How to care for cyclamen

1. Dissolves in winter

A cloud of exotic butterflies fluttering above a green bush – this is how you can describe a blooming cyclamen. The range of colors cannot be counted: snow-white, pink, dark red, lilac flowers – small and large, double and not very. Not only are the pointed, backward-curved flowers on long, thin stems spectacular, but also the heart-shaped leaves with a silvery-gray pattern. With its beauty and brightness, this flower will surely brighten up the gray winter landscape outside the window.

2. Energizes

According to bioenergetics experts, bright cyclamen flowers are a strong Sun. Sunlight, joy, inspiration live in them. It is useful to have this plant in houses where emotional people with a mild character and changeable mood live or often visit. Cyclamen liberates, promotes the release of closed energy. Thanks to the cyclamen, a relaxed atmosphere is created in the house, there is a desire to please others.

3. Blooms for several months

Cyclamen blooms not just for a long time, but for a very long time – up to 3,5 months. Depending on the variety and keeping conditions, the flowering period lasts from the second half of October to the end of March.

4. “Reusable” flower

After flowering, cyclamens are usually thrown away, but in vain. With proper care, the plant will live and bloom for 20-25 years (!).

5. Uncomplicated care

Very often, cyclamens are spoken of as a capricious plant. In fact, cyclamen is unpretentious, and the few requirements that it makes can be very easily satisfied.

Fashion trend: cyclamen in bouquets

Recently, cyclamens have become popular in bouquets as well. They can be found in flower shops in many European countries. But they are not cheap – after all, in addition to growing them, it also takes a special investment of time and money to properly cut them in the morning hours and inject a special injection into the stem of each flower, which will prolong their life.

Cyclamen care

• Cyclamen loves coolness and cannot stand the bright sun, so the ideal place for a cyclamen pot would be north window.
• The optimum temperature for the winter period is + 10-14 C. The plant reacts poorly to higher temperatures. During the heating season, the air around the cyclamen must be sprayed daily – make sure that no water gets on the sprouting zone of the corm and flowers.
• Water the cyclamen evenly, without overdrying and avoiding stagnation of water in the pot, always with soft, settled water in the edge of the pot (water should not get into the sprouting zone). Never allow water to enter the middle of the leaf rosette.

• Withered flowers or yellowed leaves cannot be cut with a knife or scissors, only “twist” very carefully, trying not to damage the sprouting zone.
• In late spring, the cyclamen begins a dormant period; by June, the tubers remain naked. Usually, as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow, watering is significantly reduced, but not completely stopped. The pot with the tuber is removed from the window and placed in a dark place. During the dormant period, the plant is occasionally watered into a pan.
• After young leaves begin to appear, usually July-August, the cyclamen is transplanted into a new mixture consisting of leafy earth, humus, peat and sand (3: 1: 1: 1). If you will use a ready-made mixture from a store, the Tulip primer is best suited for cyclamen. After transplanting, the cyclamen is again placed on the window.

• Note that when transplanting the tuber must not be completely buried. One third or even half of the tuber should be above the soil surface, which will favorably affect the further development and flowering of the plant.
• Cyclamen pots must be selected depending on the age of the corm. Cyclamens do not like large pots, they bloom poorly, begin to rot. Therefore, for a small corm (age 1-1,5 years), choose a pot with a diameter of 7-8 cm, for a corm 2-3 years old – 14-15 cm. The space of the earth between the bulb and the edge of the pot should be no more than 2-3 cm. cyclamen, remember that a clod of earth with roots under the bulb cannot be destroyed, it is better to transplant the plant along with this clod.
• A month after the transplant, the cyclamen can be fed; it is better to use ready-made liquid mixtures. Top dressing is carried out once a month until the end of flowering.

Possible problems

1. Yellowing leaves, flowers are strong and healthy

• Reason: the most likely cause is warm, dry air. Cyclamen does not tolerate temperatures above + 17 ° C. Other reasons are insufficient watering or too bright sun.

2. The death of the plant, peduncles and leaves are soft and rot

• Reason: waterlogging of the soil, especially when water gets on the upper part of the tuber. Never pour water over the top sprout of the tuber!

3. Short flowering period

• Reason: the most common are too high a temperature, improper watering and dry air. Feed the plant regularly as it grows and blooms.

4. Deformed, small leaves

• Reason: cyclamen mite or aphid. At the appearance of pests it is necessary to wash the leaves weekly with insecticidal soap (you can use animal soap or ordinary household soap). Additionally, you can spray with any insecticidal preparation, in the apartment it is better to use the preparation Fitoverm or Agravertin, since they are odorless.