cyclamens/planting under Calif. live oak
- Subject: cyclamens/planting under Calif. live oak
- From: L* R*
- Date: Thu, 23 Dec 1999 22:44:24 -0800 (PST)
The cyclamens mentioned [C.hederifolium, coum, repandum] do naturalise
spectacularly in difficult rootzones in the oak-savanna zones of wsestern
Oregon. They grow right to the base of a nasty silver maple in my yard,
and I have seen
dinner-plate sized tubers taken from underplantings of Garry oak and
bigleaf maple. In central California, you'd have an even larger range of
species to try... For information on these, check any of several books on
the genus -- the
authoritative one is by Christopher Grey-wilson, published by Timber Press
[The Genus Cyclamen].
Cyclamen seed can be slow to germinate [over a year in some cases], but
the following usually works very well, for germination within a month of
sowing: soak the seeds overnight in warm water. Sow deeply [a couple of
seed diameters] in good, fast-draining compost [I use peat-perlite cut
with an equal volume of volcanic grit], hold between 50-60 degrees in a
DARK place [I have a basement storage room that fits this...a coat closet
would work as well.] Check frequently for germination, to avoid
etiolation. Keep
seedlings in growth as long as possible, with liquid feeds. When foliage
dies down, keep dry and cool until autumn, and grow on in flats outside.
Plant out after second season of growth, or when tubers are about 1/2 inch
in diameter.
Once you have cyclamens, whether from seed or purchased tubers, they are
likely to naturalise over time. And they're among the last desirable
plants to disappear from old, neglected gardens. Seeds are transported by
ants, by the way.
loren russell, corvallis, oregon
On Thu, 23 Dec 1999, John Dreher wrote:
> Trevor -
>
> Cyclamen, you betcha. I have thought longingly of them. Do you grow them from
> seed? Is it difficult?
>
> Kay in Berkeley
