FLORIST CYCLAMEN

CYCLAMEN PERSICUM

This popular houseplant has huge appeal as a gift in winter. Florist cyclamen offers cheery blooms in the depths of winter, when days can be short and gloomy. It rarely lives after flowering, but its seasonal display as a living decoration, especially at Christmas, makes it well worth the investment.

HEIGHT 10in (25cm)

SPREAD 12in (30cm)

FLOWERS Pink, red, or white

FOLIAGE Green with silver markings, heart-shaped

LIGHT Filtered sun

TEMPERATURE 50–59°F (10-15°C)

CARE Fairly easy

PLACE OF ORIGIN Eastern Mediterranean

CARE

To ensure the much-admired flowers of the florist cyclamen don’t fade too quickly, buy one in bud rather than in full bloom and place it on a north-facing windowsill in a cool room. Water sparingly, keeping the potting mix just moist. Feed every other week with a balanced liquid fertilizer.

These are short-lived plants that don’t usually thrive for long after flowering (September to January), so repotting isn’t necessary. It’s not uncommon for gardeners to compost florist cyclamen after flowering as the foliage can quickly start to look unkempt.

If attempting to keep the plant for another year, reduce watering dramatically once the flowers fade and leaves start to yellow in late winter as this will encourage the tuberous plant to go dormant. Place the container in a cool room until July, when the plant should be repotted in an enriched potting mix—make sure its tuber is positioned just above the soil surface. Water the plant and position it somewhere that has filtered sun. Fresh foliage will form in summer, followed by flower buds in fall.

PROBLEM SOLVING Yellow leaves are often the result of the cyclamen being placed in a room that’s too hot and bright. Overwatering can cause gray mold on the leaves—pull off these leaves and reduce watering.

Florist cyclamen’s blooms are available in red, white, and vibrant pink.

DISPLAY

Even before it flowers, this cyclamen will add interest to any indoor display, thanks to its attractive, heart-shaped leaves. More appealing for some is the prospect of a flowering houseplant during Christmas and you can add impact by displaying a group of them together. Combine your cyclamen with poinsettia and a scented, paperwhite narcissus.

Houseplants A–Z | FLORIST CYCLAMEN

ALSO TRY

There are a number of excellent options for colorful houseplant displays over the festive season. Like the florist cyclamen, this hyacinth will flourish in a cool room that has filtered sunlight:

• Dutch hyacinth (Hyacinthus), height 8in (20cm). You can buy “prepared” bulbs in late September if you’re hoping for flowers at Christmas time. The blooms of this plant are highly scented.

Choose large, firm Dutch hyacinth bulbs to produce the best flowers.