They are tuberous plants and have
no obvious affinity with Primroses, although they do resemble the North American
Dodecatheon in having reflexed petals. Their habitats range from Fagus (Beech)
woodland, through scrub and rocky areas, to alpine meadows where they flower in
snow meltwater. In cultivation, there are some species which are definitely
hardy, some which are borderline, and a few species which will not tolerate any
frost. The genus is notable for the fact that although it is small, there are
species which flower in every month of the year. The genus also provides
florists plants in the form of cultivars based on Cyclamen persicum. These are
generally winter and spring flowering plants which are available in a wide range
of colours.
Indoor cyclamen plants
Blooming period
Cyclamen are traditionally sold during the Christmas season and into the winter
as a florist plant. Most will bloom from mid-November until mid February,
provided conditions are satisfactory.
Colors
Most of the blooms are either white, red, pink or lavender and appear to hang
upside down over the heart-shaped mottled green/gray foliage.
Light
Cyclamen prefer bright indirect light. An east window will provide adequate
light for your cyclamen to stay healthy.
Temperature
Cyclamen prefer cool temperatures. Ideal daytime temperatures are 60 to 65
degrees F. with night temperatures around 50 degrees F.
Humidity
High humidity during the winter indoors is also crucial. To maintain humidity,
fill a large plate, shallow pan or tray with water. Set the cyclamen on an
inverted dish, just out of the water. Pebbles could be placed in the plate, pan
or tray with the pot setting on the pebbles.
Dormant stage
In late winter the cyclamens stop blooming and the leaves turn yellow as the
plants go dormant. Cyclamens may be set outdoors in part sun for the summer, fed
and watered regularly, then brought back inside in September. They'll usually
start forming new leaves and flower buds again soon. Another option after
flowers start fading, is to gradually withhold water. When the foliage is
withered, remove the "bulb" (actually a tuber) from the soil, clean off all soil
from it and store it in unmoistened peat moss or vermiculite in a plastic bag at
50 degrees F. Replant in good potting soil in May or June, keeping the upper
half of the tuber above the surface. Pot in a mixture of 2 parts peat moss to 1
part packaged potting soil and 1 part sharp sand or perlite, with ground
limestone added at a rate of 3 to 5 ounces per bushel.
Fertilizer
Feed about twice a month with a complete liquid fertilizer.
Miniature cyclamens
Beginners should try miniature cyclamens, which bloom longer and are sometimes
fragrant. The minis also tend to be a bit more heat tolerant than larger
cyclamens.
Air circulation
Good air circulation around the pots will reduce the chance of disease. They can
stay in the same container until, when lifted gently, roots are obviously
crowded; then it's time to transplant them to a larger container.
Grooming
There's a right way to groom old flower stems and leaves. With one hand, steady
the plant at soil level. With the other, reach in and pull off the aging stem
with a snap.
Transplanting
The best time to transplant is when the cyclamen is dormant. Ideally, you should
wait until the plant starts to move, and then repot. Assuming the leaves die off
and it goes dormant in April, then if you repot in July you should find that the
roots have just started to produce a few new shoots, although there is no
evidence of growth above the compost. The only downside to this is that if you
pot it into moist compost then it may start the plant into growth before you
really want it to.
Cyclamens in outside gardens
Climate zones
Most small-flowered cyclamens are suited for outdoor gardens in Zones 5 to 9.
Zone 10 is too hot for them, and Zone 4 is generally too cold, although some
gardeners grow them by covering the beds with a winter mulch such as salt hay or
wood chips. .
Bloom periods
Cyclamens are native to the islands and shores of the Mediterranean. In this
country they blossom, according to their species, in spring or fall. In Zone 9
spring-flowering species come into bloom from January through March, elsewhere
they open in April and May. Fall-flowering species bloom for four to six weeks,
beginning as early as August in warmer areas and lasting into October in cooler
regions. Flowers of every species bloom for many weeks. Most species lose their
foliage for a brief period each year, usually in midsummer.
Small flowered cyclamen
The small-flowered cyclamens are best grown where they can be enjoyed close at
hand, beneath the shade of a tree sheltering an intimate entrance garden or in a
protected nook beside a favorite chair on a patio.
Light
All small-flowered cyclamens do best in light shade in soil enriched with
compost. An annual spring mulch of about 1/2 inch of compost gives enough
nourishment. Plant the tubers in midsummer, spacing them 6 to 8 inches apart.
Cover the tubers of Neapolitan cyclamens with 2 inches of soil; set the tubers
of others just beneath the soil.
Planting
Florists' cyclamens can be planted in fall in Zones 9-10 for winter and spring
bloom. Set growing plants 12 to 18 inches apart with the tubers half above the
soil level. Discard after flowering.
Seeds
Cyclamens may be propagated from seeds, which usually take about two years to
reach flowering size. The large-flowered cyclamens, with bright 2 to 4 inch
blossoms are well known to most gardeners, but not everyone is as familiar with
the charming little wild species of cyclamens that may be grown in gardens
throughout most of the country. Compared to their hot-house sisters, these
species could be called miniatures because they grow only 4 to 5 inches tall,
bearing 3/4 to 1 inch butterfly like flowers in shades of pink or white.
Vegetative reproduction
Cyclamen are plants which spend part of the year in growth, and part of the year
in a dormant state, during which there is no living foliage, although some
species fruiting pedicels may remain in a vegetative state as the seed matures.
During this dormant period the plant remains in the form of a subterranean
tuber, which is in fact a swollen root. As a tuber, the possibilities for corms
or bulbs do not exist, however, as in the case of a common potato (which is a
similar organism), the tuber can be divided provided each portion has both a
growth eye and part of the rooting region of the tuber.
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