Cyclamens are such a classic choice for adding a pop of color to your indoor plant collection. The best part? They’re pretty low-maintenance and don’t actually need to be repotted very often. But, if your leafy friend has outgrown its home or you just want to give it a fresh start in a decorative planter, autumn is the perfect time to get your hands dirty.
When to Repot
The sweet spot for moving your Cyclamen into a new pot is about 6 to 8 weeks after it finishes blooming, or right in the fall. This is when the plant is wrapping up its “nap” (dormancy) and getting ready for a new growth spurt. As soon as you see those first tiny buds peeking out, you’re good to go!
Getting Ready
You’ll want a new pot that’s just a bit larger than the current one, along with some high-quality potting soil. To keep things airy, I like to mix in a little sand or clay granules. It’s also a great idea to add a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken terracotta shards at the bottom. Cyclamens hate “wet feet”—standing water is a one-way ticket to tuber rot, which is definitely something we want to avoid.
Step-by-Step Guide
Safety first! Before you start, grab a pair of gardening gloves. Cyclamens are actually toxic in all parts, and if you have sensitive skin, touching them can cause a bit of a rash. If you’re trimming away old leaves or roots, toss them in the trash right away so curious pets or kids don’t get a hold of them.
- Gently lift the Cyclamen tuber out of its old pot.
- Shake off as much of the old soil from the roots as possible.
- If the soil is stubborn, a quick dip in a water bath can help loosen things up.
- Use clean scissors to snip away any dead or mushy root sections.
- If you have a large, older tuber, you can actually divide it now to make new plants.
- Fill your new pot with soil and place the tuber right in the center.
- Pro tip: Make sure the top third of the tuber is sitting above the soil line—don’t bury the whole thing!
- Press the soil down firmly around it.
- Give it a light watering around the edges, but try not to get water directly on the tuber itself.
- Over the next few weeks, gradually increase watering to normal levels, making sure to water from the bottom (using a saucer).
- Hold off on fertilizing for about four weeks while the plant settles in.
Now, you can move your Cyclamen back to its favorite spot. They love a cool (around 60°F), bright location with plenty of humidity, just keep them out of harsh, direct sunlight!
