Caring for Cyclamen
The cyclamen is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful houseplants, with velvety flowers in shades of white, red, pink, purple or even bi-colored. A tuberous-rooted plant, it will enhance your indoor environment for months. The following pointers will help you prolong your enjoyment.
Light:
Give this plant bright, filtered light, but keep it out of direct sunlight, which might scorch the leaves.
Water:
During the active growing period, water your cyclamen by standing the pot in a deep dish of water for half an hour. This avoids wetting the tuber, which can rot if it's kept too moist. (Watering from above can also lead to crown rot.) Repeat this soaking treatment when the surface of the potting mixture feels dry. Feed with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
Temperature:
Keep the plant cool at all times, so that its flowers last-longer. Warmer temperatures will shorten the plant's life. A temperature of about 55-65° is ideal, so try to keep your cyclamen in one of your home's cooler areas.
Humidity:
Although the cyclamen doesn't like wet feet, it will certainly benefit from humidity higher than that in most homes. The best way to enhance its environment is to stand the pot in a saucer filled with moist pebbles.
Grooming:
Remove flowers as the fade. Remove yellowing leaves as the plant gradually goes dormant.
After Blooming:
Most people choose to dispose of cyclamen after the bloom period ends. If you'd like to try to keep it, follow these instructions.
Your cyclamen will become dormant after its exuberant period of bloom. During this time, put it in a cool spot after the foliage dies back and let the soil dry. Then, in midsummer, repot the tuber with new soil in a small pot and place it in a warm place to encourage root growth. As the plant grows, gradually return it to a cooler location to induce blooming. Enjoy!