a temperature, in bright sunlight and not provided with sufficient watering. Leaf drop Leaves of European cyclamen may begin to fall off if there is a sudden change in lighting. Pests The main pests of European cyclamen are cyclamen mites, aphids, thrips, weevils and slugs.

  • With cyclamen ticks it is very difficult to fight: they are almost invisible and are found when the plant has already suffered greatly from their appetite. Spraying chemicals does not always help, so these pests are protected by already deformed (twisted) leaves or buds. You can treat the leaves with a mixture of agravertine (0.2%) and a solution of liquid soap (0.1%). It is better to make a mixture on acidified (for example, using orthophosphoric acid) water. Soap is needed for the mixture to "stick" to the leaves better. Sometimes such a mixture can cause burns, so start with a trial treatment of one or two leaves. Do not forget to treat the pot and destroy the eggs of the cyclamen mite. Treatment should be done three times, with a break in a week, at a temperature of 18 degrees.
  • It is good to fight aphids with the help of a preparation"Aktara". It is poured onto the substrate (it is not necessary to dilute it), the plant is transferred to top watering (not through the tray), and after a few days the aphids disappear.
  • Thrips are small insects (1mm), they strikeleaves, sucking out the juices. In this case, the leaves lose their color, and along the edges they are covered with a multitude of dots - traces from punctures by proboscis trunks. To destroy thrips, three times treatment with insecticides is necessary. Experts advise to use "Apache" or "Confidor".
  • With weevils fighting too with the help of "Aktary""Apache" or "Confidor". As a rule, in cyclamens affected by weevils, the stem is easily separated from the tuber. If the problem is triggered, the plant will die.
  • Slugs, fortunately, are more often the problem of thosecyclamens, which grow in the open ground. They rarely get into apartments. But if this does happen, they will have to be lured to the bait, and then collected by hand. If you use drugs from slugs, cyclamens may die.

Remember that if affected by any type of pest, the infected plants must be sent into “quarantine” – isolated from healthy ones.beautiful European cyclamen

Use of medicinal properties of the European cyclamen

Cyclamen europaeus is used in medicine withlong time ago. Its juice is excellent for rhinitis, sinusitis, colds, diseases of the female reproductive system, neuralgia, rheumatism, radiculitis, liver diseases, intestinal colic. Treatment of sinusitis Squeeze the juice of one small cyclamen tuber, mix with boiled water (1:10) and daily drip this solution into the nose two or three times. It is necessary to dilute the cyclamen juice, otherwise you can get a burn of the nasal mucosa. Treatment of radiculitis Chop the cyclamen tuber, pour vodka (1:10), let it brew for a week and strain. Rub the lower back. Treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract Chop the cyclamen tuber, pour hot boiled water (1 tbsp. cyclamen per 500 ml of water), insist for about two hours, strain. Take a tablespoon three times a day after meals. When self-treating with cyclamen, remember that it is quite poisonous and the use of its juice internally requires prior consultation with a doctor.

The magic properties of the European cyclamen

Even the ancient Romans believed that cyclamensprotect from evil and unkind forces. It is believed that cyclamen can drive away bad dreams, relieve anxiety and unreasonable fears, self-doubt and creative stagnation, protect from the evil eye and envy. To keep cyclamen from losing its magical power, it should be watered by adding water to the tray. It is best to keep cyclamen in the bedroom, near the bed, since it is in sleep that a person is more susceptible to the beneficial effects of this flower. According to signs, cyclamen flowers help to forget unrequited or lost love, drowning out the feeling of sadness and melancholy. Cyclamen flowers can also help with infertility. Of course, cyclamen is a plant that requires careful care. But these delicate, touching flowers will decorate your apartment. A real Alpine spring on the windowsill - isn't it wonderful?

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