Cyclamen plants are a delightful choice to brighten up the winter months with their vibrant blooms. Known for their striking flowers in shades of red, pink, maroon, and white, and their attractive heart-shaped leaves, cyclamen bring a touch of color indoors when the garden outside is dormant. Over the years, plant breeders have developed a wide array of cyclamen varieties, offering everything from ruffled petals to miniature sizes, ensuring there’s a cyclamen to suit every taste.
Cyclamen plants offer weeks of vibrant color, perfect for winter décor.
One of the secrets to enjoying cyclamen blooms for an extended period lies in the way they are nurtured from the start. Starting with a robust bulb and a specially formulated soil mix creates a strong foundation for the plant. Selecting the right variety and providing optimal growing conditions and nutrition are key to encouraging abundant leaf growth, which directly translates to more flowers. Observing a healthy cyclamen closely, you’ll notice numerous buds emerging from the center, nestled amongst the leaves, promising a continuous display of blossoms.
Essential Cyclamen Care Tips
To ensure your cyclamen plant thrives and graces your home with its beautiful flowers, follow these care guidelines:
Temperature
Cyclamen prefer cooler temperatures, ideally around 61°F (16°C). These plants flourish in environments that are a bit cooler than typical room temperature, mirroring their native Mediterranean climate. Avoid placing your cyclamen in overly warm rooms or near heat sources, as excessive heat can shorten their blooming period.
Light
Providing adequate light is crucial for cyclamen. They thrive in bright, indirect light or even direct light, especially during the dimmer winter months. A spot near a sunny window where they can receive plenty of light without being exposed to scorching midday sun is ideal. Insufficient light can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering.
Watering
Proper watering is vital to cyclamen care, especially while they are in bloom. The best method is to water from below to prevent crown rot, a common issue with cyclamen. Place the cyclamen pot in a tray of water and allow it to absorb moisture from the bottom up for about 15-20 minutes. This ensures the root ball is adequately moist without saturating the crown and leaves. Between waterings, the topsoil can be allowed to slightly dry out, but avoid letting the plant completely dry out while it is actively blooming. It’s also important to promptly remove any yellowing leaves or spent flowers to encourage new growth and maintain the plant’s appearance.
Feeding
Cyclamen benefit from regular feeding during their blooming period. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every two weeks. However, it’s crucial to avoid over-fertilizing, as cyclamen are not heavy feeders, and too much fertilizer can be detrimental. Remember, when it comes to feeding cyclamen, less is often more.
Cyclamen Dormancy and Post-Bloom Care
After cyclamen finish blooming, they naturally enter a period of dormancy. When the foliage begins to die back, reduce watering gradually and allow the plant to dry out. You can choose to discard the corm (the bulb-like base) and compost the plant, treating it as an annual. Alternatively, to save the corm and encourage reblooming in the following season, remove the corm from the pot once the foliage has completely withered. Repot the corm in fresh potting mix in midsummer and place it in a warm location to encourage root development. Once roots are established, return the plant to a cooler environment, around 55-60°F (13-16°C), to stimulate flowering for the next season.
Acclimating Cyclamen Outdoors
In the spring, typically around April, once the risk of hard frost has passed, cyclamen can be moved outdoors. While they can tolerate a light freeze, it’s essential to acclimate them gradually to the outdoor environment to prevent shock. Introduce them to outdoor conditions slowly, starting with a sheltered spot and gradually increasing their exposure to sunlight and temperature changes. This process allows the plant to adjust to the different environmental conditions without stress.
By following these care guidelines, you can enjoy the beauty of cyclamen plants throughout the winter season and potentially beyond, as they bring a touch of elegance and color to your indoor spaces.
For further assistance and expert advice on cyclamen care, the team at Gertens is always ready to help!
