Cyclamen & Begonias

[KBW]

Cyclamen, the little gems, are still flowering. I have shifted them inside on the window sill.


Look at the foliage. Even if there were no flowers, I would love to grow a plant like that on my window sill. Flowers are a real bonus.



My camera lens has not been able to capture the true colour which is always a problem with reds. It is actually dark crimson. I think I will have to take the pics very early in the morning to capture the true colours. May be a better lens is in the offing too. Perhaps a good prime lens or a micor lens too.




Look at the shape this little beauty has acquired. I really love the drooping flowers. The plants have hardly ever been fed with any water other than rainwater. The acidic pH of rain water is very good for cyclamen, azaleas and rhododendrons.



This begonia is still flowering. I have already shifted them inside because the temperature at ni outside is around -2 to -3.

[Munir]

Exceptionally beautiful!

[mikhurram]

Very Beautiful. Cyclamens these days have started arriving in nurseries from Murree and the prices have doubled in recent years from Rs 150 to Rs 300. Despite the jump in prices, they are worth buying as they will bloom nonstop till February. As flowers fade, new flower shoot keep on emerging and in addition there is a wide range of colour available from white, dark pink, shocking pink, light and dark red.
KBW sahib the only colour missing in Cyclamens is the dark red colour which would make your display more dazzling.

[M Farooq]

Beautiful esp. the colour of Begonia is unique! How long do the blooms last?

[KBW]

Munir sb, thanks.

Khurram sb, actually the red shown in pic two is very dark red but in the pics it appears like dark crimson whereas it is dark maroon. I am still keeping the cyclamen outside where the temperature at night goes to -2. In next few days, I will bring them inside in the window sill where they will get enough light.

Farooq sb, yes this is a very delightful orange. The flowers last around 15 days or even more. These begonias are really stunning.

[Mustansir Billah]

Beautiful plant. You have put them inside from protection of frost or Cold?

[KBW]

Cyclamen are still outside but will be brought in within few days. Begonias are inside as they are more tender.

[Syed Adnan]

i have failed my attempt with CYCLAMIN as they need a lot of cold weather constatnt below 15 C, i dont think they can survive either in ISL/LHR/KHI. Begonias are a real charm and give continuous blooms through out winter/spring.

[Asim_Nawaz]

Beautiful Cyclamen plant.

[mikhurram]

KBW sahib,

just wanted to share with you as that these days in Lahore/Islamabad, one can collect the seeds of Cyclamen from flowers which fade. The seeds are sowed immediately by nurseries in Lahore/Islamabad. Around April/May the seedlings are taken to Murree where they flower within a span of two years. Even the bulbs of the unsold Cyclamen are also sent to Murree around the same time period along with the seedlings and are able to survive in Murree as they cannot stand the heat of our plains from May onwards.

Here in Canada, the seeds can be stored and sown them when the weather starts warming up ideally when the weather is around 25' C similar to the climate in Lahore these days. Plant shops selling these Cyclamens can also be asked abou the ideal time for sowing in Canada. I suspect weather there would remain cold till April. The conditions in Canada are same as that of of Murree and these plants can be saved easily for next year.

regards,