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Outdoor cyclamen

B3B3 Posts: 25,296
I've just impulse-bought a dozen silly cheap outdoor cyclamen and apart from removing the teabags, I haven't a clue what to do with them.
Should I put them in containers for this year?
If I can put them in the ground -where?

In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    cyclamens grow in woodlands, so anywhere shady will suit them well
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,296
    I've got plenty of shade. Is dry shade ok? Please say yes!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,041
    When you say 'outdoor cyclamen' do you mean C. hederafolium, C. coum or some of the brightly coloured bedding type ones sold for containers, which have been bred from C. persicum and aren't as hardy as the first two unless they're protected from the winter rains and snows?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 25,296
    edited October 2018
    @Dovefromabove , thanks for reply.

    I haven't a clue
    I got them in B&Q
    6 for £1 on the dead trolley,
    But they do indeed look healthy.

    There's just a pictorial instruction showing them being put in soil and a bit saying how wonderful teabag technology is.
    I want to give them the best chance, but I'm afraid they won't be cosseted :( .
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,323
    Dry shade and a sheltered position, a dash of water if the leaves flop and we do not get rain. They do not need a lot of water.
    Leaves of coum are round with no point at the end. The leaves of ours have been out a few weeks now. Coum are spring flowering.
    hederifolium should be in flower now, through now in our garden leaves are just starting to show.
    Persicum have pointy ended leaves (like hederifolia). And tend to have a mix of flower colours, including red. No label? If there is and they have any red flowers it iwll be the persicum hybrids.
    As yet coum and  hederifolia only come in shades of pink and white. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,041
    edited October 2018
    My pink C coum have been confused by the weather this year and they’re flowering now along with the C hederifolium alba.

    My guess is that if they are from B&Q they’ll be the brightly coloured persicum type often used for winter containers. A little less hardy than the former and susceptible to the wet, but pretty  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 25,296
    I'll put them in containers near the window for the winter and enjoy them.
    If they survive, I'll plant them out next year. I've debagged them - I heard them breathe and felt them luxuriate in their newfound freedom and will plant tomorrow.
     I'm going to keep the bags to see how long it takes them to degrade. I'm hoping to outlive them.

    Whatever, it's a lot cheaper than a bunch of flowers.

    Thanks all for advice. I had a bit of a panic with 12 of them!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,041
    B3 said:


    Whatever, it's a lot cheaper than a bunch of flowers.


    Absolutely !!!   :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,260
    I'm inclined to agree with Dove - they're probably the less hardy type. Nonetheless, enjoy them over winter inside [much better than a bunch of flowers - might do the same!] and you can always stick them outside in spring, still in a pot.
    If they start knocking on the door next November, you'll know they're not hardy... :D
    My little pink hederifoliums have been flowering for weeks, Thanks Dove  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 84,041
    Did they turn out pink?  Mine were all white when we came here but last year and this we’ve had some pink ones appear.  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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