Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
WHY ENDURE WINTER without the lovely Persian cyclamen by your side? From November through March this C. persicum blooms continually, its white, pink, rose or red-brushed white flowers a complete bouquet ringed with handsome, silver-etched foliage. My own cyclamens, pictured above and below, put on a spectacular show each and every winter. Yours will, too, if you care for them this way:
For a successful adventure with cyclamen, meaning one that provides 3-5 months of bloom, it pays to first obtain a healthy, well-grown specimen from the florist. Then — and this is essential — be prepared to keep the plant very cool and quite wet. For the cyclamen is a heat-hating houseplant, and it will collapse miserably if you place it in a room that exceeds 65 degrees.
My own plants flourish with 2 hours of morning sun, temperatures that range from 45-60 degrees (I keep the radiator there turned off), and considerable moisture. I water them from the bottom, not the top; top watering can invite crown-rot.
To achieve blooms each and every winter, proceed this way: In June, induce the plant to rest by withholding all water. Then move it to some dim location, and simply ignore it. As you can see from the photo up top of my own summer-resting plant, it will not be something you wish to have on display.
In August clean off the old growth and reset the corm, its roots still intact, so that it protrudes about a half-inch above the soil surface. I always use the same size pot, filling in with a fresh soil mixture.
Then set the cyclamen in a cool east window, provide water, and within days the first leaves will emerge, as above. Keep the plant well-nourished. I feed mine with every watering.
Does the Persian cyclamen dwell in your window garden, too? Let me know, in the comments section below. And if you learned anything from this article, please click the Facebook “Like” button.
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Susan says
OMG! I love cyclamens too, and buy pink and white ones every year as part of a Christmas display (they look beautiful with pink and white poinsettias). Would you believe I throw mine out every summer? What a waste! I had no idea they they could be made to rebloom so easily.
Phoebe says
I bought a frilly, purplish-colored cyclamen last winter that bloomed until June. When its leaves turned yellow I figured it was dead, so just threw it on the compost pile. Bummer!!!
Gregory says
Your cyclamens look terrific. Thanks for the great tips on how to grow them. I never turn the heat higher than 65 in winter, so they should fare well for me.
Lisa says
I received a cyclamen as a gift last February. I kept it in my kitchen all winter then moved it outside to a table under a tree in spring. It's bloomed non stop – no summertime rest! It's back inside now and I'm hoping it will continue to do well!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Lisa – you must have the magic cyclamen-touch! Tell me…is your plant still sending up flowering stems?
Lisa says
It still is – more shoots every day and it bloomed non stop this summer! I'm really not doing anything – it seems to thrive on neglect!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Lisa – that is one tenacious plant you have! What color are the flowers — and are the petals fringed?
Lisa says
Pink flowers, no fringe. Seems like an ordinary cyclamen. I've probably cursed myself with all this bragging!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Lisa – I think your plant likes you – a lot! When flowering ceases, be sure to give the tuber a 2-month rest. This way the plant will be yours forever.
Anne Schomaker says
I too love cyclamen and have thrown them out every year after they turn yellow. I shall save them and try to rejuvinate them each year. Thank you for the advice.
My Thanksgiving cactus is full of hot pink blooms. I keep it cool and do nothing to it at all. This is year five with this magnificent plant.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Anne Schomaker – When you consider one cyclamen in a 6-inch pot goes for $15.99 at least…I'd say it is definitely worth keeping.
Jen says
Kevin,
I received a very nice bright pink cyclamen persicum for Valentine’s day and have every intention of keeping it around for years to come. It has about 5 lovely flowers open now and 4 more on their way up about to open soon. What do you feed your cyclamen and how much do you give it with each watering?
PS: Your blog is great! Keep up the good work!
Thanks!!
Jen
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Jen – I feed my cyclamen just as I do my other flowering houseplants: with Jack’s Classic 10-30-20 “Blossom-Booster.” And I feed it with every watering, using just a pinch (1/4 tsp) dissolved in a gallon of water.
Without regular feeding while it is in bloom, the cyclamen with send up only leaves the following year. So be sure to feed often!