CYCLAMEN or “ALPINE VIOLET”
The cyclamen is a cool-season indoor bloomer available from now through the winter and early spring. Their flowers come in reds, pinks, salmons, lavender, purple, white, and bi-colors.
Cyclamen species are native primarily to the Mediterranean: Greece, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and other Mediterranean regions.
One beautiful characteristic of the Cyclamen is their heart-shaped variegated leaves. Another characteristic is that they come in large-flowered and mini-flowered varieties.
A point to stress: Cyclamen plants grow from a tuber—not a root or bulb. Therefore, they are pretty easy and reliable plants for indoors. If you keep them cool (out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents), they look good for about six to eight weeks before they start to die back naturally and get ready for a dormancy period. Some owners are shocked when this happens and fear they did something wrong with the care given. This is not the case. This happens with all cyclamen plants for everyone. Let the cyclamen enter this natural cycle and let it die back naturally. Set it aside in a garage or basement. Stop watering. Store the plant in a dry, dark area for a few months. You can repot in fresh potting soil in the fall and resume standard care.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CYCLAMEN
- WATERING: Allow soil to surface dry between waterings. Try watering from the bottom up to avoid watering the center of the plant, as water may stand on the tuber.
- LIGHTING: These plants do best in bright, indirect light near a cool window.
- HUMIDITY: Average house humidity is acceptable.
- TEMPERATURE: Be sure to keep your cyclamen cool. It will decline prematurely if kept overheated.
- DEADHEADING: Pinch off the faded, dying blooms to maintain a fresh appearance.
SEE OUR DISPLAY OF BEAUTIFUL CYCLAMENT PLANTS. THEY MAKE GREAT HOUSEWARMING GIFTS