27-12-2003, 04:02 AM
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hardy cyclamen surroundings
In article ,
pamfree (Zemedelec) wrote:
I'm about to put in some 50 Coum cyclamens (little plants) and the
instructions
suggest surrounding them with "granite or limestyone grit" to discourage
standing water and slugs. "Grit" to me suggests something larger than
sand but
smaller than gravel. None of the local nurseries, hardware or pet stores seem
to have it. Am I looking for the wrong stuff?
zemedelec
I second Pam's info, as grit strikes me as by no means needed. If the soil
drains properly, that's enough, & if it doesn't, a tiny bit of sandy soil
on the surface won't change the problem. Most of mine grow up near the
bases of trees & shrubs, the roots of which suck up enough moisture that
the cyclamens are never too wet. Since cyclamens don't need to be dug up
ever, they're perfect in amidst the roots of woody shrubs, where they also
get the shade they prefer. I love cyclamens to distraction, & have not
found them the least bit difficult, just need to keep deciduous leaves
off them come autumn. They self-seed, & unexpected seedlings will suddenly
appear even in nearby potted plants, & will produce a few flowers even
before they develop tubers. C. coum is especially easy. You may want at
some point to add C. hederifolium which is even easier & begins blooming a
couple months sooner so that their combined bloomings back-to-back, to
keep those little pink flowers present from September to March. There are
some five other species that are relatively easy, but the real
no-mainteance ones are CC coum & hederifolium. There are many
leaf-varients too, & differing shades of blooms from white to deep
magenta, though pink is commonest. I think people are often leery of them
because florist cyclamens so rarely bloom a second time, but these little
wild species are good even for novices. They are going to reward you for
years & years.
-paghat the ratgirl
--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/
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