Florist’s Cyclamen / Persian Cyclamen

Cyclamen persicum

description

Florist’s Cyclamen is a cool-season tuberous plant with swept-back flowers and patterned leaves.

benefits

Flowering
Suitable for containers

warnings

Toxic to cats
Toxic to dogs

How to care for Florist’s Cyclamen

sunlight

In its eastern Mediterranean home, cyclamen grows through the cool, bright winter season. Give it strong filtered light indoors, away from hot glass and afternoon sun.

Bright indirect light

Place it near an east window, or a little back from a south or west window behind a sheer curtain. Gentle morning or winter sun is usually welcome, but strong direct sun can fade leaves and shorten flowering.

If the stems stretch toward the window, move the pot closer or turn it a quarter turn weekly.

watering

Keep the compost lightly moist while cyclamen is growing and flowering, but never soggy. Water around the edge of the pot or from below so the crown and tuber stay dry.

Autumn - spring (active growth)

Water about every 4-7 days in a cool, bright spot. Check first: the top 1 cm of compost should feel dry, while the root ball beneath is still faintly moist. Water thoroughly, then let excess drain away.

Lift the pot before watering: a noticeably lighter pot is a more reliable cue than the calendar.

Summer (resting or dormant)

As leaves yellow and die back, reduce watering to roughly every 2-4 weeks, giving only enough to stop the tuber drying out completely. Resume more regular watering when fresh growth appears in late summer or autumn.

Do not leave cyclamen standing in water or soak its crown. Constantly wet compost can quickly rot the tuber and roots.

humidity

Preferred humidity

40-60%

Florist's cyclamen grows through the cool, wetter season in its Mediterranean home, so it appreciates moderately humid air with good circulation. Average household humidity of about 40% or more is usually fine. Air that is very dry can crisp leaf edges, brown flower buds, and shorten the display.

Raise humidity around the plant, not on its flowers or crown.

Group it with other plants or use a pebble tray with water kept below the pot base.
Keep it cool, away from radiators, heat vents, and hot sunny windows.
Provide fresh air, especially in humid rooms, to help prevent gray mold.

temperature

Best for flowering

10-18°C (50-65°F)

Winter minimum

Keep above 5°C (41°F)

Native to the eastern Mediterranean, florist's cyclamen grows through cool, moist winters and rests in summer heat. A cool room helps flowers last, while temperatures above 20°C (68°F) can shorten the display and encourage yellowing leaves.

Place it in a bright, cool spot away from radiators, fireplaces, and warm appliances.

Protect it from frost and freezing glass, especially on an unheated windowsill.

nutrition

September - March

While it is making new leaves and flowers, feed every 3-4 weeks with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at about half the label strength. Stop feeding during its summer rest, then resume when fresh growth appears.

Potassium

Potassium supports sturdy stems and flowering. A balanced fertilizer supplies enough without pushing the plant too hard.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen keeps the patterned leaves healthy, but too much can make growth soft and leafy at the expense of flowers.

Feed only damp compost, and skip a dose if the pot is staying wet or growth has slowed.

soil

Loose, moisture-retentive soil with fast drainage

Cyclamen tubers need air around their roots but dislike drying out completely while in growth. Use a light houseplant mix loosened with perlite or fine bark, in a pot with drainage holes, so excess water can move away quickly.

pH 5,5 - 6,5

This is slightly acidic soil, which suits cyclamen well. Most peat- or coir-based houseplant mixes fall close to this range. Avoid adding lime unless you know your mix is unusually acidic.

Choose a pot only a little wider than the tuber - excess wet compost around it can lead to rot.