Cyclamen

How to care for Cyclamen

Light

Cyclamen persicum requires bright, indirect light during its growing and flowering season, which runs from autumn through to spring. A north- or east-facing windowsill, or a position set back slightly from a south- or west-facing window, suits it well. Direct summer sun will scorch the leaves and stress the plant. During dormancy in summer, light requirements diminish as the tuber rests.

Watering

Water from below by placing the pot in a shallow tray of water for about 20 to 30 minutes, then allowing it to drain fully. This prevents water from pooling on or around the crown of the tuber, which is prone to rot. Allow the top layer of compost to dry slightly between waterings, but do not let the plant dry out completely while in active growth. Reduce watering significantly as the plant enters dormancy in late spring and early summer, stopping almost entirely until new growth emerges.

Soil and potting

A free-draining, peat-free multipurpose compost is suitable, ideally with added perlite or grit to improve drainage further. The tuber is highly susceptible to waterlogging, so the growing medium must never remain saturated. A slightly acidic to neutral pH of around 6.0 to 7.0 is appropriate. Specialist cyclamen compost is available commercially but is not essential if a well-draining general compost is used.

Feeding

During the active growing season, from autumn through to early spring, feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength every two to three weeks. A formulation with a slightly higher potassium content can help support and prolong flowering. Do not feed during dormancy, as the tuber is resting and cannot use the nutrients, which may accumulate and cause root damage.

Humidity and temperature

Cyclamen persicum performs best in cool, consistent temperatures of 10 to 18 degrees C. Temperatures above 20 degrees C, particularly when sustained overnight, shorten the flowering period significantly and can cause premature dormancy or flower drop. The plant should be kept away from radiators, fireplaces, and draughts from doors. Moderate ambient humidity is beneficial; occasional light misting of the surrounding air (avoiding direct misting of flowers and the crown) or placing the pot on a pebble tray with a little water can help in centrally heated rooms.

Repotting

Cyclamen persicum tubers are typically repotted once they emerge from dormancy in late summer or early autumn, usually every one to two years. Select a pot only slightly larger than the tuber, as the plant prefers slightly snug conditions. When repotting, the tuber should be positioned so that its upper half sits just above the compost surface. This reduces the risk of crown rot and reflects how the plant grows in its native habitat. Refresh the compost fully at this stage.

Pruning

Pruning cyclamen is largely a matter of removing spent flowers and yellowing leaves to encourage continued blooming and maintain plant health. Deadheading is best done by grasping the flower stalk firmly at its base and giving it a sharp, twisting tug to remove the entire stalk cleanly, rather than cutting, which can leave a stump prone to rot. The same method applies to yellowing leaves. Do not use scissors unless necessary, and avoid leaving any decaying material on or near the tuber.

Is Cyclamen toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Seed

Sow seeds in late summer or early autumn at 12 to 15 degrees C in moist, free-draining seed compost. Germination takes four to six weeks and can be slow and uneven; seedlings take approximately 12 to 18 months to reach flowering size.

Tuber division

A mature tuber can be carefully divided when dormant in summer, ensuring each section has at least one growing point. Cut sections should be dusted with powdered sulphur or allowed to dry slightly before potting to reduce the risk of rot, though this method carries a significant risk of losing the plant and is not generally recommended for beginners.

Where Cyclamen comes from

Native to eastern Mediterranean basin, Greek islands, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, northern Algeria, Tunisia, Cyprus.

Story and origins

The genus name Cyclamen is derived from the Greek 'kyklaminos', which itself is thought to relate to 'kyklos', meaning circle or wheel, most likely a reference to the rounded shape of the tuber or possibly to the way the flower stalks coil downward in a spiral as the seeds develop after pollination. The species epithet persicum means 'of Persia' (modern-day Iran), a name applied by early European botanists who associated the plant with the eastern Mediterranean and western Asian region, though its native range does not in fact extend into Iran.

Cyclamen persicum has been cultivated in Europe since at least the sixteenth century, when it was introduced to western European gardens from the eastern Mediterranean. It became a subject of significant interest among early botanists including Carolus Clusius, who described it in the late 1500s. Intensive breeding began in earnest in the nineteenth century, particularly in Germany and Britain, producing the large-flowered forms that remain popular today. In the Victorian era, cyclamen became fashionable as a winter-flowering pot plant for cool conservatories and parlours. It carries symbolic associations with sincerity and heartfelt emotion in the Victorian language of flowers, and in some Mediterranean cultures the plant has historically been associated with love and fertility.

Varieties to know

Cyclamen persicum 'Sierra' series

A widely available, compact F1 hybrid series producing abundant flowers across a broad colour range; bred for reliability as a commercial pot plant.

Cyclamen persicum 'Halios' series

A vigorous, large-flowered commercial series with good heat tolerance relative to many cyclamen cultivars; popular in retail settings.

Cyclamen persicum 'Miracle' series

A miniature to intermediate-sized cultivar group noted for its extremely long flowering period and compact growth habit.

Cyclamen persicum 'Victoria'

A distinctive cultivar bearing white flowers with a frilled, serrated petal margin edged in deep pink or red; considered a heritage-style variety.

Cyclamen persicum 'Odisseo' series

One of the few fragrant cyclamen series available commercially; flowers carry a light, sweet scent unusual in modern bred varieties.

Fun facts

• In the wild, Cyclamen persicum grows in rocky, well-drained soils under shrubby vegetation, flowering in late winter and spring when most other plants are dormant.
• The wild species is considerably smaller than the large-flowered cultivars sold commercially today, which have been bred selectively over centuries for showier blooms.
• Cyclamen tubers can live and flower for many years if managed correctly through their annual dormancy cycle, with some specimens reportedly reaching several decades in age.
• The reflexed, swept-back petals of cyclamen flowers are an adaptation for pollination by bumblebees, which hang beneath the flower to access the nectar.
• Cyclamen persicum is listed as a species of conservation concern in parts of its native range due to habitat loss and collection pressure.

Cyclamen FAQ