cht@mit-eddie.UUCP (Chester Liu) (01/19/86)
[...just for the aphids... Does anyone know how to properly grow cyclamens? When I got it as a gift, it was in full bloom and very healthy. (This was in November) Now, most of the flowers have died and some of the new ones die prematurely (meaning without blooming first). I tried putting it in the sunlight, in the shade, with moderate amounts of water, etc. Nothing seems to help. It almost died when I put it in full sun but the leaves appear weak when placed in the shade. WHAT'S GOING ON??!! Please help me.........thanx. !ihnp4!mit-eddie!cht Reply any way you feel like.
bea@alice.UucP (Bea Chambers) (01/21/86)
Cyclamens like a cool house. Our house temperature is 55 during the day and 62 for a few hours at night, then back to 55. We keep ours in the sun and water it ( the pots are in a dish and we put water in the dish only) either once a week or when the leaves start to droop. At this moment, I have 18 blooms on my pink one. I also have a white one which is on its 3rd year and it is just starting to bloom again. The white seem to be the most hardy. If your house/apt is warmer than 62, I think you are in trouble with them. Good luck.
seb@mtgzz.UUCP (s.e.badian) (01/23/86)
Ah, cyclamens - beautiful, but tricky. They like diffused light, not direct sun, not shade. They should never dry out, but do not water from the top since it tends to promote rot of the crom (it's like a tuber). But the biggest thing is THEY LIKE IT COOL. We're talking no warmer than 62 degrees during the day and in the 50's at night. Too warm, and the buds all die. Sounds to me like this is your problem. Also, cyclamens are dormant part of the year. After they're done flowering, the leaves will die back and it looks like you have a dead plant. But rumor has it that you can let it rest, repot it and it will bloom again. I say rumor because I tried it and it didn't work. Good luck with it. They're beautiful plants when they're healthy. Sharon Badian ihnp4!mtgzz!mtgzy!seb