How to Grow and Care For Cyclamen

Cyclamen plants are lovely additions to any indoor or outdoor space. These plants are popular because they bloom in the colder months of the year. They will add a touch of beauty and aroma to your home space while other plants are dormant. 

However, to enjoy the vibrant cyclamen flowers, you should know how to grow and care for them. Here are some helpful tips on growing and caring for cyclamen:

Types of Cyclamen Flowers

There are about 23 species of Cyclamen flowers that you can plant. Here are our top five varieties for you;

Cyclamen persicum (Persian violet)

Image source: Flickr

The Cyclamen persicum flower is one of the most popular cyclamen garden flowers. It’s native to the Mediterranean area, and it can grow from three to six inches in height. It bears heart-shaped leaves, making it a popular choice for ornamental purposes. 

They start flowering in the fall, and the flowers come in color bright pink to white. Some also have shades of light purple or red. The Cyclamen persicum can make a beautiful addition to any yard or garden. Grow this species in moist soil under partial shade.

Cyclamen Alpinum

Image source: Pinterest

This type of cyclamen has heart-shaped leaves covered with a silver pattern. The flowers on this variety come in pink, purple, or white hues with a charming primrose scent, and they bloom from late summer through early winter. They are great for use outdoors as ground cover or for indoor use.

Cyclamen alpinum typically grows in clusters; you can plant them together as a group in your space.

Cyclamen Libanoticum

Image source: Flickr

This is a wild species of Cyclamen flowers. It has large leaves that are dark green and produces soft pink colored flowers in the fall season. These flowers have a sweet fragrance that makes them popular as houseplants. 

The flowers bloom from September to January. You can grow this plant in your home garden, patios, or containers as an ornamental plant. Cyclamen Libanoticum thrives in shady conditions.

Cyclamen Graecum

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These plants have bright, silver-green leaves that make the plants attractive. The plant produces small, pink, or white-colored flowers with a pretty violet pattern on their bottom side. They have a sweet fragrance making them the best choice for houseplants.

This variety has long taproots, so they will need a suitable container for growing them indoors. And it is not a hardy plant, so you will need to protect it from extreme weather conditions.

Cyclamen Creticum

Image source: Pinterest

This variety blooms from February to May. And it produces pale pink or white flowers with butterfly-shaped petals. This plant has dark green leaves with light green markings that look like hearts or butterflies.

They are hardy and easy to grow, provided they have the right conditions. Plant them in shady environments that have slightly wet soils.

Cyclamen Care & Maintenance

Cyclamen are easy to care for and maintain;

• Position: Keep your cyclamen in a cool room with plenty of natural light (but not direct sunlight).
• Feeding: Add a liquid feed once a month to boost your cyclamen.
• Flowering: Remove dead flowers as they fade, and cyclamen will continue blooming for months on end!

How to Propagate Cyclamen

You can propagate cyclamen by seed or through divisions. But both propagation ways are too difficult. If you grow cyclamen from seeds, it will take you more than 9-15 months to achieve full-sized blooming plants. Their offsets or tubers are prone to dehydration and rot once you cut them from the parent plant. With the two complicated options, you should buy the plants from a nursery. 

But if you have to propagate it yourself, go for the seeding option.

Cyclamen Growth Conditions

Once cyclamen germinate, they are easy to grow;

Light

Cyclamen like plenty of light but need to be kept out of direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.

Water

Maintain moist soil but not soggy by watering only when the soil feels dry when you touch it with your finger. Reduce watering during winter, but do not let the plants dry out completely.

Pests and Diseases

Common pests affecting cyclamen plants are spider mites, mites, thrips, and other insects attacking flowering plants. The mite and spider mites infection is high when there is high humidity. 

Cyclamen species are susceptible to different diseases, including;

• Bacterial Soft Rot 
• Botrytis Blight
• Fusarium Wilt
• Leaf spot

Conclusion

Do you want to enjoy bright splashes and aromas in your indoor space during winter? Consider introducing any of our cyclamen varieties above. Meet their growing conditions, and you’ll enjoy winter blooms. Subscribe to our blog for more gardening tips.