How to Care for Your Cyclamen

by Diana Greenwood Mead

Welcome to our gardening feature where Diana Greenwood Mead, our gardening expert answers your questions every week.

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This week Cheng from Calgary, Alberta, Canada writes to Diana:

Why is it so hard to take care of a cyclamen? I know they like good drainage and the leaves do not like to be wet but I can't seem to keep them alive for long. I am careful not to over water. However, they still end up looking unhealthy. One more question; can I transplant it outdoors in spring even when I got it as an indoor plant?

Well Cheng, I do hope I can help with your cyclamen, as they are such beautiful plants.
Firstly there are (roughly) two types:
• Those that are often called florists' cyclamen – quite big plants, with big showy flowers;
• Then there are the wild, hardy type of cyclamen that grow on the hillsides in hot countries like Greece and Turkey.

I guess the main difference is where you are likely to buy them – the small outdoor ones come from plant nurseries and catalogues and the indoor type from florists and supermarkets.

So if your cyclamen are indoor ones, which it sounds as though they are - I think the first thing to mention is heat;
they really like a temperature that is on the low side for human comfort.
Next light; they like lots of it, but no hot sun.
A windowsill that gets constant cool daylight without being frosty cold at night is where they are happiest.
As for watering, I've never found them to be very fussy; mine live on the kitchen windowsill and get watered when my conscience strikes!
Lastly planting outside – well yes and no:
Outside, in bigger pots with new compost, in a shady part of your garden they will have a wonderful summer, but you will need to bring them in as the temperature drops.

Cyclamens are worth taking the trouble – an old lady of my acquaintance has had a white one for many years, the plant is about 12/14" across and is covered with superb flowers every winter.

So good luck, and I hope yours do well!
Happy Horticulture
Diana

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