Starting in September, those vibrant red, pink, and white cyclamens start popping up everywhere. Thanks to their nutrient-storing tubers, these little beauties have enough energy to keep blooming for months on end. But by early spring, they usually start looking a bit… well, sad. The flowers fade, the leaves get sparse, and most people end up tossing them in the trash. But wait! You don’t have to say goodbye to your plant just yet.
Keeping Your Cyclamen Going After the Bloom
Once that intense flowering period has drained the nutrients from the tuber, the plant needs a little “nap” starting around April. As the flowers and leaves wither away, the plant is simply retreating back into its shell. What’s left is the tuber, which is busy recharging its nutrient batteries. During this dormant phase, you’ll want to scale back your watering significantly and stop fertilizing altogether.
While it’s resting, keep the tuber in a cool spot with moderate light. If the weather isn’t too hot, you can even move your cyclamen to a shady spot in the garden for its summer vacation. Once you see new shoots starting to peek out, it’s time to bring it back out, repot it, and move it to its usual home. That’s your cue to start regular watering and feeding again!
Finding the Perfect Spot
Cyclamens are big fans of cool rooms, ideally between 55 and 60°F. They also need plenty of light and a bit of humidity to stay happy.
If you’re planting your cyclamen outdoors, here’s what they’re looking for in a home:
- A semi-shaded spot (tucked under some perennials is perfect)
- High humidity
- Loose, well-draining soil
- Moderately nutrient-rich soil
- Plenty of humus
- Neutral to alkaline pH levels
- Consistently moist soil (but never soggy!)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If your cyclamen starts showing limp leaves or a rotting tuber, it’s usually trying to tell you something is wrong. The most common culprit? It’s too warm! Our living rooms get pretty toasty in the winter, and that dry, hot air is a nightmare for these plants. Try moving it to a cooler spot like a hallway, a guest bedroom, or even a bathroom. Just make sure it gets enough light and isn’t sitting in a draft.
Watering is another tricky area. While blooming, cyclamens need regular but moderate water. The golden rule: never let them sit in standing water, and try not to pour water directly onto the tuber itself, as this can cause rot.
