Am I Taking Good Care Of My Cyclamen Houseplants?

Did you placed your cyclamen houseplant in bright, but indirect sunlight?

Did you planted your cyclamen in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter?

Did you provide a cool place, and shelter from drafts and dry air for your cyclamen?

Do you water your cyclamen regularly during the growing period and less often during dormancy?

Do you feed your cyclamen regularly during a growing period with low-nitrogen fertilizer?

Do you repot your cyclamen every couple of years?

Do you keep your cyclamen free of pests and diseases?

Give cyclamen bright, indirect light in the winter when the plant is actively growing. In the summer, when the plant is dormant, it's best to keep cyclamen in a cool, dark spot with good air circulation.

Cyclamen prefers to grow in organically rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic soil pH. For container plants, you can use a regular potting mix but then mix some sphagnum peat into the soil to raise the acidity.

Cyclamen plants don't like extreme heat, drafts, or dry air. They do best in a climate that replicates their native environment, preferring temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night and between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. High humidity, especially during the winter, is crucial. To raise the humidity, keep your plant on a tray filled with water and pebbles, making sure the pot isn't touching the water (as this can cause root rot).

During the growing period, water whenever the soil feels dry about an inch below its surface. Avoid getting water on the leaves or crown of the plant, which can cause it to rot. While the plant is dormant, water infrequently only to prevent the soil from entirely drying out.

Feed your cyclamen plant with a diluted liquid low-nitrogen fertilizer every couple of weeks while in full leaf. You don't need to fertilize cyclamen while it's dormant.

Cyclamen should be repotted every two years. You can repot while the plant is dormant in the summer with a fresh potting mix and a slightly larger pot.

God job! You are taking good care of your cyclamen.

Cyclamen gray mold is a common problem. It is caused by a Botrytis fungus. All affected parts must be removed and thrown away and the plant moved to a spot with better air circulation. If the plant is severely infected it is best to discard it. Cyclamen mites and spider mites may appear when the relative humidity is too low. Insecticidal soap may help, but when a plant is severely infested it is often best to simply discard it.