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Cyclamen

  • Miniature flowering cyclamen have small long lasting fragrant flowers and small leaves with attractive marbled patterns.
  • Standard cyclamen have large long lasting flowers with a slight fragrance.
  • There are also double and ruffled standard varieties.

When to buy

  • Cyclamen are sold in flower from March to October.
  • Choose plants with one or two flowers and plenty of buds under the foliage.
  • Cyclamen are tubers and die down after flowering.

Best Situation

  • The best position for cyclamen is a well lit airy room away from direct sunlight.
  • Cyclamen enjoy cooler temperatures.

How to Plant

  • When you purchase your cyclamen it will already be growing in a pot with quality potting mix.

Feeding

  • Regular feeding using a soluble fertiliser such as Phostrogen or Yates Thrive will guarantee flowering success. A slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote can be used. Follow the directions on the packet.

Watering

  • Cyclamen do not like to be overwatered. Allow the mix to dry out between watering. Water the plant from the bottom of the pot by either filling the saucer with water or dunking the pot into a bucket of water. When the bubbles stop, remove the plant and drain. If watering from the top take care not to wet the tuber or foliage as this causes disease to spread.

Humidity

  • Cyclamen enjoy humid conditions. To increase the humidity, fill a saucer with pebbles, sit the plant in its pot on the pebbles and fill the saucer with water. Top up as required. Do not let the roots sit in water.

Repotting

  • After flowering let the plant die down naturally and stop watering.
  • Let the potting mix dry out completely and leave the tuber in the pot until signs of new growth appear.
  • Knock off old potting mix and repot into fresh potting mix. Place the tuber so it is sitting on top of the potting mix and not buried.
  • Place in a cool well lit area and water sparingly until in full leaf.

Pest and Diseases

  • Mites are minute sucking insects that cause the leaves and flowers to distort. They are difficult to control.
    Spray regularly with Mavrik or if the infestation is really bad, destroy the plant. Mites are usually only a problem when replanting tubers from the previous year.
  • Grey Mould (Botrytis) is a fungus that grows in warm humid conditions. Buds and new leaves turn grey/brown shrivel up and die. Move the plant so it gets better air circulating around it. Take care when watering not to wet the tuber and leaves.
  • The room temperature is too high.
    • Flowers and leaves may become droopy and wilt. When the plant is watered they remain droopy. To rectify, move to a cooler room.

Other Uses

  • Cyclamen can be planted in a cool shady position in the garden.
  • Neapolitanum is the most popular variety with miniature pink flowers that appear before the leaves in autumn.
  • Cyclamen are ideal for courtyards, ferneries, small gardens, entranceways, patios and decks.