Cyclamen are plants which spend part of the year in growth, and part of the year in a dormant state, during which there is no living foliage, although some speciesfruiting pedicels may remain in a vegetative state as the seed matures.

Cyclamen will live a number of years and bloom almost continuously if they are watered faithfully when the soil surface dries to half an inch, is fertilized every three or four weeks with soluble fertilizer, and placed in a window with morning sun.

At low population densities, cyclamen mites are usually found along the midvein of young unfolded leaves and under the calyx of newly emerged flower buds.

Cyclamen mites overwinter as adult females in the strawberry crown.

The cyclamen mite is extremely difficult to control by means of chemicals because the mite is resistant to many of the comercial insecticides, and because of its location within unfolded leaves on the plant.

At low population densities, cyclamen mites are usually found along the midvein of young, unfolded leaves and under the calyx of newly emerged flower buds; when populations increase, these mites can be found anywhere on nonexpanded plant tissue.

Cyclamen mites are primarily pests in fall-planted and second-year plantings, but they can be transplanted into first-year fields and the damage symptoms become apparent on leaves as the season progresses.

To control cyclamen mites, a high rate of water per acre (300-500 gal) is necessary to soak the unfolded leaves and immature flower buds located in the crowns.

Cyclamens grow from a fibrous brown coloured tuber, 2-7cm (1-3in) in diameter, the tuber stores starches and carbohydrates over winter to feed the plant.

The name Cyclamen is derived from the Greek "kyklamenos" meaning "circular or circle form", either from the spiralling flower stalk or from the round shape of the tuber and "Hederaefolium" from the leaves resemblance to Hedera helix or English Ivy.

In its native habitat the Cyclamen is an endangeredplant, with Turkey and Greece seeming to have the largest remaining populations and diversity.

Hardy cyclamenseed should be sown as soon as possible in pans of John Innes Seed Compost, to which has been added a little extra perlite and (if available) some shredded leaf mould, preferably beech or oak.

Cyclamen intaminatum is the smallest species around 5cm (2ins.) with Cyclamen persicum at the tall end, at up to 25cm (10ins.).

Cyclamen are available (subject to crop) throughout the year, although most are dormant during the summer.

Cyclamens may be grown from seed sown in April or September in soil containing a large proportion of sand and leafmold.

Tubers large enough to flower the first year may be purchased from the seedsmen at moderate prices; and unless one has facilities for growing the seedlings for a year, purchase of the tubers will give the best satisfaction.

The soil best suited to the cyclamen is one containing two parts leafmold, one part each of sand and loam.

The mites are often found on the corms of cyclamens in storage and are thus transported by trade.

The layman may confuse the cyclamen mite with the broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), but the broad mite is broader, smaller, and moves much faster.

Unless African violets are examined carefully periodically, the cyclamen mite can be overlooked easily and cause damage by sucking out plant juices, causing cells to collapse and providing an entry for plant diseases, resulting in damage such as leaf curling and leaf dying, before the mites are observed.

Their flower shape varies from the cheeky dumpy form of Cyclamen coum to the elegant and graceful Cyclamen persicum, with colours from pure white, through delicate pinks to cheerful dead of winter brightening magentas.

Cyclamen dislike disturbance and so potted plants are probably the best option for mature plants.

Cyclamen usually flower 3-4 years after germination, but germination often takes one or two years.