On 14/10/2013 10:39, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
David Hill wrote:

If botrytus was left to develop then it would give rise to general rot,
but sometimes you can get it just starting then the plant drying up and
the botrytus dying off, in tomatoes this gives rise to ghost spotting
http://visualsunlimited.photoshelter...000UHmosSkQAzw

Thanks for that information.

I have occasionally seen cyclamen bulbs with fairly large pits,
so I think that they can recover from incipient general rot
(sometimes, perhaps rarely). And the mechanism could well be
the same. The cultivated C. persicum seem to be a bit demanding
on humidity and watering, but C. coum and hederifolium seem to
be resistant to fairly extreme drying out.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.




Interestingly, I have what I believe is a Cyclamen persica (sold as
Auntumn/Winter bedding), which has spent the last 2 or 3 years outside.
During the worst of winter weather I keep it close to the house wall,
but it has thrived, seeded itself magnificently and looks capable of
surviving another winter.

I am tempted to split up this bounty and continue giving one half the
usual winter treatment, and the other half full winter treatment to see
if the seedlings at least have become winter hardy.

Certainly, it is worth more of us trying to grow cylamen from seed. It
is not that difficult, and very rewarding. The trick is not to throw
the pot of 'bare' compost out during the rest period, believing it to
have failed. The following season, the seed tuber sprouts an extra leaf
or two and the tuber is bigger. Within 3 or 4 years it should give you
the first flower. So exciting!

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay