How to Grow Cyclamen

Cyclamen are commonly known as winter-blooming houseplants. Their full name is cyclamen persicum. The blooms are sweet-scented and come in pink, purple, red and white colors. With proper care, they can bloom for several months. In warm climates, you can plant cyclamens outdoors as winter annuals. They are perennial for hardiness zones 9 and 10. It's specifically a tuberous perennial. This means it dies down to its tubers (thick roots) during summer dormancy. Then, it regrows quick in the fall.

If you plant by seed, do it in late summer. This will allow for blooms the following winter (18 months later). If you have pets or children, be cautious. Cyclamen is toxic to humans and animals.

Look for cyclamen plants with lots of butterfly-shaped buds. The buds should just be opening and have healthy green foliage. Healthy cyclamen leaves may be rounded or heart-shaped. They'll be colored with silver marbling.

The blooming season for cyclamen is in winter, so buy in early winter. Give cyclamen bright indirect light and cooler temps. A good day temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the day. It can survive on nights as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It likes organically rich, well-draining soil. The soil pH should be slightly acidic. Regular potting mix with a little sphagnum peat added is great. Each variety of cyclamen has specific care instructions. Follow your plant tag's care instructions for the best results.

Like most houseplants, cyclamen likes a humid environment. Water when the soil feels dry to the touch. When you water, do it from the bottom to prevent the plant crown from rotting. If you need to raise the humidity, add a tray under your pot. Fill it with pebbles and water. Make sure the pot isn't continuously touch the water, as this causes root rot.

Fertilize cyclamen every few weeks while blooming. You don't need to fertilize during summer dormancy. There are various fertilizer products formulated for houseplants. Look for a diluted liquid, low-nitrogen fertilizer option. If you see any yellowing or dead leaves, prune them. Pluck any fading flowers or seed heads. This can extend the blooming period.

When the plant finishes blooming and goes dormant, pull back on the watering. At this point, you can set the plant outside for the summer. Or, remove the tuber from the pot and store it in a dry environment. An example: store it in vermiculite at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

When it’s time to bring back the plant, repot the tuber in fresh potting mix. Begin watering again and resume fertilizing. Enjoy another round of blooms!

Outdoors, cyclamen is a good choice for dry shade. Heuchera is another plant that likes dry shade. If you have a spot with happy heuchera, chances are, cyclamen will thrive there. Other examples are hosta, lungwort, hellebore and foamflower.

Choose a location in partial shade that's shielded from afternoon sun. Wooded areas under trees or shrubs are best. In areas where cyclamen overwinters, plants will go dormant in summer. They will rot if the soil is wet at that time.

Plant cyclamen tubers in both beds and containers so that they sit slightly high. Plant in small groups outdoors in shady flowerbeds. Dig the bed with a digging fork and add a spadeful of compost. A handful of time-release flower fertilizer to each planting hole is good. Plant in containers at least 6 inches wide with excellent drainage holes. Use potting soil that includes starter fertilizer or add your own.

Cyclamen flower buds form at ground level. It may rot if exposed to too much water. The soil should be moderately moist. Cyclamens that run dry often collapse. Water will usually revive the plants. Rehydrate dry containers by placing them in a bin or bucket. Fill it with 4 inches of cool water and let the container sit for 30 minutes.

Keep plants well-groomed by clipping off old blooms and leaves as needed. You can use scissors or floral snips. Feed plants every two weeks with a water-soluble flower food. Start this practice a month after planting.