CYCLAMEN

PRIMULACEAE

The florist's cyclamen, is a tuberous-rooted flowering plant best treated as a temporary house plant, to be brought into the home just as buds begin to open.  Plants in bud normally are available from November throughout March. Cyclamen purchased from a greenhouse should remain in bloom and decorative for two three months.

Numerous flowers, produced on individual stalks 9 inches long or more, comprise several petals-of which there are usually five-standing almost erect. They may be pure white, deep red, or various shades of pink, salmon, mauve and purple. Some have white edging to the colored petals, while some have ruffled petal edges. The flower stalks rise up among leaves that are variably marked in silver margin.

Growing and Care Tips

Cyclamen should be given bright light without direct sunlight. 

Cyclamen tubers are only half-buried in potting mixture, and water should never be poured onto tubers, which are liable to rot. Instead plants should be watered from below by placing the pots in a shallow water-filed bowl. Letting the soil mixture to drink from the bottom up. One could also water at the top allow the plant to dry out slightly between watering. Cyclamen enjoys a evenly moist soil better to water this plant well then to dry out.

Keep cyclamens cool at all times. A temperature of between 55 degrees and 65 degrees is ideal, if possible. Warm conditions well greatly shorten the flowering life of the plant.

 Removal of dead flowers as they fade, is as important as the removal of the entire flower stem. This is easily done by twisting the stem and pulling sharply. This will all so encourage new flowers to emerge.