LADY BUG: CYCLAMEN, FAVORITE WINTER HOUSE PLANT, OFFERS PROFUSION OF BLOOMS

For the past six weeks patrons of Midtown Hair Styling, 623 Good Hope, have been in awe of a cyclamen potted plant, which has had almost 100 blooms (96 to be exact.) A favorite winter house plant, a cyclamen has bright pink blooms with reflex petals that stand high above the heart-shaped leaves which are green and white mottled.

Possibly the profusion of blooms can be attributed to the ideal location of the house plants of Mrs. William J. Speer, owner of the beauty shop. Her plants are grouped together in a bright, north facing window, which receives much light, but no direct sun. Also, a water gauge is used to determine the watering needs for the cyclamen, as well as the Christmas cactus, aloe vera, cactus, night-blooming cereus kalanchoe and others.

This cyclamen was a gift to Mrs. Speer when she had bypass surgery last October. It grew in the shop for several months last year, and then it began to look less healthy with leaves turning yellow. She and her husband took it to their home at 1934 Perryville Road.

"It looked as if it were going to die," Mrs. Speer said, not knowing this was the nature of the plant for its leaves to die, then rest and later put on new shoots.

These plants grow profusely in the winter months. It is a great plant for Christmas and Valentine's Day. It grows and blooms from December through March. There are many buds always coming through the soil and hiding under the leaves.

Once familiar with the cyclamen, you can make it flower time and again, but many people regard it as a short-lived gift plant and discard it after blooming. It is a relatively easy plant as long as it is watered carefully and kept in a cool spot.

Cyclamen like a cool spot with some shade, and must never stand in sunlight, winter or summer. They enjoy high humidity. Possibly this is why these plants grow so well in Lorene's shop. They like the moisture and fluorescent lights and proper watering.

A perennial tuber which originated from the Mediterranean countries, the cyclamen first grew in the wild, and can be found on the Greek Islands and in Turkey. The name "cyclamen" is derived from the Greek "kylos," which means "ring" and this indicates the way the seed pods twist as they ripen.

A potted plant since 1735, it was first known in England. In those days the plant would only bloom four or five years after seeds were planted. Since then, however, cross breeding and modern methods of cultivation have reduced maturing time to less than a year.

In months of cold, it blooms when the air is cold, while it rests during the warm, sunny summer months. Sometimes the plant will die down completely and not show any signs of life for a few months, then a sudden burst of growing shoots appear. At this time it needs water but only a small amount at a time.

Today the cyclamen is one of our most popular indoor holiday plants. Because of its heart-shaped leaves, it is most popular at Valentine's Day. It is available in a number of varieties with flowers that cover the whole spectrum of red, plus multicolors and pure white.

The mini types of cyclamen also come in a number of varieties and colors and bloom as much as the larger plants.

This plant needs to be placed in a cool location where it becomes not too warm or the flowers and foliage both can be burnt. Water the plant several times a week as it needs. Do not allow water to stand in the saucer.

The cyclamen is propagated by seeds. Lorene has been saving the spent bloom stalks in an attempt to get seeds so she can try her luck at growing some from seed.

Another method of propagating is by dividing the tuber. When the plant has entered the rest period, simply cut the tuber in two, dip it in a fungicide and replant the small tuber again.

Mrs. Speer has operated the shop for 30 years. Most of her clients are older women (one is 95) and they enjoy these house plants, particularly the old-fashioned ones such as aloe vera, cactus, the night blooming cereus and others. They appreciate the cuttings and starts of new plants she shares.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.