How to Take Care of Cyclamen Plants

Overview

Cyclamen, part of the primrose family, is a flowering tuberous plant. The most commonly grown cyclamen in the United States is native to the Mediterranean, and therefore thrives in moist, cool weather. Cyclamen grow well in pots, either indoors or out. Easy to grow and to care for, the cyclamen offers the home gardener a spot of color for the fall garden.

Step 1

Plant your cyclamen in a mixture of soil, compost or rotted manure and a little builder's sand. Place cyclamen in a shady area of the garden or, if indoors, in an area that gets good light but not direct sun. Ideal growing temperatures for cyclamen are between 40 and 50 degrees F at night and 65 degrees F in the daytime.

Step 2

Water your cyclamen just enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy. As a rule of thumb, water when the top inch of soil is dry.

Step 3

Fertilize your cyclamen every 3 to 4 weeks with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer.

Step 4

Protect the cyclamen from garden pests, such as thrips, broad mites, nematodes and cyclamen mites, by keeping the planting area free of decaying organic matter and providing adequate ventilation. Once a pest has become established, you will need pesticides to get the infestation under control. This plant is also subject to fungal rot, powdery mildew and white rust.

Step 5

Pinch off dead flowers and leaves during the blooming season.