Cyclamen belongs to the primrose family and is a perennial bulbous plant, native to the Mediterranean region, but now cultivated throughout China.
【Growth Habits】Prefers warmth, sunlight, and dislikes cold. It thrives in moist environments and well-drained, fertile soil. Autumn, winter, and spring are the growing seasons, while summer is the dormancy period.
【Cultivation Management】
① Cyclamen usually blooms around the Spring Festival. When purchasing a potted cyclamen that is in full bloom, it should be placed on a table with scattered light in the room. The room temperature should not be too high; otherwise, the blooming period will be shortened, affecting the viewing period. Keep the potting soil moist but not too dry or too wet, as this will also shorten the blooming period. Generally, no fertilizer should be applied during the blooming period, and especially avoid applying thick fertilizer.
② The blooming period of cyclamen is relatively long. With proper care, it can bloom in batches from the Spring Festival until April. After the flowers wither, the seeds mature in May and June, and then enter dormancy. During the dormancy period, the potted plants should be placed in a cool, well-ventilated area where they will not get wet. The potting soil should be slightly dry; if it's too wet, the bulbs are likely to rot. However, it should not be too dry for too long, as the bulbs may shrivel and die during this critical period for maintaining healthy cyclamen bulbs.
How to plant cyclamen
③ In autumn, cyclamen ends its dormancy period and enters the growing season. At this time, repotting with fresh soil and sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as a base fertilizer (if the base fertilizer is insufficient, it will be difficult for future growth, as well as for bud formation and flowering) is recommended. Water thoroughly, and place the pot in a sunny outdoor or greenhouse area for cultivation. Water when the soil dries out, and fertilize every two weeks. After October, they need to be moved indoors for cultivation until the buds bloom. A temperature range of 15-20℃ is considered suitable.
【Propagation Method】Cyclamen propagation usually uses the seeding method, with the timing from mid-August to late September. Soak the seeds in cold water for 1-2 days to promote germination, cover the seeds with soil twice their thickness, water thoroughly after sowing, cover with glass, remove it after germination, gradually expose to sunlight, and move to a greenhouse in October for cultivation.
【FAQ】
① Why do the stems of cyclamen shrink during flowering? Why do the bulbs rot in summer?
During the flowering period, the potting soil of cyclamen should not be too wet, as excessive moisture can cause root rot, yellowing leaves, and stem wilt. At the same time, the room should maintain a certain amount of light and temperature; if kept in the shade for too long or the temperature is too low, the same situation will occur. Moreover, during the flowering period, fertilization should be paused or reduced, and especially avoid applying thick fertilizer, as these can lead to stem wilt, collapse, and the withering of flowers and flower buds. Additionally, if the potting soil is too dry for too long, it can also cause stem shrinkage.