Cyclamen
The florist variety of Cyclamen (C. persicum) was ‘the plant’ during the Christmas holiday in the Victorian era; today it is making a comeback in popularity. The name Cyclamen comes from the Greek word circle referring to the round corm from which it grows. It has also been called Poor mans orchid, Alpine violet and Persian violet.
The uniquely shaped flowers usually have 5 petals that can be single, double or delicately ruffled which come in shades of pink, purple, salmon, fuchsia, mauve, red and pure white as well as two-toned petals. They are sometimes described as a cluster of butterflies hovering over a rosette of variegated leaves. The flower stalks rise above the round-heart shaped leaves that are marked with a silvery marbling or wide silver margins. The plants range in size from a large standard that grows up to 14 inches tall to the f-1 hybrid minis which are prolific bloomers.
The florist Cyclamen with proper care can last 2-3 months in the house. It requires bright indirect light, the coolest room in the house with temperatures of 50 at night and around 65 during the day and high humidity. Keep it away from heating vents. Even moisture is essential, therefore, water the plant from the bottom by placing the pot in a water-filled bowl or water on the side of the pot avoiding the tuber and leaves. Be sure to drain off all excess water. Do not pour water directly on the tuber as this can cause rot. Allow the plant to dry a bit before watering again. Not enough water will cause floppy, limp leaves but too much water can be worse.
Feed your Cyclamen with half strength of a well balanced liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Snap off faded flowers along with the stem by twisting the stem at the base of the corm and pulling it sharply. Also, remove yellowed or damaged leaves. Yellow foliage can indicate too much heat and dry air and can shorten the blooming time.
Re-blooming a Cyclamen is not easy but it can be done. Some will just discard the plant when it is done blooming while others will take on the challenge. When the plant is finished blooming, gradually reduce watering. Once the leaves turn yellow, stop watering all together. This will coax the cyclamen into a dormant period which it needs to rebloom next year. Store the corms in their pot or take them out of the pot put in paper bag and store in a cool (50), dry, dark place. In May or June replant the corms 1/2 above the soil line in fresh soil place in bright cool room and begin to water and fertilize regularly. When new growth appears, move the plant to a shady spot in the summer. Once cooler weather sets in (autumn) bring it back inside to enjoy the blooms.
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A friend gave me a plant for Christmas named Cyclamen. It didn’t have any instructions for care. How do you care for such a plant? Thanks for any help or advice you can offer. Una Fay
I recently purchased 2 Cyclamens for my outside water fountain. I wanted to add some life around the outside of the fountain. Is it possible to keep the cyclamens in the pots and shade them with other plants? I wanted some color and I thought these would be perfect. I did have them out by the fountain and some of the stems became lifeless. Half are standing and half are lifeless. What am I doing wrong and what can be done to bring these beautiful flowers back to par? Thank you for taking the time to read our messages. Also, are there any good websites and books for African violets?
Lori
Location:Tampa
cyclamen quit blooming, leaves green, Can we set outdoors -Arizona?
I did get my Cyclamen to rebloom with absolutley no problem but now I have two bulb like objects coming out of it. Are those pods of some sort?
It is almost done blooming and the leaves are turning yellow.
I received a cyclamen for a gift in 4/04. I was told this is one of the hardest plants to keep alive. I must have beginners luck because, my plant has bloomed ever since, and it gets a few yellow leaves on it every now and then; I just pull them off, and it keeps on blooming. I do water from the bottom; however I have never “fed” my plant. It is still producing in the smaller pot I received it in. It sits in an E-NE window all year. I am in MN. I want to transplant to a bigger pot, do you think this will ruin my wonderful luck with this supposed “stubborn” plant?
I would leave well enough alone.
I like to start new plants from leaves in water. My 1st cyclamen’s leaves turned yellow and I did not realize it will go through a dormant period. I cut the stems below the leaves and have them in water. Will they root?
I have had a plant for over 25 years and it blooms all but 2 weeks a year and I water the plant from the top
I have had my Cylamen for 4 years now. It blooms almost constantly! It has 1 window ledge in my house that it loves, but has outgrown it. Is it possible to divide the corm, or will that kill it?
The plant has heart shaped leaves, purple flowers with 5-6 petals pointing up, offset on long bare stems, flowers are mainly in the center of the plant with the leaves surrounding the flowers. One leaf to a stem. What is it? Thanks Jim
Thanks, thats it Cyclamen, muchly appreciated Jim
I work at a nursing home, and was given a Cyclamen by one of the residents because it was dying off. I never had one of these plants, so I am unsure if I am even able to bring it back to its former glory. It has only about 8 leaves that are still green (5 or 6 are very yellow, and the rest I pulled off because they were dead), and I noticed yesterday that it has a couple buds that are at the base of the plant. Is it worth my effort to bring this poor neglected plant back? and what do you suggest I do to accomplish this feat?
Thanks bunches… WONDERFUL site!!!
Help! My boyfriend bought me a beautiful purple cyclamen last week and it was so healthy but now the WHOLE thing is limp! I didn’t think I watered it too much, only once a little bit. What do I do?
I purchased a cyclamen with a brilliant purple flower. It is on it’s second blooming and the flowers are now fuschia pink. Is there a way to return the flower to its original color. Do they react like hydrangeas to the type of soil?
My mother sent me a cyclamen about two weeks ago and it’s gone all droopy. My apartment has gotten quite warm with the spring weather; is the heat damaging the plant? Is there anything I can do to bring it back to its original state, or is it better to just chuck it out?
I just read your Q & A site and I am so mad at myself for not seeing it earlier. After Mother’s Day I bought three beautiful Cyclamen for $1 each because they were going to throw them away. I took them home and repotted them and set them beside my house in a mostly shady spot. They did well for a month then the white one began to die off so I threw it away. I did not realize that they go dormant! The other two are still blooming like crazy but the red on is beginning to lose leaves like the first one. I know what to do now. Thanks! They are my favorite potted plants in my garden.
It is one of my favorite as well. Thanks for your comment.
Are cyclamen poisonous to dogs? Would like to keep them as a centerpiece on a coffee table. But, if there is any danger, I will put them on a high shelf.
Are cyclamens toxic to cats? Does anyone have a trick or recipe to keep them out of my plants? Thanks
We have had a Cyclamen on our kitchen window-sill for two years now, and it blooms roughly every 2-3 months; this is a houseplant that no amount of neglect seems to kill! I’m surprised people have any trouble at all. My cyclamen experience has apparently been atypical.
We love this plant!
I was given a beautiful bright red cyclamen at Christmas to look after by my father in law. He has been away for 3 weeks and the plant is now a definite pink!
How do I get it to change colour back to the beautiful red? Is it possible?
Thanks.
I’m glad I found this site, it has been helpful! I bought several miniature cyclamen which I planted in NE-patio planter with compost-amended clay and topped with mulch. I’m located in inland southern california, I believe zone 10. I am worried about keeping the corms sufficiently dry during their summer dormancy. Should they be dug out? And, how long is their dormancy
Thanks.
I realize, now, that I have over watered my cyclamen and poured the water straight on the plant. The leaves are turning yellow. How can I save my beautiful plant?
Can Cyclamen be planted outdoors? I live on Gulf coast, Florida
I got a cyclamen after my grandfather’s funeral last month, and it was a beautiful plant. It fell out of an east facing window, and several leaves and flowers were broken off. All the leaves and flowers are now dead. Did my cyclamen go into a dormant state? Or is it dead? What should I do? Wonderful site, and thank you for your time.
Is Cyclamen prone to powdery mildew or mold, especially if the plant was overpotted and overwatered? Thanks
I live in Northern California and was looking to replace all of my dead impatiens after the winter frost. A landscaper suggested planting Cyclamen in their place and Ive been enjoying them since Dec. Now that they are dying back I would like to plant the impatiens again. Can I dig up the corms and store them until Dec. again. I have about 15 by now and dont have enough room to transplant all of them in a shady area.
I have a Cyclamen and my grandson likes to touch it and has pulled off some leaves and flowers once. Can this plant be toxic to small children?
Hi I was just curious about the nature of the downturned flower buds. Is it just the way it is? Or is there an interesting evolutionary reason to it?
Thank you,
John
I brought a brand new Cyclamen to my office a week ago and it looked great for a day or so but now is all droopy. I watered it from the bottom as I was told to at the flower shop, just filling the saucer with water every day. I read the post above and the soil is moist, so underwatering is not the problem — is it possible I ruined the plant by overwatering in just a week? I have it on the sill of an east-facing window but since it’s an office the climate is pretty much controlled, around 76 degrees I think. And since I’m in Texas, I don’t really have an option for storing in a “cool dry place” during the dormant period — it’s either on a windowsill or in the refrigerator
Maybe I’m not meant to raise this type of plant?
My sheltie (9 months old, 25 lbs.) just ate the last two leaves and stems on my cyclamen, nothing else. How toxic is this and what should I watch for? Thanks
I RECIEVED A CYCLAMEN ON THURSDAY THE 2 OF OCTOBER THIS MORNING GOT UP AND IT WAS LIMP, SO I TRIED TO GIVE IT A LITTLE WATER BUT IT IS STILL AS LIMP AS IT WAS THIS MORNING. WHAT CAN I DO? PLEASE HELP ME LITTLE PLANT!
ANYONE OUT THERE CAN HELP ME!
THANKS
I plan to dig up a very large area of caladiums and save the bulbs for next year. In its place I have bought 48 4″ cyclamens. I have a compost mixture to mix with the current soil and a blue fertilizer to spread on top. Do I need to wait after preparing the soil any time before planting the cyclamens?
I received a Cyclamen as a gift about 3.5 weeks ago and made the mistake of watering it from above. I haven’t watered it that often as the soil has felt moist. Nevertheless, the blooms have all died off and the leaves are droopy. I think they may be rotting as they are very limp and squishy to the touch. Is there any way for me to save this plant?
Hi, I live in Sunnyvale, California. I am new to gardening even though I love plants. I have a few Cyclamen planted in a shaded area outdoors. I have left them there and this is the 2nd year that they are blooming nicely. What kind of fertilizer should I use so that the plants stay healthy and how often? Any other advise. Also, what should I feed the Geraniums? Thanks a lot for your suggestions.
Hi. I live in the UK and my friend bought me a cyclamen about 3 weeks ago as a houseplant. I know it’s not happy, but I can’t work out exactly what is the problem. After a few days, some of it’s leaves started turning yellow, so I tried reducing the temperature of the room (it’s a south facing room so can get quite warm and I have it as far from the window as possible) – but a friend told me underwatering also caused yellow leaves… I have only watered from the bottom, and as soon as it stopped ‘drinking’ poured any excess water away and left between 3-5 days between watering. It doesn’t seem to be producing any new leaves, but is still producing buds. Most of the flowers are upright but I don’t feel they are standng as ‘firm’ as they should and they have all faded a little in colour since I first got it. Some of the flowers are totally flopped over – is this wilting from underwatering or rotting from overwatering? Or maybe I am still suffering a temperature problem? And is it too late to do anything to remedy the problem? Many thanks for any advice you may be able to give – I really want to save my little plant.
I have a Cyclamen producing pink blooms, I have the same problem each time I get a third bloom. One of the petals tends to go blue and rather dry just at the top of the petal. Can anyone enlighten me as to the cause if this problem please ?? Thank you !!!!!!!! Apart from this minor issue the plant appears very healthy.
I received a pot of cyclamens as a gift end of Jan of this year. I’m a beginner and I am pretty sure I killed the plant by overwatering it (I used to water it everyday without knowing that’s too much). At one point, the soil remained moist for weeks and the plant seemed to have stopped absorbing the water. Right now, most of the flowers have wilted but there are still some nice green leaves sticking around, although they are slowly turning yellow too. There used to be flower and leave buds but even they have wilted before blooming.
Can my plant be saved? Should I let the remaining leaves die off and wait for it to rebloom next year? And when should I replant if it isn’t completely dead yet?
Thanks in advance!!
I have cyclamen. I would like to know what is the best indoor fertilizer so I can keep it blooming
I have about 60-70 Cyclamen in wall pots, regular pots and in the ground. I do not want to remove the Cyclamen from the pots if possable just to many of them. Are there plants that will last and will flower like the Cyclamen (OCT-APRIL)a good 6-7 months here in Las Vegas, NV. for me that will work and last 6 months (April-Sept.) like the Cyclamens does and about the same size Plant? Most are in the filter shade and a few will be in the Sun that I could remove an store if I have too. But if I must store them how and when do you do the last feeding?
I just love Cyclamen and want them to come back this Fall and with your help
Dooping flower stems
Hi! I have a cyclamen that is 3 years old sitting on my desk at work. It is constantly blooming. Still in the original pot it came in. I water from the bottom. My question is – why are the stems of the flowers long? They cause the flower to droop over the leaves and the side of the pot. They are not erect like the pictures I’ve seen. I love this plant because it’s so unique the way the flowers grow!! Thanks for any advice/information you can give me.
Hi! I have just noticed there are two places on the tuber where leaves are beginning to grow. Should I allow all of them to mature? Or should I remove the ones from one spot and just allow the others to grow?
Thanks!
Rhoda
Cyclamen seeds
Can anyone help me please.I have aquired some seed pods from outdoor cyclamens,and unsure what to do to grow them on. Do I open the pods and plant the seeds into pots or do I plant the whole pod?
I received two cyclamen bulbs that are fully dormant. I want to grow them but have a couple of questions. Which side is up. I assume the convex side goes down but I’m not sure. Also, recommendations state that the bulb should be planted about a half inch deep. For my 3 inch bulbs, this will leave the top exposed. Is this ok?
Thank’s
Bob
Repot cyclamen after dormancy
First, the cyclamen I bought last year doesn’t look like any photos I’ve seen…the leaves grow to be about 4×4 inches and the stems are about 8 inches long. They droop over the sides of the pot like a spider plant but at least my flowers will grow straight up. Also, I managed my way through dormancy and am about to enjoy my second round of bloom. The soil on the top of my plant is crunchy, should I replant or just add more soil to the top around the outside of the corm?
Hello,
I have had a very different experience with Cyclamens,I love and adore my plant, and have just bought another, and replanted 3 seedlings that had come through in the original mothers pot.
I was given mine as a gift, with no tags no instructions nothing, so I put it on my back window and watered every day,but just a small amount, the flowers would droop, then stand up later in the day after I had watered it. I had just assumed it was like a daisy in that respect, and it was to do with the light more than anything! I know so little about plants! But I changed its window, and began watering it more always from the top.
It has gone yellow a couple of times and I have always just cut back the yellow leaves, I never knew that they went dormant! Mine certainly never has, and it has never had any fertilisers, just new compost when it got bigger and was repotted, and the occasional drink of tea.
I top watered, daily, or at least every other day, when it got spindley and overly leafy, I cut back the extra growth to allow it to concentrate on the blooms, always keeping some foliage, and it has thrived, never gone dormant, and has shot up 3 babies along side! I never knew that they could self sow, and over the last 18 months I have had dozens of pods I could have sewn.
The base of the plant looked like it was 3 separate plants and I was going to split them up, but it is just one corm and all reccomendations say not to do that, so I wont, I dont want to hurt my gorgeous wee plant.
I have just sewn one pot of seeds today from the last bloom I had left, and will see how it comes on from there, I will be sewing a whole lot more, because the original is just starting to sprout new blooms, and the new one is in full flower with a huge amount of extra growth on the way, I love these, and am totally hooked now.
Does keeping them in bloom like this reduce the life span of the plant in any way? Or am I safe to continue treating it as I have?
Any suggestions greatfully received. Thanks in advance
Gracie
We brought in our cycleman about a month ago, when it had quite a few leaves. I fertilized it, and put it in a sunny window. While I have many more leaves, half of the leaves have large “chewed up” missing areas. The plant appears to be OK, but what is causing the large missing parts of the leaves??
Start dormancy
I did not know to let dry out and rest. It is now January here in Ohio (Cleveland area) and very cold. What would you advise me to do? Should I slow down my watering now or later to start the dormant cycle?
I love your information and straight forward advice. I have a question for you… My Cyclamen has been active since before April ‘09 when I received it. It has consistantly bloomed although there seems to be less and less leaves.
BTW I am a very bad plant mommy, according to your information. I water from the top, every 7-14 days about 3/4 to a 1c full… LOL Also, before this Cyclamen I have killed many many plants… I believe it likes the fact that I stress it out with odd waterings and direct light. My apartment is kept about 73 in summer and 68 in winter.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Store cyclamen corm
I HAVE JUST STORED A CYCLAMEN IN PAPER BAG AS SUGESTED HOPE IT IS OK IN JUNE READY TO RESTART INTO GROWTH ???