HOW TO CARE FOR CYCLAMEN PLANTS

Cyclamen may look difficult, but they are easier to care for than you might think. However, because their growing season is different than other plants, many people struggle to keep them alive. Don’t worry, in this in-depth guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know to keep them thriving for years to come.

Despite having a reputation for being finicky, cyclamen plants are actually surprisingly easy to grow once you know their care requirements.

Much tougher and hardier than they look, they do just as well in the garden as they do indoors. Plus, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, which also makes collecting fun.

The good news is that with the right cyclamen care, you can keep your plant blooming for decades and keep blooming.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about growing cyclamen in this in-depth guide. Below are details on watering, fertilizer, soil, moisture, flowering, light and more.

There are only 23 different species, but they come in a variety of colors, sizes, and hardiness.

They are also very durable and can be grown indoors or outdoors so you can enjoy them in your home and garden.

As they are winter flowering plants, they are very popular gifts around the holidays, especially Christmas and Valentine’s Day. The bright, cheerful flowers are long-lasting and beautiful.

CYCLAMEN LIFE CYCLE
Cyclamen have an opposite growing season than most plants. Because they bloom in winter, this means they thrive in the cooler months of the year and are dormant in the heat of summer.

That’s why they’re such popular gift plants during the holidays, and the reason they made my list of best flowering houseplants.

However, it is also the main source of confusion about how to grow her successfully.

The biggest mistake people make when caring for cyclamen is trying to force them to grow all year round. Most people don’t realize that they need a period of rest in order to thrive.

DIFFERENT CYCLAMEN VARIETIES
There are countless beautiful cyclamen varieties and hybrids to choose from, all with similar care requirements. No matter which variety you choose, you can’t go wrong. Here are some popular ones.

Cyclamen persicum – Also called flower cyclamen, this is one of the most common varieties you can grow, but also the least hardy.
Cyclamen purpurascens – The hardiest species of all, these can survive winters down to zone 3 outdoors. But they hate the heat and will not thrive well in warmer climates.
Cyclamen hederifolium – Another hardy cultivar, but only up to zone 5 outdoors. It blooms profusely in late winter/early spring with beautiful pink-purple flowers and gray-green speckled leaves.
Cyclamen coum – This specimen has rounded, dark green leaves that are marbled with silver, and the flowers can be white, pink, or red.