| Mini Cyclamen |  |
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|  Mini Cyclamen are quite hardy and will survive to -6 oC provided they are not waterlogged. They prefer a sheltered sunny spot away from cold winds and will continue to flower all winter except in very cold spells.
They look good planted on their own in borders as bedding plants or with other plants either in borders or containers with plants such as Ajuga, Ivy, Grasses and Lamium. |
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| On arrival | | | • | Unpack your plants as soon as they arrive and check that everything you expect is enclosed. | | • | Water any plants that have dried out in transit. | | • | Ideally your plants should be potted up or planted out within a day or two, but they should stay in good condition for a week or so if stood upright, well-watered and fed occasionally with a liquid plant food. Plants should be left in a light, sheltered place such as a windowsill or greenhouse. |
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| Planting out | | Your Cyclamen plants will do best in a well-drained, but moist soil where they will get whatever sun there is although they can tolerate partial shade. | • | The planting distance between plants should be 20-25cm (8-10"). | | • | Get together all the things you'll need:
- trowel
- planting compost
- plants | | • | Make a hole large enough to accommodate the roots. Mix an equal amount of planting compost with the soil and add a general-purpose fertiliser. | | • | Place your plant in the hole, ensuring that the top of the compost is just below soil level and then fill in with the soil mixture and firm down by pressing the soil gently around each plant. | | • | Water well. |
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| Planting a container | | | • | Get together all the things you'll need: ideally a 30-40cm (12-14") container, good quality potting compost (A container compost is generally better than multi-purpose as it contains more plant food), plants. | | • | Place broken up pieces of polystyrene plant trays or broken pots in the bottom of your container to help with drainage. | | • | Fill your container with potting compost so that the level is about 5cm (2") from the top. | | • | Plant one central plant first by scooping out a hole just large enough for the roots and so the top of the root-ball is at compost level. Then continue planting the outer circle of plants about 2.5 -5cm from the rim of the container, firming gently. | | • | Top up with compost if needed to about 2cm (?") below the rim of the container. | | • | Water thoroughly and place in a greenhouse or sheltered spot for a week or so before placing in its final position. | | • | To help with drainage containers should be stood on pot feet or raised slightly using small pieces of tile or wood. |
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| Aftercare | | | • | Water frequently even on apparently cool overcast days especially when there is a wind blowing. Plants are best watered in the early morning or early evening and should be watered frequently. | | • | Snip off the dead heads of flowers at regular intervals to encourage a longer flowering season. | | • | Liquid feed about once a week during the flowering period to keep your plants looking healthy and flowering longer (tomato food is ideal). | | • | There are generally few pest problems but aphids (greenfly & blackfly) and whitefly may on occasions need to be controlled using an appropriate spray during a mild autumn. |
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