Cyclamen persicum are popular indoor plants that delight with enchanting flowers from late autumn all winter long. In the following section you will find tips and tricks on how to care for your cyclamen. In the right location, the first flowers appear from October. The flowers are on erect stems above the heart-shaped leaves. Depending on the variety, the flowers are one or two colors. Varieties with fringed flowers are particularly distinctive. Caring for the cyclamen is not particularly complex and you will still be regularly rewarded with many beautiful flowers. In addition to the classic potted plant, there are XXL and mini specimens. Depending on their origin, cyclamen prefer a bright location with 12 to 16 °C without direct sunlight. Enjoy the classic potted plants in the cool entryway, bedroom, in the kitchen or in the stairwell. With proper cyclamen care, potted plants will bloom until spring. You can buy plants online from us — simple and uncomplicated in our online plant shop. In the following article you will find tips and tricks on how to care for your cyclamen.
Useful information Location Planting Care Watering Fertilizing Species Pests & Diseases FAQ
Worth knowing about the cyclamen
Botanical name: Cyclamen persicum Other names: cyclamen, cyclamen, European cyclamen Use: flowering houseplant, table decoration, bedding plant in late summer and autumn Origin: mountainous regions in Greece and Turkey Flowering period: September to March, depending on the variety Flower colours: pink, red, white, pink, purple, two-tone Special features:
Cyclamen convince with a long flowering period in autumn and winter in a cool and bright location. Some varieties delight with a fine fragrance. All varieties form a tuber as an outlasting organ. Garden cyclamen are hardy and hardy and easy to care for as perennials. Very decorative for seasonal planting in late summer and autumn.
In which location does the cyclamen feel most comfortable?
Place your room cyclamen in a semi-shady place in the house without intense midday sun. A heated window sill is therefore not suitable for the classic beauty. Temperatures between 12 and 16 °C are ideal for cyclamen care. Too warm a location leads to wilting and a short flowering period.
Our gardening tip: Don’t cut off wilted flowers. Twist the handle and pull it out with a jerk. When cut, parts of the stalk remain on the plant and rot occurs.
How do I plant my cyclamen in the garden?
Cyclamen delight in late summer and autumn in the garden or on the terrace with many flowers. The colorful plants are best suited in mixed plantings with winter heather, grasses, chrysanthemums and other structural plants. Autumn temperatures do not harm the flowering creatures, only long periods of frost damage them. Hardy perennial varieties survive the cold season in the garden bed, while other species suffer from frost.
How is cyclamen cared for after flowering?
After flowering, cyclamen require less water. Water only enough to keep the soil from drying out completely. From mid-May (frost-free days), the houseplant can be placed in a shady spot on the balcony, terrace or in the garden. Don’t worry if your flowering plant has few or no leaves. After the resting phase outdoors, you can pot the tuber in new potting soil from the beginning of September and after just a few weeks the storage organ will sprout with new flowers and leaves. Ideally, the freshly potted cyclamen should be in a bright and cool location. You can easily buy the right potting soil from us.
How do I water my indoor cyclamen?
Proper cyclamen care is the guarantee that the plant will not get sick. Incorrect watering in particular makes your plant more susceptible to fungal infections. It is best to always water your cyclamen from below. Avoid wetting foliage and storage organ with water. Fill the coaster with water and discard the excess water after 15 minutes. In this way, the decorative flowering plant receives sufficient moisture and stays healthy. The water requirement is higher during the flowering period, but the watering rhythm depends heavily on the location and the pot size. It is important that there is no waterlogging.
How do I fertilize my indoor cyclamen?
Fertilize your cyclamen with flowering plant fertilizer every 2 weeks during the main growing season from September to May. When fertilizing, make sure that the root ball is not too dry, otherwise root damage can occur. After the main growing season, stop fertilizing completely.
What types of cyclamen are there?
Hardy cyclamen in perennials / outdoor cyclamen:
Spring cyclamen / early spring cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) and summer cyclamen / autumn cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) are perennials that will sprout again in the garden year after year. The latter is also known as ivy-leaved cyclamen. It blooms on calcareous soil in the garden until the first frost. The plants are delicate and fine, but have an intense fragrance and are easy to care for. Both species are hardy and robust perennials that are ideal for naturalizing in the garden. A thin layer of foliage serves as winter protection and promotes soil life. A semi-shady location or between deciduous trees is ideal, where the perennial plants can overwinter and multiply over the years by self-seeding. Wild cyclamen are often found in sunny locations or sparse spots at the edge of a forest with well-drained soil. The robust plants do not tolerate waterlogging and too much fertilizer.
Our gardening tip: Plant the tubers at an angle so that excess water can run off. Plant the bulbs in groups to get the full effect of the magical blooms.
What pests and diseases can the cyclamen get?
With the right site conditions, cyclamen are grateful flowering houseplants. Here are some potential problems, mostly due to incorrect site conditions:
bulb cases
Rotting occurs mainly when there is too much watering. Try removing the old soil and watering less. Most of the time, the cyclamen breaks due to improper care and cannot be saved.
gray mold
A grey, mold-like coating appears on the leaves. This fungal disease often occurs when the indoor plants are in a too warm and humid place. Above all, high humidity promotes gray mold. The infestation can be reduced by changing the location and moderate watering. With plant strengtheners you strengthen the plant’s defenses and the fungus occurs less frequently. Read more care tips in our Plant Doctor Advice section.
Toxicity of cyclamen
Bulb and leaves are poisonous. The plant should therefore be kept out of the reach of small children and pets.
FAQ — Frequently asked questions about cyclamen
Why are the leaves and flowers drooping?
In most cases, the flowering plant suffers from excessive sunlight and, as a result, from a root ball that is too dry. If the houseplant has sufficient moisture, the roots may be damaged and the plant will therefore become limp. In this case, try to keep the plant drier and put it in a cool place. Some of the grateful indoor plants recover. Repotting in fresh soil can also be a way to save the weakened houseplant.
Can cyclamen be propagated?
Cyclamen are mainly propagated by seed. With a bit of luck, the houseplant will form mature seed pods. The fine seeds are covered with soil and under optimal conditions the first seedlings are visible after 3 to 4 weeks. Sowing in seed trays with a transparent cover is optimal. After another 4 weeks, the young plants can be transplanted into pots. Another way of propagating is to cut the tuber into sections. These sections are placed in commercially available potting soil and watered moderately, because rotting easily occurs at the interface.
Can cyclamen be cultivated for several years?
With a bit of luck, cyclamen can delight with flowers for years to come. It is important for a perennial culture to keep to the vegetation break in summer. This means that the tubers are no longer watered from June and are in a shady, bright place outside until autumn. At the beginning of September, the tubers are removed from the old pot, the soil shaken off and replanted with fresh soil. With even soil moisture, light and temperatures of 12 to 16 °C, it only takes 2 to 3 weeks for the first leaves and later flowers to appear. Make sure that the houseplants have to be indoors in winter, ie hibernate frost-free. Only the perennial representatives of the genus Cyclamen are hardy plants,
Can cyclamen be watered from above?
Ideally, cyclamen are placed in pots or coasters and are only watered from below. This means that the water does not wet the plant or tuber, but is only poured into the saucer. Check after 15 minutes and discard excess water as waterlogging will not be tolerated.
What Causes Cyclamen Keep Turning Yellow Leaves?
Too high temperatures, lack of water or standing water are usually the causes of yellow leaves on cyclamen.
Can cyclamen flowers be used as cut flowers?
Cyclamen flowers make excellent cut flowers. It is important that the flowers are separated from the plant by jerky pulling. Cut the stems diagonally with a sharp knife and enjoy the magical decoration for 1 to 2 weeks.