Florist's Cyclamen or Persian Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Cyclamen is a genus that contains more than 20 species of flowering plants in the primrose family. It is Cyclamen persicum, the Florist’s cyclamen, that is familiar as a Christmas and Valentine’s Day plant.
Plant in Pot (Cabarrus County, NC)
Hope Duckworth
CC BY 4.0
The flower stalk rises directly from the dark brown tuberous root. A solitary flower appears on each 6- to 9-in. stalk. Each 2-in. red, pink, white, magenta or lavender bloom has 4 to 5 petals and is fused at the base, giving the appearance of a delicate butterfly. The dark green, heart-shaped leaves are often enhanced with markings of silver or grayish-white.
If a cyclamen is on your gift list, look for a plant with a multitude of buds in the center. Avoid plants with chlorotic leaves or necrotic leaf margins because this can be a sign of root problems.
Cyclamen may flower for several months if kept in bright light and fairly cool temperatures. Night temperatures near 50 degrees Fahrenheit are best, but a range from 50 to 60 degrees is acceptable. Keep daytime temperatures at about 70 degrees because high temperatures cause the immature flower buds to abort. Never place a cyclamen near a heat register or hot air duct. Removing the spent flowers will encourage continued flowering.
Cyclamen should never be allowed to wilt, making uniform watering is critical. Avoid watering the crown of the plant, which can result in the tubers rotting, and only water when the soil feels dry. It is best to water along the edge of the pot or at the base of the pot. The first sign of inadequate moisture, other than wilted foliage, is the appearance of yellow leaves. This may be followed by the collapse of small flowers and/or buds in the center of the plant. Conversely, never allow cyclamen plants to sit in water because, like most plants, they are susceptible to root rots from overwatering.
When the plant goes dormant, the leaves will turn yellow and drop off. Most people discard the plant at this point because re-blooming can be difficult in the home. Low levels of light may make the plants weak, which results in smaller blooms and lighter leaf colors.
To rebloom a cyclamen, first force it into dormancy after flowering subsides by gradually withholding water until the foliage dies back. This begins its dormancy or rest period. Do not water the plant for six to eight weeks.
By midsummer, begin watering the plant gradually. Repot it if the tuber in the pot is fairly large. When repotting, keep about half of the tuber above the soil line. At this time, a lightly shaded, cool spot outdoors, or a cool, shaded window indoors provides the best location. As new leaves develop, resume normal watering and fertilization, and move the plant to a more sunny location. Keep the growing medium moist at all times, and feed with a houseplant fertilizer according to manufacturer's directions. In the fall, move the plant indoors before the danger of frost. Plants treated in this way should rebloom by midwinter.
Aphids, mealybugs, and thrips may attack the plant. Tuber rot occurs if the plant is overwatered. Cyclamen is susceptible to infestation by cyclamen mites. If young leaves of a cyclamen become stunted or curled, the pest may be present. It is very difficult to detect cyclamen mites because of their extremely small size and translucent appearance. Although insecticides are available to combat this pest, control is difficult and infected plants probably are best discarded before the mites can spread to other plants.
By Kathryn Copley, Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer, Brunswick County, NC
For more information on gardening in Brunswick County, please call the Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Office, 910.253.2610.
SOURCES:
Cyclamen persicum | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Cyclamen: Hearts and Flowers | University of Missouri, Integrated Pest Management, Missouri Environment & Garden
Cyclamen is the ultimate Valentine’s Day plant | University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences