Florist's Cyclamen

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Origin

Originating from the eastern Mediterranean and northern Africa, the Florist's Cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, also called Persian Cyclamen or simply Cyclamen boasts a natural beauty that has captivated admirers for centuries. They're distant relatives of primroses, belonging to the same plant family.

In its wild form, this species is often lightly pink to white flowering, while the cultivated forms exhibit a diverse array of colors ranging from serene whites to vibrant pinks, magentas, reds, and deep burgundies. Its leaves, often adorned with intricate patterns, resemble handcrafted artwork as they display a striking contrast of silver veining against a lush green base.

Its cultivation is documented as early as 1731 in France but it was probably cultivated before that time too. However, it was during the 1860s in England that the art of selective breeding truly took root by horticulturalists driven by a passion for these plants. Through patient and meticulous efforts, they aimed to amplify the Cyclamen's allure which in turn has resulted in a wide range of floriferous and stunning blooming plants we can grow today.

Care

Cyclamen plants can be a little tricky to take care of, especially when grown indoors. They like cooler temperatures when blooming and growing, and they also need lots of light. If they don't get enough light and it's too warm, their leaves and stems might stretch out and become sparse. This also makes them more likely to lose leaves early and get over-watered.

In their natural habitat, Cyclamens take a break during the hot summer months and go dormant. They usually grow and bloom in the cooler seasons: fall, winter, and spring. They can keep blooming for about 2-3 months, and if you keep removing old flowers, they might bloom a bit longer. However, if the flowers start to turn into seed pods, it could also slow down future blooming.

These plants thrive outdoors when it's not too cold, or indoors in a place that's cool, around 50 - 60 °F, or 10 - 15 °C but they should always be shielded from freezing temperatures.

Light

Cyclamen plants need lots of light to grow well. During winter, they can handle a good amount of direct sunlight. But for the rest of the year when it's not dormant, it's better to give them plenty of indirect bright light and only part direct sunlight exposure. Using a grow light in winter can also help them grow and bloom better.

Soil

These plants have thin, delicate roots that can receive issues rather easily in too dense soils. It's best to use a loose soil mix to grow them in. Adding perlite or similar substrates to the soil mix can make it more airy and help the roots and the plant thrive long term.

Repotting

When you need to repot a cyclamen, be extra careful since their roots are delicate. They get stressed easily from a repotting. It's best to do this when the plant is starting to rest or just before it begins to grow again after a dormant period. If you repot a plant while it's blooming, it might lose many of the leaves, flowers, or buds if you're unlucky. It can also get more prone to receiving a further watering imbalance.

Watering

Some of the most common problems these plants get are related to the watering. Both the tuber and the fragile roots can suffer if they get too much water. They like the soil to be somewhat moist, and it's important to let it dry lightly between waterings but never fully. Keeping the soil constantly wet is a common cause of root rot and death for these plants.

Dormancy

The dormant period is primarily induced by lower amounts of water. These plants make tubers from which they can regrow again after the dormant period. It's however worth noting that cyclamen are usually grown from seed, and that it takes some time for a decently sized tuber to form for a seedling. They're usually sold as plants sown the same year, and it's therefore best to continue watering and care for the plant for as long as possible after the main flowering period. This is in order to make sure the tuber get to grow a bit bigger so that it handles its first dormancy well.

When eventually going dormant the plant will start to get yellow and wilting leaves, and all parts above the soil line will die down. This is totally normal as the tuber - the battery in which it stores both water, nutrients and energy for next season - is still alive under the soil line. The dormant period can last for several months, in which the tuber prefers little to no water in either bright or dark conditions. It will later on wake up by careful increased watering. This is usually necessary after about 2-4 months.

If the plant for some reason would wilt due to other causes than naturally going dormant, perhaps due to some excessively dry soil at one point, don't get rid of the plant without checking for the tuber first. If you're lucky it might still have had time to make one in the pot that you can regrow it from.

Other

It's worth noting that cyclamen plants, and especially the tubers are toxic to pets and people. This plant has even historically been used to poison and stun fish in regions where it's naturally growing, as a method of fishing.