As a classic houseplant, cyclamen add bright splashes of color or decorate the garden in spring, summer and autumn. Of course, the Mediterranean perpetual bloomers want to be courted a little. Questions about the requirements of the pretty bulbous flowers receive a practice-oriented answer here.

The cyclamen flowers all year round

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant cyclamen properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. What is the best planting time?
  7. When is flowering time?
  8. Cut cyclamen properly
  9. Water cyclamen
  10. Fertilize cyclamen properly
  11. Diseases
  12. pests
  13. hibernate
  14. multiply cyclamen
  15. How do I plant correctly?
  16. Cyclamen in a pot
  17. Is cyclamen poisonous?
  18. Cyclamen does not bloom
  19. How to care for a cyclamen after flowering?
  20. Beautiful varieties

    21. Plant cyclamen properly

    In order for the planting of cyclamen in beds and pots to be successful, the tuber must not be damaged. Work the bed soil into a nice, fine crumb. Potting soil for the planter is optimized by adding compost, sand or lava granules. When watering, make sure that leaves and flowers are not wetted with water.
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    care tips

    Since the tuber of a cyclamen is not completely in the ground, this fact must be taken into account in the context of care. If the roots are damaged, the sensitive ornamental plant will not recover.

    • Mulch cyclamen in the bed with fern leaves, leaves or compost
    • Water regularly without getting the foliage and flowers wet
    • Fertilize liquid every 2 weeks during the growth and flowering period
    • Trimming dead flowers will prolong flowering

    In the flower pot, we recommend a water supply from below. To do this, pour as little lime as possible into the saucer and leave it there for 20 minutes. The capillary force ensures that the moisture rises into the substrate so that the tuber is not immediately moistened.

    Which location is suitable?

    With regard to the expectations of the location, the more than 20 cyclamen species are largely in agreement. These light and temperature conditions should be given:

    • Sunny to semi-shady location, without blazing sunlight
    • In the bed like along the edge of the wood or in protected stone structures
    • In the room at temperatures of 15-18 degrees, maximum 20 degrees Celsius

    Don't expect cyclamen to be exposed to cold drafts, beating rain and strong winds. In the flower pot, the little diva doesn't want to constantly move from one location to the other.
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    The right planting distance

    A planting distance of 25 centimeters is ideal so that a cyclamen can spread its shapely foliage unhindered. The colorful ornamental flowers are particularly effective in small tuffs with 3-5 specimens.

    What soil does the plant need?

    Cyclamen mostly thrive as a tuberous plant, so the soil should be structured as follows:

    • Sandy-dry to fresh-moist, with no risk of waterlogging
    • Depending on the type, slightly acidic, neutral to alkaline pH

    Cultivated as a houseplant, commercially available compost-based potting soil meets the expectations of the substrate. Add a little sand or expanded clay (19.73€) to ensure unhindered water drainage.

    What is the best planting time?

    For cyclamen in the bed, spring has proven to be the best time to plant, when ground frosts are no longer expected. Plant the winter-flowering Cyclamen persicum in the flower pot in August.

    When is flowering time?

    Thanks to the multifaceted variety of species, you don't have to do without the brightly colored dabs of color of a cyclamen at any time of the year. Combine the graceful primula plants like this, for example:

    • Spring cyclamen (Cyclamen coum): flowering period from March to
    • Summer cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens): flowering period from July to September
    • Autumn cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium): flowering period from August to October
    • Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum): flowering period from September to March

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    Cut cyclamen properly

    Only cut off the yellowed leaves close to the ground when the rhizome has drawn all the nutrients from them. If you do not want to sow cyclamen in the bed, cut off the withered flower heads in good time with scissors or turn out the entire flower stalk. Please don't forget the gloves!

    Water cyclamen

    Since the tubers are not completely covered with soil, they are sensitive to too much moisture. You water a houseplant or potted plant from below by filling the saucer with water for a few minutes. Cyclamen in the bed receive a 2-3 centimeter thick layer of mulch made of leaves, gravel or bark mulch and are only watered when the natural amount of rain is not sufficient. It is important not to overspray the leaves and flowers, as the plant could react to this by rotting.
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    Fertilize cyclamen properly

    In order not to injure the sensitive tubers, liquid fertilizer is preferably used in the bed and planter. Use a commercially available preparation for flowering plants, which you administer every two weeks during the flowering period. Where the smell doesn't bother you, plant manure or worm tea can be used as organic fertilizer.
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    Diseases

    If the care is out of balance, the cyclamen proves to be susceptible to the following diseases:

    • Burn spot disease: dark brown spots on leaves and stems
    • Gray mold: greyish-white, wet fungus mat on foliage
    • Fusarium wilt: leaves yellowing from the edge and a rotting tuber

    The focal spot disease often affects cyclamen in too warm, wet locations. Affected plants are disposed of immediately. To prevent gray mold from attacking the ornamental plant, the site is regularly ventilated. In particular, foliage and flowers must not be sprayed with water. The partially exposed tuber in connection with a nitrogen-reduced fertilization serves as an effective prevention against the Fusarium wilt.
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    pests

    Unfortunately, the vine weevil likes to eat cyclamen in the bed. If you discover the typical feeding holes in the leaves, the clearly visible beetles are collected regularly in the early morning hours. Specialist shops offer non-toxic bait traps prepared with nematode gel as a helpful control method.

    hibernate

    A few cyclamen species have sufficient frost hardiness to overwinter in the bed. The native summer cyclamen (Cyclamen purpurascens) is one of them, as well as the autumn cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium). However, these species and varieties should not complete the cold season completely without winter protection. Spread a mulch, spruce sticks or garden fleece over the plants, which will also serve as protection from the strong winter sun.
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    multiply cyclamen

    The propagation of bulbous plants always raises questions among hobby gardeners. Cyclamen is no exception in this respect. One viable method is division of the rhizome. During the dormant period, take the tuber out of the ground and cut it into two or more segments with at least one bud. Planted in potting or pricking soil and watered regularly from below, the tuber parts root within 2-3 weeks.
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    How do I plant correctly?

    In order to cultivate a cyclamen indoors for several years, annual transplanting is a top priority. In this context, a chronological sequence must be observed in connection with the following care plan. How to do it:

    • The summer break under the open sky ends in August
    • Bring the cyclamen into the house and remove the largely dry tuber from the substrate
    • Fill the flowerpot with fresh potting soil over the drainage

    Plant the rhizome in such a way that the upper third of the tuber is still sticking out of the ground. Only fill the saucer with a little water at first to gradually start the new growing season. Fertilization starts again when fresh sprouting begins.

    Cyclamen in a pot

    Cyclamen has established itself as a crowd favorite as a winter-blooming indoor plant in pots. On the bright window sill in the cool bedroom, the ornamental plant unfolds its most magnificent blossom. Normal compost-based potting soil is sufficient as a substrate. How to care for the cyclamen in an exemplary manner:

    • To pour, fill the coaster with water for 20-30 minutes
    • Apply a liquid fertilizer every 14 days from September to March
    • Unscrew faded flowers and yellowed leaves along with the stems

    At the end of flowering, gradually reduce the amount of watering and stop fertilizing. The cyclamen ideally spends the largely dry rest period until the next budding in a semi-shady location under the open sky.

    Is cyclamen poisonous?

    The cyclamen comes along as a poisonous beauty. Toxic ingredients such as saponins and cyclamine require special care when planting and tending. Since even minimal amounts can cause extreme symptoms of poisoning, allergy sufferers should refrain from cultivating. Cyclamen should not be in the reach of children and pets.
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    Cyclamen does not bloom

    If a cyclamen refuses to flower indoors, it is too warm for it. For flower induction, temperatures should range between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius. If there is no flowering in the bed, the fertilization is too nitrogenous, which causes masty growth. Switch to an organic fertilizer or a less nitrogen-rich NPK supplement.

    How to care for a cyclamen after flowering?

    Regularly remove withered flower stalks and yellowed leaves by turning and pulling out with a jerk rather than cutting the shoot. In this way, the cyclamen blooms for what feels like an eternity. When no more new flowers appear, cut the plant down to the ground when all parts of the plant above the ground have retracted. Gradually reduce the amount of irrigation water to a minimum and stop giving fertilizer.

    Houseplants that flower in winter spend the summer in a shady, sheltered spot in the garden. If growth starts again in autumn, remove the tuber from the pot and shake off the old soil. Now plant the cyclamen in fresh substrate and place it in a light, cool location. Gradually increase the amount of irrigation water and fertilizer.
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    Beautiful varieties

    • Silver Leaf: Spring cyclamen with soft pink flowers and silvery marbled foliage
    • Summer cyclamen: native Cyclamen purpurascens, hardy and robust, with crimson flowers
    • Album: white flowering autumn cyclamen with ornamental, pointed, triangular leaves
    • Carpet of pearls: pure white flowers from September to November, hardy and easy to care for
    • Ivy Ice Purple: Impresses with purple flowers in autumn and grows to 15 cm high

Category:

Indoor plants