Taking care of a cyclamen properly is essential if you wish to keep your cyclamen plant lasting year after year. Their vibrant flowers and interesting leaves make this plant a popular houseplant and many owners ask, “How do I take care of a cyclamen plant?” Let’s look at how to take care of cyclamen plants both during and after blooming.
How to Grow and Care for Cyclamen Plants
Most Cyclamen plants that are loved in todays day and age are hybrids of the originals that were grown as early as 1735. While growers back then had to carefully tend to their plants for up to five years hoping to get blooms for two months, they are much easier to grow today.
Soil and Water:
Sandy to clay soils are acceptable but should be well draining and loose with grit, compost or mulch. Wet and soggy soils with poor drainage will cause tubers to rot. Raised beds are proper if poor drainage can not be modified with the addition of mulch or compost. Fertilizers are not necessary but adding some bonemeal won't hurt. A layer of compost or mulch applied over the dormant tubers in summer is all that may be needed to provide nourishment while also discouraging weeds. Mulch can also preserve and even out the supply of moisture.
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| source pic: cherry-lane.co.uk |
Hardy Cyclamen need watering in late summer and early fall to break dormancy and encourage new growth. An adequate supply of moisture is needed while the plant is in growth through fall, winter, and spring. Nature usually supplies enough moisture in these seasons, if not then watering by some other means may be neccesary. In summer when plants go dormant most species need some small amount of moisture to keep roots from dying back which will decrease bloom. A few species like hederifolium can do with very dry summers and minimal water if they are well established.
Light Requirements:
If you are growing the cyclamen plant outdoors, then keep them in a shady spot. It is best to keep them in their pots in a space where they will not get direct sun.
A north window is ideal for your cyclamen plant. The pot should get some indirect sun. Avoid putting them in any window where the temperature gets to high.
Temperature & Humidity Requirements:
Your cyclamen plant needs to be kept above 50 degrees whether you grow it inside or out. They also dislike temperatures higher than 68 degrees.
Maintaining the proper humidity level is essential if you want the cyclamen plant to bloom. This is especially crucial when humidity levels often drop with winter heating. You may want to run a humidifier near your plant or grow it in an indoor miniature greenhouse to ensure that there is enough moisture in the air. Alternatively, keep an indoor humidity monitor near the plant which helps ensure that you remember to check the plant’s humidity level often.
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| source pic: bakker.com |
Fertilizing:
A cyclamen persicum should be fertilized during the growth period with a low concentration liquid fertilizer or fertilizer spikes. If a substrate is used for planting or repotting, a so-called start fertilizing is not necessary. Outside the growth phase, fertilizer rhythms are prolonged. Implanted in the bed, compost or nutrient-rich fertilizer can be used every few weeks.
during the growth phase between October and April you should use liquid fertilizer or fertilizer sticks every two weeks
no fertilization in the first two months after flowering
if you repot the plant yearly or place the cyclamen persicum outdoors in the summer, the fertilizer rhythm can be reduced by half if a nutrient-rich substrate is used for replanting or repotting
fertilize the cyclamen in the flowerbed with compost or other nutrient-rich fertilizer every five to six weeks
approximately eight weeks before the planned indoor repotting, a cyclamen persicum should be fertilized for the last time before the upcoming growth phase
pour carefully after fertilizing
Troubleshooting Common Cyclamen Plant Care Problems.
Cyclamen yellow leaves – Yellow leaves on indoor flowering plants can mean that the plant is getting too hot and is starting to go into dormancy. Move the plant to a cooler location, and keep it out of the direct sunlight. Yellow leaves on a cyclamen plant that has just finished flowering is a sign that the plant is going into it’s dormancy period, and it’s totally normal! See the section above about cyclamen dormancy.
Cyclamen flowers drooping – Droopy cyclamen leaves and flowers are usually caused by improper watering. Check the soil level to make sure it’s not too wet or too dry. See the section above to learn how to water cyclamen plants.
Cyclamen leaves look dirty and deformed – If the leaves or flowers look like they’re dirty or faded, take a closer look at the plant. Check the undersides of the leaves for signs of spider mites, you might notice their webbing before you see any bugs (spider mites are teeny-tiny). See the houseplant pests section above for more details.
