How to properly care for cyclamen at home: the main nuances

Cyclamen is a beautiful houseplant that can bloom even during the winter. The lush blooms last for several weeks. The main attraction of cyclamen is that it is beautiful in any form. Thanks to its heart-shaped, marbled leaves, this ornamental plant remains a striking decoration year-round.

Brief description

Cyclamen is a herbaceous perennial with beautiful, fragrant flowers. In nature, this plant grows in warm climates and hot sun, such as Iran, Turkey, and the Mediterranean region.

Brief botanical description:

• height - about 20 cm;
• the leaves are basal, heart-shaped, leathery, dark green, with a marbled pattern and long petioles;
• the roots are tuberous, in the form of round, flattened bulbs, reaching 10–15 cm in diameter;
• Cyclamen flowers can be white, pink, red, or lilac, and are located on long peduncles.

Cyclamen flowers resemble butterflies with pointed wings. The petals are slightly curved back and are 2–3 cm long. A single bush can bear up to 60 buds. The flowering plant looks truly luxurious.

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Features of indoor flowers:

• blooms from one to several weeks, in autumn or winter;
• does not require a dormant period;
• Grows well in cool rooms, does not like stuffiness.

Types of cyclamen

There are approximately fifty species in the genus, about two dozen of which are suitable for growing indoors. Photos of cyclamen can't convey their full beauty. To choose the right variety, you need to see the plant in person.

Persian

This is the variety most often sold in flower shops. The flowers, seemingly inside-out, can come in a variety of shades of purple, red, and pink. The throat of the flowers is usually a different color from the petals. The leaves reach 14 cm in diameter.

Persian cyclamen come in dwarf, medium, and large varieties. Dwarf varieties are preferred for indoor growing, as they tolerate indoor conditions best. Flowering lasts almost all winter, ending in spring. The dormant period is nine months.

European

Another name for this variety is Alpine Violet. It has fragrant pink-lilac flowers and small leaves. This species adapts well to indoor conditions and blooms from late spring until almost December. Its distinguishing features include a silvery pattern along the leaf edges and a purple underside.

The small but vibrant flowers of the European cyclamen are delicately scented. The tubers, which reach 10 cm in diameter, have roots that grow across their entire surface. Because of this characteristic, the tubers of Alpine violets, unlike Persian varieties, are completely buried in the soil.

Peculiarities of home care

When growing cyclamen indoors, its appearance, flowering time, and bud count depend on proper care. For the plant to have beautiful foliage and bloom profusely, comfortable growing conditions are essential.

Soil and pot

Cyclamen can be grown in a substrate purchased at a garden store. A universal potting soil for flowers, such as geraniums or violets, is suitable. To make the substrate looser and increase its water holding capacity, sand and perlite are added.

Cyclamens grow best in slightly acidic and neutral soils. Instead of buying a potting mix, you can make your own by mixing leaf mold, humus, sand, and peat moss (3:1:1:1). The potting mix must be disinfected by baking it in the oven or microwave, or by drenching it with potassium permanganate.

How to prepare the pot:

• drainage is essential and is made from gravel, small pebbles, or expanded clay;
• pot material - plastic or ceramic;
• drainage holes are required;
• pot diameter - 15 cm, for young plants - 7-10 cm;
• the distance from the edge of the tuber root to the walls of the pot is 2–3 cm.

The growing container should be appropriate for the tuber's size, so it will develop properly and bloom at the right time. A pot that's too large will create excessive humidity and increase the risk of root rot.

Temperature and humidity

Cyclamen of all species prefer cool conditions. Ideal summer temperatures are 18 to 22°C, and winter temperatures are 12 to 14°C. In hot weather, plants may enter a dormant state.

Cyclamens thrive in a humid environment; if the air is dry, mist the leaves with a spray bottle. When buds appear, stop misting. Humidity can be increased another way: placing trays of damp moss next to the flowerpots.

Lighting

Cyclamen pots should be placed in well-lit areas. Bright but diffused light is preferable. Direct sunlight is avoided. If the plant is located on a south-facing surface, shading will be necessary. A west- or east-facing window is the best option. When choosing a location, keep in mind that cyclamen does not tolerate drafts.

Watering

It's recommended to water cyclamens not directly on top of the soil, but into the tray. This method prevents moisture from reaching the tuberous roots and growing points. The water is absorbed into the soil through the drainage holes in the pots.

Rules for watering cyclamens:

• to prevent the substrate from becoming salty, the water is settled or filtered;
• the water in the tray is left for 1 hour, then it is drained so that it does not stagnate;
• watering is done in the morning;
• The optimal water temperature for irrigation is a couple of degrees lower than in the room.

Surface watering is acceptable, but water should be applied very carefully, along the edge of the pot. In the summer, during hot weather, ice cubes can be used.

Top dressing

For fertilizing, it is recommended to use liquid complex fertilizers. They are applied with water during watering. Cyclamen require additional feeding during the active growth and bud formation stages. Regular fertilizers are used, but at half the manufacturer's recommended dosage.

Features of cyclamen feeding:

• frequency of fertilization: once every 2–4 weeks;
• It is recommended to use fertilizers with moderate nitrogen content;
• if the leaves turn yellow, you need to add iron-containing fertilizer by watering or spraying;
• Fertilizing stops in April - the plant begins to prepare for the dormant period.

Excess nitrogen leads to leaf growth and negatively affects the quantity and quality of buds.

Care during the dormant period

If your cyclamen's leaves begin to dry out, it's time for dormancy. During this period, care for the plant should be tailored to its new condition.

Caring for cyclamen during the dormant period:

1. Reduce the frequency and amount of watering gradually. Once the bush has shed all its leaves, watering becomes extremely sparing and infrequent.
2. The room is regularly ventilated. The plant can be placed on a balcony shaded from the sun.

There's another way to store cyclamen during its dormant period. Once the plant has shed all its leaves, turn the pot on its side. Store it this way until late August or early September.

How to propagate cyclamen

Cyclamens are propagated in two ways: by division and by seed. The first method allows you to quickly and easily increase the number of flowers. The second method takes time. To obtain a mature plant this way, you have to wait over a year.

By division

The tuber root is divided into sections with a sharp knife. Sections with one or more buds are suitable for propagation.

The order of reproduction by division:

1. Dry the tubers first.
2. Cut the tuber into pieces, each of which has a bud with leaves.
3. Treat the cuts with wood ash and leave to dry.
4. After 2–3 days, plant the cuttings in moistened substrate.
5. Place the pots in a well-lit place and don’t forget to water them.

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This propagation method is simple, but it doesn't guarantee 100% survival. Some cuttings may rot.

Sockets

Rosettes, or horns, are shoots that grow on tubers. In mature plants, they are quite long and strong. It's important not to remove more than one horn from a flower—it's dangerous to the plant.

How to propagate cyclamen with rosettes:

1. Break off the rosette and plant it in moist soil.
2. Cover the container with transparent film.

Shoots will begin to appear in about a couple of weeks. From then on, care for the young flowers like mature plants.

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Seeds

Any cyclamen variety can be propagated using seeds. These can be purchased or collected from mature plants.

The order of propagation by seeds:

1. Soak the seeds for 24 hours in a Zircon solution. Dilute 4 drops of the solution in 1/2 liter of water.
2. Prepare a container for planting. It should have drainage holes. To make a potting mix, mix peat, leaf mold, and sand (1:1:1).
3. Place a 2–3 cm thick layer of drainage at the bottom of the container, then add 6–7 cm of soil. Water the soil.
4. Scatter the seeds over the soil surface at intervals of 2 cm, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil.
5. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place in a cool, dark place.

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Seedlings will emerge in two to three months. First, a small, pinkish-purple tuber will emerge above ground. After two leaves emerge, the seedlings are transplanted into individual containers. After a week or two, apply a half-strength compound fertilizer. The plants will bloom in about a year and a half.

Leaves

This is a more complex propagation method, using leaves with roots. The cutting is planted in moist soil and covered with a glass container. Most often, the leaf rots from the bottom and dries out from the top. Propagation by leaves requires experience, so only the most experienced gardeners use it.

Possible problems

Cyclamen is a hardy plant with a strong immune system. Problems usually arise when growing conditions and guidelines are not met. In this case, the plant weakens, becomes sick, and refuses to bloom. Small parasitic insects can also cause damage.

Possible problems:

1. The leaves turned yellow. The reason is watering with too much hard water.
2. Root rot. Occurs due to poor drainage, overwatering, or stagnant water in the plant pan.
3. Leaf drop. Causes: high temperatures and excessively dry air.
4. Gray mold. A fungal disease that affects plants in cool, unventilated areas.

Pests of cyclamen:

1. Cyclamen mite. Signs of damage include smaller leaves, changes in leaf shape, deformed flower stalks, and wilting of flowers. Plants infested with this pest are destroyed.
2. Grape weevil. Its presence causes shoots to break and die. Affected plants require a new substrate.
3. Thrips. These microscopic insects feed on plant sap. Signs of infestation include white spots on the leaves.

To destroy spider mites, thrips, weevils and other pests, cyclamen is sprayed with effective insecticides, such as "Aktara" or "Fufanon".

When growing cyclamen, the lushness and duration of its blooms depend on proper care and cultivation techniques. To ensure the plant reaches its full potential, it must be provided with favorable growing conditions. A bright and cheerful blooming cyclamen is the perfect decoration for your home on cold winter days.