Cyclamens start their big season in September, and most of us know them as classic houseplants. While they love spending their summer vacation outdoors, you’ll want to bring your indoor varieties back inside once the garden starts getting chilly. That said, there are actually some tough, hardy cyclamen varieties that can stay outside all year long!
The Indoor Cyclamen
These beauties start blooming in September, and if you treat them right, they’ll keep the show going all the way until spring. During the early summer, you can move them to a sheltered, shady spot in the garden or on the balcony so they can recharge during their dormant phase. Since cyclamens actually prefer cooler temps, they can stay outside almost until they’re ready to bloom again. Just make sure to bring them back in by late fall when the new buds start forming—those first night frosts can really damage the tubers.
The Perfect Spot
A spot right next to a blasting heater in the living room isn’t going to make your cyclamen happy. They much prefer a bright but cool location, like a drafty hallway, a bedroom, a kitchen windowsill, or the bathroom. In fact, bathrooms are often perfect because of the extra humidity.
Keep the watering consistent but moderate, give them some fertilizer every two weeks, and be sure to pluck off any wilted leaves or spent blooms to keep them looking fresh.
Hardy Cyclamens
Believe it or not, some cyclamen species are hardy down to -20°F! When planted under shrubs or hedges, they don’t usually need any special winter gear. They’ll happily spend the winter tucked under a cozy layer of fallen leaves and pop back up in the spring.
If you have varieties that are only “semi-hardy,” you’ll want to give them a little extra protection during a deep freeze—especially if they are in pots. Here are a few pro-tips:
- Cover the plants with loose leaves.
- Use evergreen brush or twigs for insulation.
- Wrap your pots in burlap or garden fleece.
- Place pots on a piece of Styrofoam or wood to insulate them from the frozen ground.
- On a balcony, move the pots right up against the house wall before covering them.
These Varieties Can Handle the Cold
If you’re looking for cyclamens that can survive a frost without breaking a sweat, look for these:
- Eastern Cyclamen (Spring-flowering)
- Ivy-leaved Cyclamen (Autumn-flowering)
- European Cyclamen (Summer-flowering)
To make sure those sensitive tubers don’t get zapped by a surprise freeze (especially in open, windy areas), it’s always a good idea to toss a layer of pine branches or mulch over them for the winter.
