Cyclamen is a fantastic option for dry shade outside. (Heuchera is another plant that prefers dry shade; if you have a location with happy heuchera, cyclamen probably will too.)
Select a spot that is partially shaded and protected from the afternoon sun. The greatest places to camp are in wooded regions beneath trees or bushes. When summer arrives in regions where cyclamen overwinters, plants will go dormant and perish if the soil is moist.
the best way to grow cyclamen outside:
- Cyclamen tubers should be planted somewhat higher above the ground in both beds and containers. Ground-level cyclamen flower buds might decay if they are exposed to too much water.
- Plant in at least 6-inch-wide containers with drainage holes. Use starter fertilizer-containing potting soil or add your own.
- Outdoors, in shady flowerbeds, plant in tiny clusters. Utilizing a digging fork, make the bed. To each planting hole, add a spadeful of compost and some time-release flower fertilizer.
- To maintain a moderately moist soil, add water as needed. Water must be consistent and have great drainage for cyclamens. Cyclamens that become dry frequently fall over, but water usually brings the plants back to life. Dry containers can be rehydrated by submerging them for 30 minutes in a bin or bucket with 4 inches of cool water.
- Trim old blossoms and leaves from plants as needed with scissors or floral snips to keep them well-groomed.
- Starting a month after planting, feed plants with a water-soluble flower food every two weeks.
Cyclamen are lovely as both indoor plants and in the landscape, where they are typically grown as annuals over the majority of the nation. You can pick from a vibrant palette. A planter in one hue is usually lovely, or you can add contrast by mixing in a few plants that blossom white.
planting cyclamen indoors
When kept cold (away from heaters and out of direct sunlight), cyclamen are rather simple and dependable indoor plants that maintain their appearance for around eight weeks. They may continue to bloom until April if temperatures are cool enough, but too much heat in a sunny window will favor early dormancy. I keep mine on the east and north window ledges, bringing them out onto our main dining table when I want them to be more noticeable but tucking them back in between times. Although it may be tempting to just buy and plant your indoor cyclamen, they are worth the extra work. It makes a big difference to plant them in a vibrantly colored bowl or something glittery and sparkly, but be sure to use an inner pot with drainage holes.
Try not to disrupt the roots during repotting. They need good drainage and do not like to sit in moist soil, so plant them in a loam-based compost with some additional grit and peat.
Cover the compost with dried leaves or an emerald-green cushion of bun moss, and then gently press the roots into the new pot or bowl. In order to mimic this as precisely as possible with houseplants, that is how they would appear in the wild.
The flowers can be spread out starting from the base because they have a tendency to clump together, but when they are softly and equally separated between the leaves, they appear lighter and more graceful.
planting cyclamen outdoors
Cyclamen coum has a very long lifespan and can grow successfully without much attention in unfavorable conditions. Since C. coum begin to grow below ground long before they breach the surface, they want some summer wetness, thus they thrive in humus-rich soil with lots of naturally occurring or intentionally added leaf mould.
Plants with Cyclamen hederifolium are more hardy and resilient. They won’t mind if you tuck them right beneath a hedge or in between the roots of a large beech or oak tree. Instead of taking over more opulent objects’ spaces, they accept the meagerst of food instead, tolerating dry, thin soil as long as there is some shade.
The planting depth for these hardy cyclamen should be 2.5 cm (1 in) below the soil surface, but as they grow, they occasionally lift one hip out of the ground.
All cyclamen do considerably better in moist, thriving soil than in dry soil, so a plant that is actively growing in a pot is probably going to do best.
When planting tubers, place them with the flattest side facing down and the slightly concave side facing up, 2.5 cm (1 in) deep, and 5-8 cm (2-3 in) apart.
Cyclamen plants can they survive outside?
In August, the first cyclamen of the season arrive, and by September, we will have a wide variety of them in stock. The simplest approach to determine a cyclamen’s hardiness is to look at how big and showy its flowers are. The bigger and more showy the flowers, the less likely it is to be suitable for being outdoors all year.
Wonderful hardy ground cover cultivars Cyclamen Hederifolium and c. Coum. both have RHS AGM awards. They are perfect for winter planters as well as for naturalizing in a shaded border, on banks, or under trees. Hederifolium arrives in late August and has marbled leaf and pink and white tones. It produces long-lasting blooms and, with any hope, self-seeds.
Cyclamen Coum blooms later, typically from January to March, and is distinguished by its pink flowers and kidney-shaped, dark green leaves. This can change, though, and we have been known to have them in and in bloom as early as October.
Advice for raising tough cyclamen Avoid planting too deeply; they dislike it! They enjoy some shade and reasonably healthy, well-drained soil. In places that are susceptible to frost, you should mulch once a year with leaf mold or bark chips.
How to care for your potted indoor cyclamen Beautiful winter houseplants include cyclamen. Once a flower has done blooming, the stems should be cut off to preserve the plant producing flowers for a long time. But then you have to decide what to do with it for the remainder of the year. The best course of action is to simply let it dry entirely in the spring and store it in a cold, dark, dry location, like a shed. It will remain there dormant until August, when its roots will begin to regenerate and you should, if necessary, repot it. Give it a little water if you’re potting it, then start watering it regularly in September. Hopefully, by Christmas, you’ll have blossoms.
How long do potted Cyclamen last?
Cyclamen is an easy-to-grow indoor plant that blooms for at least eight weeks. With careful care, it could thrive for many years. A well-cared-for Cyclamen can actually keep growing and blooming for up to 100 years! (Like the Christmas cactus, another wintertime favorite that blooms every year.)
Is there a difference between indoor and outdoor Cyclamen?
Most garden centers sell florist’s cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) in moderate locations without frost, with no distinction made between indoor and outdoor species. Florist’s Cyclamen behaves the same whether it is planted as an indoor plant or an outdoor perennial, therefore there is no need to in that kind of habitat.
However, in other areas you’ll probably be able to get both florist’s Cyclamen and hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium). This frost-tolerant Cyclamen is the kind you want to use to fill a garden bed because hardy Cyclamen may be cultivated outside in lower climes.
Is Cyclamen toxic to cats and dogs?
Sadly, yes, according to the ASPCA. Due to the presence of triterpenoid saponins, particularly in the tuber, cyclamen are hazardous to both people and animals. This substance is an antifungal that the plant needs to stay healthy, but it’s also incredibly irritating and can paralyze or cause convulsions.
It seems unlikely that Cyclamen will be consumed in significant amounts (the flavor is reportedly not particularly pleasant!) but is potentially harmful, so keep dogs and children away from this one.
How are outdoor cyclamen cared for?
Hardy cyclamen are easy to care for and don’t need much upkeep to look their best. Spring and summer are good times to water the plant, but avoid drowning it because damp soil can cause the tubers to rot.
In the fall, remove extraneous leaves and debris from the plant. Although the roots are shielded from the winter cold by a thin layer of mulch or leaves, too much cover inhibits the plants from receiving light.
In the late summer, divide tubers, but avoid disturbing old, established tubers, which can expand to the size of a plate and generate hundreds of flowers year. Sometimes a single tuber might last for multiple generations.
Can cyclamen be left out in the cold?
The Persian cyclamen, Cyclamen persicum, has evolved from the original botanical species to be more resilient, to have more flowers, and to have a wider range of colors. Pure white, pinks, deep magenta, crimson, stripes, and picotee edges are among the color options. There are about 20 different species, and they were originally from the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The earliest hybrids, which resulted in a plant that was considerably stronger and more floriferous, were developed in France in the 19th century, where they are believed to have been introduced in the late 16th century. They represent truthfulness in the floral lingo. When there isn’t much else blooming in the autumn/winter garden, they offer a pleasant splash of color and smell. They can be utilized both inside and outside, and they can also be used as cut flowers.
Outdoors
They can be inserted into the ground or used in hanging baskets and other containers. Since they dislike wind and rain, they would benefit from a protected location with dry soil and dappled shade. They are relatively resistant and can withstand frost as low as -3 to -4C. (2426F). Incorporating some grit before planting would be a good idea because they require an open, free-draining soil because they rot if left to sit in wet soil. Use high-quality, peat-free compost combined with Perlite when planting in hanging baskets or other pots to help with drainage. As they will require feeding throughout the growth season, add some slow release fertilizer to the mixture or the planting hole if you are planting in the ground. They require a robust air flow since rain on the leaves must dry as quickly as possible to prevent decay. As soon as the flowers begin to fade, dead head; twist and pull the stem all the way down to the corm; any stem left attached to the corm will rot, which may cause the corm to rot as well.
Indoors
They require a cold environment that is shielded from the sun. Keep it dry; if it starts to wilt a little, don’t worry; as soon as you water it, it will come back to life. There are various methods for watering them: Water the pot’s perimeter with a long-necked watering can, avoiding the corm in the center; stand the pot in a saucer of water for 10 minutes, discarding any extra water; or, if the plant is beginning to wilt, submerge the pot to the rim in a bucket of water for a few seconds.
Feeding
They must be fertilized with a balanced liquid fertilizer once a week if slow release fertilizer is not mixed into the compost. Feed over the summer until the leaves begin to turn yellow. If the earth is completely dry, don’t feed. For indoor plants, slow release plant sticks are offered to prevent overfeeding.
Problems
If the flowers begin to lose their color, move to a position with more sunlight and feed them as described above.
It is excessively warm and damp when the leaves become yellow during the flowering season, which should not be confused with the normal yellowing of the plant dying off. Remove the yellow leaves, allow it to totally dry out, and move to a cool location.
If the flower stems are brittle, it’s too damp and starting to decay; stop watering it until it’s completely dry.
Flowering again next year
Feed and water until early summer, when the blooms have completed blooming and the leaves have turned yellow. Repot the corm in September, leaving the top third of the corm above the soil, after letting it dry out. After the leaves have sprouted, begin watering gently and feed the plant.
Outside, where should I plant cyclamen?
Hardy cyclamen species and cultivars are excellent for planting alongside other early-flowering woodland plants like snowdrops, winter aconites, and primroses in shaded borders, under trees, and on banks.
Do cyclamen bloom each year?
A perennial tuberous plant is cyclamen. It can be sown in the ground and will reappear every year in warmer climes (Zones 6-9). It could be a good idea to apply an additional layer of mulch to Zone 6’s cooler regions to shield plants from the winter’s extreme temperatures. Cyclamen can be grown outdoors in pots or directly in the ground in colder climates like Zone 5 and North, but the pots or tubers need to be taken inside in the fall. Otherwise, the plant will perish from the cold. It can be treated as a houseplant if brought within during the winter and then moved outside in the spring.
Cyclamen persicum grows outdoors or indoors.
Cyclamen persicum, usually referred to as Persian or florist’s cyclamen, is frequently cultivated as potted color and placed into attractive pots or baskets for inside decorating. However, they also thrive in sheltered outdoor spaces like balconies and patios.
How to grow cyclamen indoors
Cyclamen prefer lots of natural light and are typically cultivated indoors in pots. Place in a well-lit, cool but draught-free area, preferably with a few hours of morning sunlight but not direct sunlight. Plants on patios, decks, and verandas are also covered by this.
Since they are susceptible to rot, the goal is to moisten the soil rather than the flowers or leaves. You can either gently water with a long-spout watering can or, if necessary, set the pot on a saucer and allow it soak up the water from the base. Avoid overwatering them because they frequently3 gain from a little dry period.
Take your indoor cyclamen outside at night to a well-ventilated area because the plants don’t enjoy it when their environment is hot and stuffy.
The majority of species go dormant in the summer. Move your potted plants outside to a shaded area of the garden with the pots turned on their sides to prevent rot if you want to keep them for the following year. You can replant them into fresh pots as they begin to display signs of new growth in the late summer.
Cyclamen don’t need much food, but if you want to extend the length of their flowering season, give them an occasional feed with a soluble fertilizer like Thrive Flower & Fruit.
How to grow cyclamen outdoors
Cyclamen hederifolium, a smaller species of 6 cyclamen that grows naturally in regions of Europe and the Mediterranean, can be grown outdoors.
Plant them beneath deciduous trees so they can benefit from the summer shade and the winter sun. In the summer, they also look fantastic in rockeries with some overhead cover. With enough summer watering, they can withstand heat and frost. The foliage is marbled and striped, and the flowers are pink, lilac, or white.
Plant cyclamen hederifolium in the shade of deciduous trees for a stunning seasonal color splash because they are forest floor plants. Cyclamen flowers really nod, but as they grow, the petals spread out and upward. Some vendors provide two-tone blossoms, such as these.
What can go wrong
When kept in humid environments, cyclamen are vulnerable to botrytis, commonly known as grey mold, which can affect indoor plants. Spray a fungicide on it and get rid of the dead flowers and leaves to stop it. water with caution (see How to grow cyclamen indoors, page 40).
Spray an insecticide that kills both insects and mites if you see puckering or curling leaves, which could be a symptom of mites.
The wasted flower heads, yellowed leaves, and coiling stems from your plant can all be removed once it has stopped flowering. To avoid damaging the core, be cautious when removing the stem by gently pinching and twisting.