Home Care for a Cyclamen

Temperature and Location

• Cyclamen prefers cool locations where temperatures remain near 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day when the plant is in bloom. A cool area near a sunny window provides for the best flowering and health of the plant during the winter and spring flowering period. Temperatures as low as 50 degrees at night prolong the flowering period. Avoid placing the plant near heat vents, as the warm air dries the plant, leading to damage and a diminished flowering period.

Water and Nutrient Needs

• Wet soil leads to root rot, which kills cyclamen plants. They prefer slightly drier soil compared to other flowering plants. Water only when the soil surface feels dry. Thoroughly moisten the soil, but avoid pouring water directly on top of the tuber. The cyclamen tuber rots if water collects in the hollow near its center. Empty the drainage tray of any collected water after you irrigate. Watering twice monthly with a 5-10-5 soluble fertilizer provides the necessary nutrients for the plant's health. Dissolve ¼ tsp. of fertilizer in 1 quart of water before you water the plant with the nutrient solution.

Dormancy

• The flowers bloom during winter and into early spring, then the entire cyclamen dies back and enters dormancy during the summer. Gradually decrease water after the flowers die back. The plant is completely dormant once the foliage yellows and dies back on its own. Cyclamen don't require any water once they are completely dormant. Keep the pot in a cool, dark place until fall when new leaves begin to emerge from the tuber. Pull off the old leaves once the new ones begin to grow in.

Repotting and Reblooming

• Cyclamens require repotting every two years during their dormant period, otherwise their roots become crowded. Pot into a new container one size larger than the old one, using a good quality potting soil. Plant the cyclamen tuber so the top sits above the soil surface. Resume watering of both repotted and non-repotted plants once growth begins in fall, or in early October, depending on which occurs first. Move the plant back to its cool, sunny location and resume regular bloom-time care of the plant.