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Re: Cyclamens

At 08:59 AM 6/9/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Well, the cyclamens I told you all about (they are blooming like crazy
>but are supposed to be dormant right now, when they did nothing all
>winter), are looking better than I have ever seen them.  I finally gave
>in and watered them.  They just have such beautiful blossoms I could not
>resist their please any longer!  Any comments?  If anyone with
>seasonally dormant plants thinks I am making a mistake, please give me
>your thoughts.  I do not want to mess up their timing, but yet they seem
>to know what they want.
>
>Molly in Iowa (Zone 4)
>
Molly:

I don't know if anyone has answered your qestion privately but here's my
thoughts: plants know best.  Enjoy.

I have never been a proponent of forcing plants into dormancy.  When they
show signs (no new growth, yellowing leaves etc.) I let them go dormant.

I have had people tell me they were giving their African violets a rest and
were incredulous when I told them it wasn't necessary, that AVs should bloom
year round, admittedly sometimes more than others.

Houseplants are out of their natural environment and may not react as they
would in the wild where they are subjected to vagaries of weather.  Take
note of pictures in garden publications of wild plants and then compare them
to the plants on your windowsill or in your light garden.  And we complain
about bug damage. :-)

Once again - enjoy.

>
Ruth Zavitz                                     
rzavitz@execulink.com                            
Freelance Writer & Gardening Consultant
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