Cyclamen growing in a pot is the highlight of fall plantings in yards and terraces. You can also get a seasonal plant for cool indoor spaces.
Cyclamen arrives in stores in early autumn, when the summer flowers start to fade. About 250,000 cyclamen are grown in Finland each year.
Cyclamen’s tuberous rhizome grows waxy, kidney-shaped leaves with a marbled pattern.
The rhizome also sprouts delicate flowers with long stalks, in which the corollas are peculiarly turned backwards. The color options are white or shades of red from light to dark.
The plant contains mini cyclamen, which is smaller than the regular version.
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Cyclamen thrives in a cool place
Cyclamen is usually bought in autumn and summer as a ready-flowering potted plant. The flowers open little by little throughout the autumn and even until the spring, as long as the location of the plant suits it.
Cyclamen thrives in a cool place that is protected from direct sunlight. 10–15 degrees is the most acceptable temperature – at room temperature the plant blooms in its time and withers.
For example, a glass terrace, a cool conservatory or a glazed balcony with protection from the sun is an excellent place for cyclamen.
The plant can’t tolerate frost, so it’s best to bring it inside before the frost from autumn plantings outside.
Plant the cyclamen in a pot with holes
Water the cyclamen growing in the bottom-holed pot evenly through a saucer. Pour water on the saucer, let it soak for an hour and pour the excess water away. Leaves and buds are not watered.
Flower soil can be ordinary flower soil with humus content.
Cyclamen likes a moist growing medium, but the tuberous root system rots easily in excess moisture. Therefore, water must not stand on the saucer.
Adding houseplant fertilizer to the irrigation water once every couple of months during the growing season is good. In winter, the plant does not need to be fertilized.
The plant blooms for a long time when you remove the withered flowers by pulling them from the rhizome. Cyclamen bought as a seasonal plant can be composted after the flowering has faded.
Cyclamen can be perennial
Continuous flowering of cyclamen as a perennial is possible, but it is challenging.
- Place the cyclamen in a semi-shady, cool place. The home’s east or north window is best for it.
- The temperature should preferably be 10–15 degrees.
- Always water the wintering cyclamen on a saucer, be careful of leaves and flowers.
- Stop fertilizing for the winter and start again in February.
- Take the plant outside to a shady place at the beginning of summer, when the danger of frost is over.
- Cyclamen thrives outside in the summer, water as needed and fertilize once or twice a month.
- After getting used to the outdoors, cyclamen can withstand cool weather, as long as the temperature does not drop below freezing.
- Bring the plant back inside before the autumn frosts.
The fascinating history of cyclamen
Cyclamen (Peach cyclamen) is from the eastern Mediterranean. Its natural habitats are fresh forests and mountain slopes in calcareous soil.
Cyclamen were brought to England at the end of the 16th century. As a result of long breeding work, the store has a huge variety of flowers of different colors and sizes with different leaf patterns.
Cyclamen means pig’s bread in Greek, because the root tubers were once food for pigs in Southern Europe. Cyclamen is no longer recommended as a food plant.
Sources: Visa Lipponen & Seppo Hilppo: The blooming plants of the home (WSOY), Anu Ranta: Hienehelma and the old boy’s beloved indoor plants (Otava), kauniistikotimainen.fi.
Source: kotiliesi.fi
